before, he lies now," said Murrish.

"Does she say that?" said Little Fawn. "Then I swear I shall never
rest in the house nor be easy in my mind until I bring her an ivy leaf
that is as big as her barley loaf, and a rowan berry that is as big as
her pat of butter, and if I bring these," said he, "it may not be
needful for me to get her the blackbird that is as big in one quarter
as the quarter of mutton that she gave me for my dinner."

There and then he went from the house and Ardan the boy went with him.
They went east and they went west, they went towards the north and
towards the south, but no ivy leaf did they find that was as big as a
barley loaf, and no rowan berry did they see that was as big as a pat
of butter. Little Fawn was troubled and downcast. They came back to
the house, and Murrish the Cook-woman was pleased when she heard from
Ardan that they found no ivy leaf and saw no rowan berry that was as
big as her barley loaf or her pat of butter. "There is only one thing
I can do now," said Little Fawn, "and that is to bring her the
blackbird that is as big in one quarter as the quarter of mutton she
gave me for my dinner. And that," said he to Ardan, "will take time
and trouble and the meeting of danger to bring about."

* * * * *

"Time and trouble," said the Feather-legged Hen, "time and trouble!"

"Why did he say time and trouble, O Top of Wisdom?" said the Blue Hen.

"Hush now," said the Little Slate-colored Hen that was the Cock's
mother. "Hush now, and let the Hero-son of my heart tell what's best
in the story...."

* * * * *

"Little Fawn was an old man, white-haired and feeble when he came to
the house," said the Cock, and now he was nearly blind. His mind would
not be at rest, he told Ardan, until he brought to Murrish and showed
her a blackbird that was as big in one quarter as the quarter of
mutton she gave him for his dinner. "But before I can take that
blackbird," said he, "I must have a hound. There is a hound in the
yard, but I have tried her and found she is weak and fearful. She will
have puppies, and one of her puppies, maybe, will do." And he told
Ardan to tell him when the puppies came to the hound that was in the
yard.

Then one day Ardan came and told him that there was a litter of
puppies with the hound. "That is well," said Little Fawn, "and in a
while we will try if one has the strength and courage enough to help