"Heavy was your slumber then," said the Crow. "I never experienced any night myself that was one half as venemous as it was—and signs on me! I am come now to you to find out from you did there ever come any night in your time that was colder than it; because I was laying out in my own mind that you are older than I am."
"I have no right-certainty as to my own age," said the Eagle; "but even if I had, I know that there is another creature who is still alive in the world and who is very much older than I am."
"Who is that?" said the Crow.
"He is the Blind Trout of Assaroe," said the Eagle. "Go you, now, to that Trout, and perhaps you might get the solving of your question from him."
The Crow went off and he never stopped nor stayed until he came as far as Assaroe, and he found out the Trout. He told his story then to the Trout, and told him that he came to find out from him if there had ever come a night in the world that was as cold as last night.
"There did, and a thousand times colder," said the Trout.
"I'd scarcely believe you,"[40] said the Crow.
"Why, then," said the Trout, "if you don't believe me, you can go to an older authority than I."
"And who is that authority?" said the Crow.
"The Old Woman of Beare," said the Trout.