The huntsman thought awhile, and at last said: “I have heard of a wonderful garden some three miles east of the forest, where all kinds of fruits made of precious stones grow all the year round. The currants are rubies, the apples are topazes, and the plums are amethysts or sapphires. If you are able to reach this garden and gather a basketful of cherries you might enrich yourself and family for life; and then your father might have the best doctors. He would want for nothing and might soon get well.”
Winikin was delighted at the idea of such a garden, and asked Roger to show him the way to it.
The old huntsman then took him to a kind of grotto that was so completely hidden by brushwood that the little boy had never seen it before though he had often crossed that part of the forest. When the twigs that choked up the entry had been put aside he saw a hollow passage and a view of distant meadows and hills. Then Roger carefully described all the objects the lad was to pass on the road, so that he could not miss the way. Also, he bade him not to loiter on the way for fear he should not be back by nightfall.
Winikin now entered the grotto but kept stopping every minute to admire its pretty sparkling walls, which glistened like diamonds and rubies as a sunbeam shone through the narrow opening. At last, however, he came out into the open meadows, in a part of a country which he had never seen before. Here he met a beautiful little boy with golden locks and cheeks as blooming as a ripe peach. He was carrying a couple of hoops on his arm.
“Will you come and play with me?” asked the little stranger whose name was Goldlocks.
“Why,” said Winikin slowly, thinking of the huntsman’s advice not to loiter on the way, “I should like that very much, but I’m going to a beautiful garden beyond the hills and I’m afraid of being too late.”
“Oh, don’t fear that,” said the little boy, “for we will trundle our hoops that way. You will get on much faster with a hoop than without one. Come!”
The lad offered Winikin one of the hoops which were made of finely worked silver. Also, there was a small ivory stick to trundle it with.
Winikin could not resist. He took a beautiful hoop and stick from Goldlocks who said:
“Once, twice, thrice, away!” and off they went like the wind.