He had not gone far before he saw a thin little old man, dragging a cart loaded with twelve iron bars.
"Good-day, Knut Spelevink," said the old man. "Why do you look so poorly to-day?"
"Why shouldn't I look poorly, when I have eaten nothing but Catechism since yesterday noon? But how did you know my new name?"
"I know all names," answered the old man, who was really a troll.
"Sha'n't I help you?" asked good-natured Knut. "You are all out of breath with that heavy load."
"Push away if you like, Spelevink." So Knut pushed, and the old man pulled and they soon came to a big mountain in the forest.
"This is where I live," said the old man. "Step in and I will give you something good to eat, because you helped me with my load." So saying, he entered the mountain. Knut's stomach said follow him, and Knut followed.
Soon they were in a great underground palace where everything glittered with gold, silver and precious stones.
"Do you live here?" asked Knut.
"I should say I did," replied the old man. "I am the King of the Mountain. To-morrow I give the marriage feast for my daughter; and my servants are so driven with work that I myself had to bring my food from the forge where these bars are made."