She implored Houarn not to leave her , but he would listen to nothing . ` The birds , ' he said , ` continue flying until they reach a field of corn , and the bees do not stop unless they find the honey-giving flowers , and why should a man have less sense than they ? Like them , I shall seek till I get what I want -- that is , money to buy a cow and a pig to fatten . And if you love me , Bellah , you wo n't attempt to hinder a plan which will hasten our marriage . ' The girl saw it was useless to say more , so she answered sadly : ` Well , go then , since you must . But first I will divide with you all that my parents left me , ' and going to her room , she opened a small chest , and took from it a bell , a knife , and a little stick . ` This bell , ' she said , ` can be heard at any distance , however far , but it only rings to warn us that our friends are in great danger . The knife frees all it touches from the spells that have been laid on them ; while the stick will carry you wherever you want to go . I will give you the knife to guard you against the enchantments of wizards , and the bell to tell me of your perils . The stick I shall keep for myself , so that I can fly to you if ever you have need of me . ' Then they cried for a little on each other 's necks , and Houarn started for the mountains . But in those days , as in these , beggars abounded , and through every village he passed they followed Houarn in crowds , mistaking him for a gentleman , because there were no holes in his clothes . ` There is no fortune to be made here , ' he thought to himself ; ` it is a place for spending , and not earning . I see I must go further , ' and he walked on to Pont-aven , a pretty little town built on the bank of a river . He was sitting on a bench outside an inn , when he heard two men who were loading their mules talking about the Groac ' h of the island of Lok . ` What is a Groac ` h ? ' asked he . ' I have never come across one . ' And the men answered that it was the name given to the fairy that dwelt in the lake , and that she was rich -- oh ! richer than all the kings in the world put together .
Many had gone to the XXXXX to try and get possession of her treasures , but no one had ever come back .
bank clothes crowds danger h inn island lake plan village