"Then keep on over the mountain to a large plain, and there you will get
more news," the ant said. "After you find the old woman please ask her
how the ants can live longer. We store up a great deal of food, and this
seems to me a folly while our lives are so short."
"Be at ease," Channa responded. "You can be sure that I will do your
errand."
Then she toiled on over the mountain to the great plain, where a
wide-spreading old oak tree called to her as she was passing. "Whither
are you going so sad, my little lady?" it said. "Come and rest in my
shade."
She thanked the old oak, but begged to be excused from stopping because
she was going in haste to find the Mother of Time.
"You are not far from her dwelling," the oak announced. "Before you have
finished another day's journey you will get to a high mountain on the
summit of which is the home of her whom you seek. If you have as much
kindness as beauty you will oblige me by asking her why it is that my
fruit which used to be relished by strong men is now only made the food
of hogs."
"It will be a pleasure to do you such a service," Channa affirmed, and
departed.
The next day she arrived at the foot of a mountain which had its summit
far up among the clouds. There she found an old man, wearied and
wayworn, who had lain down on some hay. The moment he saw Channa he knew
her, for he was the pilgrim to whom she had ministered. When she told
him what she was seeking he responded that at last he could make some
return for her kindness.
"My pretty maiden," he said, "I would have you know that on the top of
this mountain you will find a castle which was built so long ago that no
one knows when it was built. The walls are cracked, the foundations are
crumbling, the doors are worm-eaten, the furniture is worn out, and, in
short, everything is gone to wrack and ruin.
"When you are almost to the castle, hide until Time goes out. After he
has gone, enter, and you will find an old, old woman, whose face is
covered with deep wrinkles, and whose eyebrows are so shaggy she will
not be able to see you. She is seated on a clock which is fastened to
the wall.
"Go in quickly and take off the weights that keep the machinery of the
clock in motion. Then ask the old woman to answer your questions. She
will instantly call her son to come and destroy you, but because you
have stopped the clock by taking the weights he cannot move. Therefore
she will be obliged to tell you what you want to know."