Then, all at once, he saw again the two white butterflies that flew up to him from the way of the setting sun. In suspense, he followed their flight. Would they show him the way? They hovered above his head--then floated apart to return again--whirling about in fickle play. Little by little they left the sun, and finally fluttered beyond the border of the dunes--away to the woods. There, only the highest tips were still touched by the evening glow that shone out red and vivid from under the long files of sombre clouds. Johannes followed the butterflies. But when they had flown above the nearest trees, he saw a dark shadow swoop toward them in noiseless flight, and then hover over them. It pursued and overtook them. The next moment they had vanished. The black shadow darted swiftly up to him, and he covered his face with his hands, in terror. "Well, little friend, why do you sit here, crying?" rang a sharp, taunting voice close beside him. Johannes had seen a huge bat coming toward him, but when he looked up, a swarthy mannikin, not much taller than himself, was standing on the dunes. It had a great head, with big ears, that stood out--dark--against the bright evening sky, and a lean little body with slim legs. Of his face Johannes could see only the small, glittering eyes. "Have you lost anything, little fellow? If so, I will help you seek it," said he. But Johannes silently shook his head. "Look! Would you like these?" he began again, opening his hand. Johannes saw there something white, that from time to time barely stirred. It was the two white butterflies--dead--with the torn and broken little wings still quivering. Johannes shivered, as though some one had blown on the back of his neck, and he looked up in alarm at the strange being. "Who are you?" he asked. "Would you like to know my name, Chappie? Well, just call me Pluizer[1]--simply Pluizer. I have still prettier names, but that you do not yet understand." "Are you a human being?" "Better yet! Still, I have arms and legs and a head--just see what a head! And yet the boy asks if I'm a human being! Well, Johannes, Johannes!" And the mannikin laughed with a shrill, piercing sound. "How do you know who I am?" asked Johannes. "Oh, that is a trifle for me! I know a great deal more. I know where you came from, and what you came here to do. I know an astonishing lot--almost everything." "Ah! Mr. Pluizer...." "Pluizer--Pluizer. No ceremony!" "Do you know then?..." But Johannes suddenly stopped. "He is a human being," thought he. "About your little key, do you mean?" asked the mannikin. "Yes, indeed I do." "But I did not think human beings could know anything about that." "Silly boy! And Wistik has babbled to so many about it!" "Do you know Wistik, too?"