"Wonderful snack!" I said with enthusiasm, wiping the bread crumbs off my face with the red and white checked cloth provided by my rock crab friends.
"Yes, certainly", Shadow said and continued with a slight shiver, "Now we must prepare you to pass safely through the Dell O'Gloom on your way to the Perplex Plain."
"How can I be better prepared?" I asked, "I am as ready as I'll ever be!"
"Not quite!" said Shadow the Crow. "In the Dell O'Gloom what is most needed is a little light--take this."
And Shadow gave me a small jewel.
"Good luck, courage--and, if all goes well, I'll meet you on the other side of the Dell O'Gloom! Fare well!"
And Shadow, my new helper and friend, flew away so quickly he was soon just a tiny dot in the sky.
...
"Perhaps you would like a little refreshment?" continued Shadow the Crow, "I have a snack prepared by your rock crab friends down below the Slippery Slope: some bread, Stilton Cheese and a bottle of Ring-Bo-Ree..."
"Wonderful!" I exclaimed. "I have never had such faithful and thoughtful new friends!"
"That's questing." Remarked Shadow.
...
With a last heave on the rope and a scramble of claws I stood at last on the tippety top of the Slippery Slope--panting from the effort, but safe.
I saw that the rope was tied to a stout tree near the edge of the slope--and sitting on a branch of that same tree was a very large crow.
"Welcome to the top, Sir Crabaine!" Croaked the crow.
"Thank you VERY much!" I replied, "Are YOU the one who helped me with the rope? Do I know you?"
"You don't know me--but I know YOU!" said the crow.
"Yes, it was me who threw you the rope!"
"Your quest for the Box of Destiny is important--not only for yourself, but for others--and whenever someone undertakes a serious quest, help comes from many sources, sources unknown to the quester himself."
"My name is Shadow", said the crow and I am one of your helpers."
...
There was the rope and there was the slippery slope!
I had to take the chance--there was no other way for me now!
I took the sturdy rope in my claws and, using it to brace my way, began to slowly climb back up the slippery slope.
It was not easy, but the rope held and I made good but slow progress until I could actually see the top!
Just a few feet more...
...
Dazed from my tumble and half buried by slippery stuff from the slippery slope, I gazed around me--it was the exact same place where I had started my ascent.
What to do?
It seemed totally hopeless to climb up again!
I was dumboozled--when suddenly a sturdy rope uncoiled down the slope and the end came to rest practically on top of me.
What could it mean?
Could there be someone at the top that wanted to help me climb the slippery slope?
...
This really WAS a slippery slope!
I slowly crawled higher--but the way just got slipperier and slipperier!
But I was nearing the top when I started to slide back.
Faster and faster--my slide became a tumble--head over claws rolling madly back down the slippery slope!
Right back down to the bottom where I had started!!
...
Just as the Rock Crabs had said--as soon as I left Aunt Agatha's stone dwelling, the way became steeper and slippery.
At first it was a gentle slope--but the slope became steeper and more slippery with every step!
Soon I was climbing uphill with all my strength--but I found myself sliding back down almost as much as I struggled up!
...
