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One day, as he was roaming along in a brown study, thinking with

no great comfort on what he had been and what he now was, and was

like to be, all on a sudden there stood before him a little,

rough-looking, black dwarf. 'Prithee, friend, why so sorrowful?'

said he to the merchant; 'what is it you take so deeply to

heart?' 'If you would do me any good I would willingly tell you,'

said the merchant. 'Who knows but I may?' said the little man:

'tell me what ails you, and perhaps you will find I may be of

some use.' Then the merchant told him how all his wealth was gone

to the bottom of the sea, and how he had nothing left but that

little plot of land.