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"YES!", they both cried in relief. "Can you help us????", Harold asked impatiently.

The older gentleman replied, "Well, I happen to be on my way to a Masquerade, and someone there may be able to help, if you'd like to come along?"

Harold said, "But our shoes still have holes! Please, sir, can you not direct us to a cobbler?"

"Oh, there is a cobbler en route to the Masquerade. To get there, we must traverse those mountains and the grim forest, so you'd..."

... better hurry and come along!" the older gentleman, who then introduced himself as Mask Kuraid.

Harold and Hilda looked at each other. "I don't trust people named after drinks," Hilda said doubtfully.

"This may be our only chance," pleaded Harold. "I think we should go. How are we to get there?"

"On this path," Mask pointed out, "the one I've been telling you about. Now will you..."

...follow the yellow slick toad?"

Harold and Hilda looked up, and lo! There was indeed a yellow, and very slimy, toad on the road. It said, "Ribbit."

"A toad?" said Hilda, bewildered. "A toad will guide us through the mountains and forest?"

"Verily," said the toad in suave tones. "For lo, hast it not been saith, 'The smallest shall be the greatest, and the greatest least'? I shalt guide ye, and thou may'st follow, if it pleaseth thee."

"Uh... forsooth," said Hilda, trying to imitate the toads archaic speech. Hilda and Harold followed the toad for several hours when the toad suddenly stopped and said...

"I be thirsty," quoth the toad. "Dost thou, perchance, have amidst thy persons something to drink?"

Harold reached into his bag and pulled out a wineskin and said, "We do, but it's a strong drink, made from..."

"...the finest Pilanian Plums. But I warn you, only drink a little, or else..."