Rip Van Winkle met a stranger in the mountains. Again, Rip turned around, and this time spotted a small figure walking toward him. As the stranger came closer, Rip was surprised at his appearance. The stranger was a very short and stout little man, with bushy hair and eyebrows and a full, bushy beard. On the man's shoulder was a barrel. The man asked Rip to help him carry it, and Rip, being a friendly man, agreed. Rip and the strange little man carried the barrel high up into the mountains. They walked and walked, higher and higher into the misty mountains, and deeper and deeper into the dark woods. Finally, the two came to a clearing. Here Rip spotted a group of small men much like his new friend. These men were busy playing a game of bowling on the clearing's grass. All of the little men had long, flowing beards and funny hats and clothes, much like the man with the barrel.