FAR from the kingdom of King Red Flame, in the dismal country that lies along the Chimney Back are many dark and mischievous fairies, and the most mischievous of them all was Flying Soot.

He was a great traveler, and employed himself in flitting from place to place collecting news, and telling it again wherever he thought that it would do the most harm. Most of his time was spent in the Land of Evil Fairies where he had many friends who gave him welcome[78] for the sake of what he had to tell. But now and again he crossed secretly into King Red Flame’s dominions, in the hope that he might pick up some information that he could use. He always took great care, however, not to allow himself to be seen by any of the Fire Fairies.

Upon one of these excursions he overheard some Fire Fairies repeating the story of the enchantment of Princess White Flame, and learned at the same time about the Earth Fairy’s imprisonment. After that he could not rest until he had found the way to the place where she was confined.

During all the years that the Earth Fairy had been locked in her prison, she had known nothing of what went on outside of it. She neither knew of the wondrous Veil in the Wise One’s[79] ancient chest, nor that it was expected that a Prince would some day come who would set the Princess free.

Because of her long imprisonment her hatred of King Red Flame burned all the more intensely, but deprived as she now was of every means of working magic, she could neither escape, nor wreak further vengeance upon her master.

One day, as she sat in a corner of her cell nursing her anger, she heard her fairy keeper come to her door and try it carefully to see that it was still securely fastened. Then his footsteps retreated, and she knew that he had gone away with his companions for a short rest under the trees as was his daily custom.

Hardly had the sound of his footsteps faded away when a faint rustle outside[80] the door caught her ear, and a voice that was unknown to her softly called her name.

Making no noise she crept to the keyhole and peered through. A figure stood near it, wrapped in a long black mantle, with a black velvet cap pulled low over his forehead. From his face she knew that he was an evil fairy, but he was a stranger, and fearing that he might be an enemy she made no answer.

Her visitor was not discouraged. He called to her again, and told her that he was Flying Soot. Finding that she still made no reply, he assured her that he was a friend, and began at once to give her what news he could of King Red Flame and the Princess. At that the Earth Fairy answered him willingly, and harkened with eagerness to what he had to say. They talked for some time,[81] but as soon as the keeper was heard returning, Flying Soot scurried off. After that he came from time to time to see her and bring the news, and the knowledge that the Princess was still but a flame, always filled the Earth Fairy with wicked satisfaction.

On the day that Prince Radiance found and talked with Princess White Flame in the palace garden, Flying Soot passed near them on his way to the Earth Fairy’s prison.

Hearing their voices he drew near stealthily, and listened to them. As soon as Prince Radiance departed, away rushed the mischief-maker to the Earth Fairy. It was the hour when the keeper was absent, so that he flew straight to the door without pause.

“Earth Fairy! Earth Fairy!” he called, placing his lips to the keyhole.[82] “Come close and listen; I have great news!”

The Earth Fairy sprang to the door at once. “What is it?” demanded she, “Tell me quickly.”

“A Prince has come,” he told her. “A Prince who swears to break the power of your spell.”

From the Earth Fairy’s lips burst a laugh of scorn. “Let him try as he may,” she declared, “he will never succeed.”

“Be not too sure of that,” warned Flying Soot. “This Prince spoke with the Princess of a magic Veil, which he has but to cast over her to restore her at once to her true form.”

For a moment the Earth Fairy was quite speechless with astonishment and dismay; then she cried aloud, “A Veil![83] A magic Veil that will set the Princess free!”

“Yes,” replied her companion, “Already the Prince has gone to fetch it from where it lies hidden in the chest of the Wise One. Soon he will return to where the Princess awaits him in the garden, and presently, my dear Earth Fairy, the spell that you wrought with such care will be a thing of naught.”

“No, no!” screamed the Earth Fairy, “Never, never shall this be! I must escape. You must help me to escape at once, and prevent it!”

Flying Soot shook his head doubtfully.

“How can I enable you to escape from a prison so strong, and so securely locked?”

“It takes but a key to open the strongest[84] lock,” insisted the Earth Fairy. “You must overpower the keeper. You must obtain the key—and let me out.”

In the beginning Flying Soot was unwilling to try, but when the Earth Fairy presently spoke of rewarding him for his services, he agreed to do as she wished.

“First you must release me,” commanded she. “Then you must hasten to the Palace of Burning Coals, and bring forth my bundle of wands from a hiding place that I will tell you of. When you have brought them to me, I will bestow one of them upon you as your reward.”

Now Flying Soot knew well that a Soot Fairy can work no magic with the wand of a Fire Fairy unless he is taught its secret. “Promise that you will[85] surely show me how to use it,” said he, “and I will do as you ask.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” agreed the Earth Fairy impatiently. “Only be swift about your task, and the secret shall be yours.”

Satisfied with her reply, Flying Soot went his way. In the darkness of her cell the Earth Fairy waited, scarcely able to breathe, so fearful was she that the Prince might return from the Wise One and disenchant the Princess before she had time to interfere.

It was but a little while, however, before she heard the stealthy footsteps of Flying Soot returning. It was but a moment more till she heard the great key turn in the lock, and saw the door flung wide open.

“Come out quickly,” whispered her[86] deliverer. “Your keepers, blinded with soot, grope hither and thither utterly bewildered. Together we must contrive to shove them into your prison, and lock them up in your place. After that you will be able to go on your way in safety.”

Instantly, the Earth Fairy sprang to his help, and so skillfully did the two evil fairies jostle the keepers against one another and guide them to the prison door, that soon they were lodged in the Earth Fairy’s cell. Then the key was turned upon them, and they were left to grope clumsily about in the darkness, while the Earth Fairy and her companion hurried to the safe shelter of a thicket. There the Earth Fairy told Flying Soot where she had hidden her wands, and bade him haste to bring them to her. When he had departed upon his[87] errand the Earth Fairy huddled low among the bushes to await his coming with what patience she might.

In spite of the years that had passed since the Earth Fairy had hidden her wands, none had discovered the place where they lay. So crafty a messenger was Flying Soot that he obtained them unseen, and without difficulty, and soon returned to where the Earth Fairy was concealed. He laid the bundle in her outstretched hand.

Trembling with anxiety, the Earth Fairy opened the case, and ran her fingers over the wands to test their power. The Green Wand shot forth emerald fire from its tip as she took it from among the rest. It was as full of magic as on that far-off day when with it she had so cruelly enchanted the baby Princess.

[88]With covetous eyes Flying Soot looked upon it. “Ah!” cried he, “that is the wand of my desire. That shall be my well-earned reward.” He stretched his hand to take it from her, but the Earth Fairy waved him back with an imperious gesture.

“Touch not the Green Wand,” she commanded. “To do so is to destroy yourself.” She laid it back in its place and took out in it its stead a small dark wand. This she extended to him saying, “Here is the one which is for you.” With indignant words he would have spurned it, but she checked his complaints abruptly. “It will serve you well, if you but know its secret,” she told him, “See—in this its magic dwells.” With a last envious look at the Green Wand, Flying Soot cast aside his anger, and watched her narrowly while she[89] showed him how to use her gift. Still a little ungraciously he received it, and hid it in his mantle.

The Earth Fairy stopping for no farewell, gathered up her bundle of wands, and hurried to the spot where Flying Soot had told her the Princess awaited the coming of Prince Radiance. There at the foot of the great fire oak she saw her, flushing and paling with glorious light. She was thinking of the wonderful happiness that had come to her, but suddenly she became aware that a stranger was approaching. Looking up she beheld the Earth Fairy.

Quickly the Earth Fairy advanced till she stood before the Princess, and without waiting to be addressed, announced her errand.

“Your Highness,” she said, “I am a messenger from Prince Radiance. He[90] cannot return to you as he had expected; but he has sent me to ask you to let me guide you to where he waits for you.”

Princess White Flame regarded her doubtfully. “You are a stranger to me,” she replied. “How may I know that you are in truth a messenger from the Prince?”

“Ah,” cried the Earth Fairy, “will you not trust me? Alas! If you do not, the Prince can never disenchant you, for the Wise One has assured him that unless you come to where Prince Radiance now awaits you, the Veil will have no power over you.”

For a moment the Princess regarded the face of the wicked one closely. It bore a kind and innocent look. Still she felt undecided.

“Hasten, Your Highness!” entreated[91] the Earth Fairy. “Hasten, I beg of you, lest its magic be lost to you both.”

The Princess White Flame hesitated no longer. “Lead on,” she said, “and I will follow.”

Rejoiced that she had been able to persuade the Princess so easily, the Earth Fairy passed at once out of the Garden, and away from the Palace of Burning Coals, and close beside her fluttered the white flame of the Princess.

Silently they traveled, and after a time the country through which they were passing began to look strange to the Princess. Yet, though they went on and on, she still saw no sign of Prince Radiance. At last she began to question the Earth Fairy, who always replied that they had but a short distance farther to go.

The lovely flame-colored and yellow[92] trees of the Land of the Fire Fairies had been left far behind; the little birds that make a music in the Fire Kingdom like none elsewhere, were heard no more: the beautiful palaces, the shining gardens, where happy fairies worked and played, had vanished. On all sides rose dull red caves, huge heaps of ash, or high black walls of soot, ugly and forbidding.

Hideous creatures crept away into darkness as they drew near, or peered out upon them from hiding-places as they passed.

Princess White Flame shuddered, and her light grew pale and dim. “Whither are you leading me?” she cried faintly, “Answer truly, for I will go no further.”

The Earth Fairy laughed mockingly. “Well may you ask,” she replied. “Evil for you was the hour when you left your[93] garden to follow me. Behold in me the Earth Fairy—your parents’ enemy and yours.”

A great trembling seized the unfortunate Princess. In this terrible land, helpless in the power of this wicked fairy, how could she hope ever again to see the Prince who had won her heart? How could she hope ever again to return to her father in the Palace of Burning Coals?

Coldly and cruelly the voice of the Earth Fairy came to her in her despair.

“Many years was I a prisoner by King Red Flame’s command, and dark and dreary was my cell. Now my turn for vengeance has come, and you may be well assured that in the place that I have chosen for you, neither the beauty of your voice, nor your flashing brightness shall avail you aught.”

[94]Before them yawned a black and narrow cave, its walls hung thick with soot. From under her cloak the Earth Fairy drew her Green Wand. She extended it over the Princess, and pointed to the cave. “By the power of my Green Wand I command you to enter,” she cried.

From the wand streamed a magic so potent that the poor Princess had no power to resist it. With a low cry of anguish, she bowed herself, and disappeared into the darkness of the cave.

Calling all her evil magic to her aid, the Earth Fairy drew down the walls of the cave and sealed them. She listened to make sure that no sound could make its way from within. Then she returned her wand to its place, and flitted away over the desolate plain. As she went she[95] murmured gleefully, “Ah! that was well done. Now I know for a certainty that nothing good can ever come to Princess White Flame.”