IN the Gloomy Vale the Great Black Dragon lay asleep with his head between his paws. Around him, on all sides, stretched the black hillsides, with apparently no living creature but the Dragon to be seen.

Yet as Flying Soot entered the valley on his mission for the Earth Fairy, dull-hued toads hopped away from his feet, and strange animals of hideous shapes left the nooks where they had lain sleeping to creep away and drowse again in[137] a more distant spot. Occasionally he saw fierce eyes glare out upon him from a dim thicket, or beheld the sharp claw or lashing tail of some evil creature whisking itself away from his view.

Flying Soot knew them all, and feared them not. He passed unmolested on his way, and stopped within a yard of the Dragon, but so profound was the monster’s sleep that he did not stir.

“Awake, Sir Dragon!” cried Flying Soot, drawing nearer, “Awake!”

The Dragon moved one claw a little in his slumber, but gave no other heed.

Flying Soot drew nearer still. “Awake, Sir Dragon! Awake!” he shouted in his very ear.

Then the Dragon gave a great yawn, and his eyelids slowly rose.

“Ah, it is you, Flying Soot,” he[138] grunted. “What is it that brings you here to disturb my rest?”

“I come on an errand of importance,” answered the Soot Fairy. “One in which none can give such valuable aid as the Great Black Dragon of the Gloomy Vale.”

His words pleased the Dragon. He moistened his lips and cheeks with his great tongue, and sat erect upon his haunches. “Let me hear your errand,” commanded he.

So Flying Soot made haste to explain why he had come, and the Dragon immediately agreed to help the Earth Fairy.

“Ho, ho!” he cried. “I shall vanquish this Prince quickly, you shall see, for when I choose to use them I have weapons of such power that none can stand out against them. Have no fear,[139] Flying Soot. Trust all to me, and I assure you that you and your friend the Earth Fairy, shall not be disappointed.”

Looking upon the monster’s huge form, his terrible claws, his fiercely lashing tail, Flying Soot knew that the Great Black Dragon had good cause to boast.

“I leave the matter entirely to you,” said he. “There is one thing more, however, that you must promise me. You must on no account harm, or even touch the fairy Veil of which I have told you. Least of all must you attempt to take it for yourself. I assure you that it is of no value to any but the Prince or the Earth Fairy. For others it will work no charm.”

The Dragon laughed loud and scornfully. “That matters naught to me,” he cried. “By the weapons that I carry[140] always with me I am able to accomplish what things I please. Why then should I wish for a trifle like this Veil?”

His mind entirely at rest upon that score, Flying Soot now sat himself down upon a black hillock close to the Dragon, and sought to entertain him as they waited by giving him such bits of news as he had collected in his travels. The Dragon well pleased to have him do so, listened hungrily to every word.

Meanwhile Prince Radiance, alone in a strange land, and still weary from his struggle with the Giant, sunk down upon a heap of ash and bowed his head. He wished to ponder well his course, before he again set out. Behind him lay that part of the Wide Grey Plain where the Giant dwelt who had so lately tried to destroy him. Before him, and at his left stretched a plain of ash. To[141] his right a black country opened with low lying hills and valleys wherein might lurk unseen dangers for them both.

As he sat there in indecision, the Earth Fairy coming in search of him, espied him from afar.

Princess White Flame saw him also, and uttered a cry of joy. She needed not the spur of the Earth Fairy’s wand to drive her to him. Swiftly across the desolate waste she flitted until he was within sound of her voice.

“Radiance, dear Radiance!” she called to him, “What happiness is mine that I have found you once more!”

Hearing that well-loved voice the Prince raised his head quickly and saw the Princess, not fleeing from him, but advancing toward him. Instantly he leaped to his feet, with arms outstretched,[142] crying in rapture, “Nay my Princess, what happiness is mine that you have returned to me once more!”

He ran to her at full-speed and had well-nigh reached her, when suddenly Princess White Flame was again made sensible of the restraining wand of the Earth Fairy. Cruelly, inexorably, it drew her steadily away from the Prince into the black country at his right.

Seeing the distance widening between them the Prince cried aloud with grief and disappointment. Sore as was his own heart, Prince Radiance nevertheless called to her tenderly, hoping to support and comfort her. “Fear not, dearest White Flame,” he exclaimed. “Whither you go, there will I go also, and in the end my love shall conquer every spell.”

At his words the courage of the[143] Princess rose again, and with it came hope, even though she shivered as they presently entered that dark valley where the Dragon dwelt. At first it appeared to them quite deserted, for so close the monster lay to the black ground that he looked to be but a part of the vale itself. Thus White Flame passed over him and beyond him without suspecting his presence, and Prince Radiance in his turn had advanced almost to the Dragon’s feet before he saw what lay in wait to bar his way.

Aghast at the sudden appearance of this new foe, Prince Radiance fell back a pace to place himself on guard, sc............