NO sooner had the Earth Fairy beheld the sudden downfall of the Wizard than she immediately fled from the Cave of Darkness taking Princess White Flame with her.

Flying Soot, much crestfallen over the way in which matters had turned out, kept a little way behind them, for he was not anxious to speak with the Earth Fairy until her anger had had time to cool. When they were well outside the Cave, however, he drew nearer, and began as usual to make excuses and suggest new plans.

[205]The Earth Fairy listened to him most ungraciously. “Speak no more of these friends of yours,” she exclaimed, “for I have lost all faith in them.”

“As you will,” said Flying Soot, with a shrug of his black shoulders, “but you make a grave mistake if you do not try the Wind in the Chimney.”

“I have no reason to believe that he will do any better than those others of whom you boasted so loudly,” retorted the Earth Fairy.

But Flying Soot was not to be discouraged. He continued to sing the Wind’s praises, until finally the Earth Fairy consented to give him a trial.

“You have but to wait here in concealment near the mouth of the Cave until the Prince comes forth,” directed Flying Soot, before he took his leave of her. “Then cause the Princess to lead[206] him to the Chimney yonder, and you will soon see that the Wind is one whose magic is not to be despised.”

He gathered his black mantle about him and departed, and the Earth Fairy hid herself and Princess White Flame in a deep cleft close by, from whence she should be able to see Prince Radiance the moment that he issued from the Cave.

With her keen eyes fixed steadily in that direction the Earth Fairy did not let her gaze wander elsewhere, and hence she did not see a tall form creeping stealthily from dark cliff to dark cliff as though seeking someone; she did not see a small grey figure following closely at his heels. They were Curling Smoke and the Ash Goblin in quest of the Prince and Flying Soot.

At last the Earth Fairy’s watching[207] was rewarded. She saw Prince Radiance come from the Cave’s mouth in company with the Shadow Witch, saw him bid her farewell, and saw the Shadow Witch steal away from him to her own land.

Then quickly the Earth Fairy came forth and drove the Princess to where Prince Radiance could not fail to behold her when he should set out in quest of her.

It happened as the Earth Fairy expected; the Prince searching the plain with his eyes instantly descried the Princess. He had not even had time to call to her, when suddenly the huge grey form of Curling Smoke wound upon him from behind, gathered the Prince, the Princess and the Earth Fairy, one and all, into a dense cloud of smoke, in[208] which none could see the other, and hurried them away toward the Chimney.

The Ash Goblin beholding, danced for joy, for he had seen Flying Soot vanish into the Chimney not long since, and believed that now his time of punishment was come.

Flying Soot had indeed reached the great Chimney where the Wind dwelt, and was even now awaiting the coming of the Earth Fairy and those that she should bring with her. The Chimney was wide and dark, with great rough boundaries, and the Wind’s voice was so strong and boisterous that it could be heard from the Chimney Mouth to the Chimney Top. Over the entire Chimney the Wind ruled, and none dared to intrude upon him there without first asking his permission.

It was true that Curling Smoke had[209] the right of way to the Chimney Top, but it was well understood that the Wind was at liberty to deny him entrance to the Chimney at any time that he chose.

When Flying Soot had arrived at the Chimney Mouth, the Wind had howled a welcome to him, and bade him enter. This Flying Soot had made haste to do, and finding a seat beside the Wind had told his errand without loss of time.

“Ah!” whistled the Wind, “what you say interests me greatly, and I am perfectly willing to do as you ask and help the Earth Fairy. You may give yourself no anxiety about the Veil. I care nothing whatever for it. Of one thing you must assure me, however, and that is that she has had no dealings with Curling Smoke in this matter, for I am on bad terms with him at present, and[210] refuse to take part in anything in which he has at any time been concerned.”

Flying Soot rolled up his eyes and swore to the Wind in the Chimney that neither he nor the Earth Fairy had had anything to do with Curling Smoke, nor would they think of approaching him. So the Wind was satisfied and declared that he would exert all his powers in the Earth Fairy’s behalf.

The Soot Fairy was just about to thank him for the promise of his good offices, when suddenly the Wind leaned from his seat, and peered down toward the Chimney Mouth. Flying Soot looked also. Up the Chimney rose a dense cloud of smoke, and in it, so enveloped by it that they could not see each other, though they were plainly visible to the eyes of the Wind and Flying Soot, were the Earth Fairy, Princess[211] White Flame, and Prince Radiance. Behind them loomed an immense grey shape. It was Curling Smoke on his way to the Chimney Top, driving his enemies before him.

The Wind started from his seat in a towering rage. “So this is the way you and your Earth Fairy have deceived me,” he howled, turning upon Flying Soot. “This is the way in which she has had nothing to do with Curling Smoke. But you, her messenger, shall learn what happens when you trifle with the Wind. Up, out of my Chimney, to the punishment that you well deserve.”

With one blast he drove the Soot Fairy up and away through the great black spaces of the Chimney, and hurled him out into the Great World Beyond. Well did the Wind know that from thence he could not return.

[212]Then with so mighty a rush that nothing could stand before it he pounced upon Curling Smoke and those whom he had in his power. “How dare you come into my presence unbidden?” he shrieked. “Out of my kingdom all o............