(unlabelled) When the story of the great desert or the lost ocean had been told, the little company of Moon people thanked the guide for his tales, and again started on their journey. Soon they approached the borders of a beautiful wood. The guide told them that he would turn back when they had travelled through the forest, for on the other side of the forest the black dwarf awaited them.
 
Princess Ethelda shuddered as she heard, but being a brave little Princess, she turned laughingly to the guide and said, “Well, Sir Guide, cannot you tell us another pretty story before you go?”
 
“Willingly,” replied the guide, and he at once began the story of Princess Sunset.
 
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“Once upon a time there lived in the heart of a great forest, something like this we are passing through, a young Prince with his two elder brothers. They lived in a splendid palace, and were fond of hunting and shooting; but they were also frequently at war with their neighbors, so that fighting of some sort always seemed to be going on. This youngest was named Oswald; though he always accompanied his brothers to war, and was the very bravest of all the knights, he thought it was useless to fight about everything. Life would be much happier if people were kind and peace-loving; and unless there were a serious question to fight about, he did not believe in fighting at all. He much preferred to roam the forest, studying the sky and the trees, or the lovely waters of the clear blue lakes. He would spend hours thus, musing on the wonderful works of Nature, and wondering where she kept her marvellous paint-box.
 
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“Now, Prince Oswald was very good-looking. He was tall and slender as the young saplings about him, but he was powerful and strong of limb, too; and when his brothers told him to choose a wife among the pretty maidens of the land, almost any of the princesses would have been glad to be chosen. But Prince Oswald was in no hurry to choose; he did not fall in love very easily, and he thought he would just wait until the right princess came along.
 
“One day, when lying on the shore of a beautiful body of water, he noticed that the sky was suddenly tinged with red. He rubbed his eyes with amazement, but the red hue tinged every object that he looked upon; the treetops, the lake, and the deer that glided along the edge of the forest had a delicate crimson splendor. In the midst of this fairy spectacle he heard a musical voice sigh, and turning around saw a radiantly beautiful woman standing near him. Her countenance was lovely, and her glorious brown eyes were sparkling with light. She smiled as she looked upon him, and for a minute her teeth gleamed white as little pearls between her red lips. Her splendid golden hair hung in soft masses below her waist, and the wind was blowing it softly about. Her garments were loose and flowing, and variegated in color, shading from the tenderest pink to the deepest crimson. The wonderful dyes of her dress seemed to float away from her in rosy clouds, and blend in the air until the rich rose-color around glowed and deepened to a magnificent red.
 
 
“Turning around he saw a radiantly beautiful woman near him.”
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“As Oswald stood gazing upon this gorgeous maiden, she addressed him in a low and charming voice: ‘O, dreamer of the woods, am I not worth seeking? Why do you waste your life in idleness here? Look for me in the land that lies westward, beyond the setting of the sun. There may be many obstacles in your path, but, overcoming them, you will find your bride awaiting you. Am I not worth the winning?’
 
“For answer, Oswald sprang forward to clasp her in his arms, but at that instant the red light glowed more brightly about her, flaring to a brilliant flame; and thus standing in its midst, she disappeared in a sea of fire, leaving the sky and water a dull, heavy gray.
 
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“Prince Oswald returned to the palace deeply wrapped in thought, and indeed he could think of nothing but the beautiful maiden he had seen. The next morning he determined he would seek and find her, because until he did he felt he could never be happy again. After making preparations to go, and bidding his brothers good-bye, he started alone to seek the Land of the Setting Sun. First he found the spot by the lake where, the evening before, he had watched the glorious beauty of the strange maiden, and he sat down in silence. Again the sky took on its delicate rose, deepening until the ruby splendor of the clouds piled themselves into gold and crimson palaces. From one of these palaces Oswald felt confident his beautiful lady would emerge, and tremblingly he sat expectant. Suddenly the same peculiar sigh met his ears, and turning to greet the lovely stranger, he saw to his disappointment only a glittering sword. The blade was, of course, of shining steel, but the handle was formed of one magnificent ruby. The radiance from this superb jewelled handle was magnificent. It gleamed and sparkled in flaming red, until the whole western world glowed with the bright reflection.
 
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“Oswald realized with a beating heart that it was a message from the mysterious lady, and he lifted the sword to his side. Then feeling brave enough to meet any dangers because she had sent him the sword, he started on his travels to the Land of the Setting Sun. Over hills and prairies, but always toward the west, Prince Oswald travelled. He rested by night only, and at early dawn was off again. On the third night he saw a bright light ahead, and on approaching it found it to be a beautiful princess. She was dressed in a gown of spun silver, and on her forehead there shone one magnificent star. She greeted him kindly, and told him she was the Evening Star, and would light him through the dark forest. He thanked her gratefully, and accompanied her in among the dark and gloomy trees. She glided ahead, and the light from the beautiful star crown showed him the way, even in the darkest places. Evening Star told him she recognized him in the distance by the ruby-hilted sword he wore. ‘You seek the Princess Sunset,’ she continued, ‘do you not?’
 
“‘Yes,’ replied Oswald, ‘and I shall never rest until I find her.’
 
“‘Alas!’ said Evening Star, ‘though I sincerely wish you success, I must tell you that many difficulties will beset you, for of all the young men who have passed this way in quest of the golden-haired Princess not one has ever returned. The obstacles that have beset them have proven too great, and they have never yet been able to rescue her.
 
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“‘She is wonderfully beautiful, though, and I am not surprised that you seek her. Once I met her face to face, and I could never forget what a vision of beauty she was. It was a charming evening, and I had risen over the purple hills a little earlier than usual. Tall and majestic the Princess stood upon the hilltop, clothed in her marvellous dress of crimson. Her great brown eyes looked questioningly into mine, and her splendid hair floated back from her lovely face in a sort of golden mist, while the breeze blew her long, trailing robes across the sky. Her exquisite form stood plainly outlined thus for several minutes, and the crimson colors from her garments tinged the heavens from a delicate pink to a brilliant ruby-red. Then suddenly stretching forth her arms toward me, she greeted me with a tender smile of welcome, and vanished. Never shall I forget her charm. She was the daughter of a great king and lived in a splendid palace, but she was as gentle and tender-hearted as a child. Her great delight was to roam the woods, gathering flowers and weaving them into a gorgeously colored robe. The brighter the flower the better she loved it. Red, yellow, blue, all were gathered and woven together, until the dress was a miracle of beauty and brightness. Her gown was so brilliant, that when she wore it the very skies reflected the colors, and she would stand upon the hilltop and let the flowing skirts trail out in long, loose lines across the heavens. This was her delight.
 
135
“‘People came from far and wide to see the Sunset Princess in her flower dress, for when she wore it she was marvellously beautiful. Among them once came a wicked magician, and the moment his eyes fell upon her he determined to marry her. So, to gain his end, he killed her father and her brothers, and destroyed all her people. Then he stole her, and hid her in his western palace; and there he has kept her a prisoner ever since. But she declares she will never, never marry such a cruel monster, even if she should never escape, and he cannot marry her without her consent.
 
136
“‘Now, the poor Princess has the power to appear in a dream to any one she wishes to come and deliver her from the wicked old magician’s power. But this is her only privilege. She can never stir from his palace (except in dreams) unless by his especial invitation. Once every day he invites her to come forth. At the sunset hour he calls her, and with her maidens she walks out upon a spacious balcony. But she is a brave princess, and she courageously wears her crimson flower dress, and gives him only scornful looks.
 
“‘The magician occasionally invites her out on the balcony for a cruel purpose—to show her the fate of each brave knight who tries to rescue her. Sometimes the gallant youth is already dead. Sometimes the wicked magician changes him into some four-footed creature before her eyes, making him wander upon the earth afterward as an animal. Alas! dear Prince,’ continued Evening Star, sadly, ‘I dread to see you go upon this dangerous expedition.’
 
“‘Do not fear for me,’ answered Oswald, bravely. ‘At last, I have learned where the beautiful Princess of my dreams is imprisoned. No matter what the dangers are, I will find her and rescue her.’
 
“Indeed, he was so rejoiced at the news brought by Evening Star that he slept with a light heart that night, and at early dawn started again toward the Setting Sun. Every evening the sky was tinged with the lovely red, but he had no other sign from the Princess.
 
137
“One night he stopped at a castle where he met the beautiful daughter of a wealthy and powerful duke. After a handsome banquet and ball given in his honor, where the young countess paid him the highest honors, the duke approached him, and offered to give him her hand in marriage if he would remain and help to govern the people.
 
“Now, Oswald was very grateful for all this kindness, but his heart was too full of the Sunset Princess to think of any other maiden. So, after thanking the duke courteously, he declined the honor. The ............