Away went Flying Soot at full speed until he came to the Seven Hills
of Ash. There in a great hollow between them crouched the Giant of the
Wide Grey Plain. He was grumbling and grumbling to himself, for no one
had invited him to join them in any evil magic for a long while. So he
was having a terribly stupid time of it, and wished with all his heart
that something would happen that would give him a chance to show his
power.
Flying Soot stole up to him unseen, and softly touched his elbow.
The Giant turned with so tremendous a start that masses of ash were
shaken loose from the Seven Hills, and fell in clouds into the hollow.
“So it is you, Flying Soot!” he cried joyfully. “That means there is
good prospect of mischief afoot.”
“Ay,” replied Flying Soot, “that there is.” He found a seat on a
soft bank close to the Giant, who at once prepared himself to hear
interesting news.
Flying Soot began forthwith to tell him about the Earth Fairy, who he
said had sent him to ask the Giant’s aid against a young Prince who
would soon be traveling that way. “He will be preceded by a flame,
who is the enchanted Princess whom he loves,” said he. “She it is,
who, under the Earth Fairy’s spell, leads him on to danger. We wish
you to destroy the Prince if you can. At any rate you must completely
overpower him, in order that the Earth Fairy may take from him a Veil
which he carries, and which she greatly covets.”
“Surely this Veil must be endowed with marvelous power,” exclaimed the
Giant, “if the Earth Fairy is so anxious to secure it.”
“True,” Flying Soot made haste to answer; “but it possesses this power
only in the hands of the Prince, or of the Earth Fairy. To you or to
others it would be of no use whatever.”
“Well, well,” growled the Giant, “she may have it and welcome for all I
care. Why should I wish for a wretched Veil so long as I have my Cloak
with which to work my will.”
“Why should you, indeed?” agreed the Soot Fairy. “What is a trifle
like a Veil, compared to a Cloak so wonderful as yours?”
Flattered by the words of Flying Soot, the Giant was now ready to exert
himself to the utmost, and could hardly wait for the arrival of the
Prince.
“Be sure that you do no harm to the Princess,” Flying Soot warned him.
“The Earth Fairy herself will see to her. It is the Prince alone upon
whom you are to exercise your power.”
“I shall remember,” replied the Giant. “Say no more, but come and watch
for them with me. Through this opening between the Seven Hills we can
surely see them as they approach.” Flying Soot did as the Giant bade
him and together they watched and waited for some time.
At last, in the distance, they beheld a flashing brightness coming
steadily toward the place where they lay in wait, and close behind it
followed a figure well known to Flying Soot.
“See!” he whispered, gripping the Giant’s arm. “The Princess comes, and
the Prince hastens after. There also is my friend the Earth Fairy.”
“Ay,” answered the Giant with a malicious chuckle. “They are coming
fast. Go farther from me, Flying Soot, that I may have room to use my
Cloak.” Flying Soot obeyed, and the Giant began to make ready.
He loosed his huge grey Cloak from his neck, dragged it from his
shoulders, and gathered its collar firmly in his hand. Then he crouched
down once more behind the hill nearest to the approaching travelers.
So like to the ashes in color was the Giant’s great body that he was
almost indistinguishable, as with eyes glued to the opening in the
side of the hill, he awaited the moment when the Prince should arrive.
Prince Radiance gave heed only to the Princess. With his gaze fixed
upon her flashing light, he followed its guidance across the Wide Grey
Plain. As he sped on and on, he kept ever before him the hope that by
some means he might be able to bridge the distance between them. So,
before he realized it, he had reached the Seven Hills of Ash, and the
danger that lurked behind them.
The Giant’s time had come. Silently, swiftly he rose, and towered above
the hills that had sheltered him. With a sweep of his mighty arm he
flung out his cloak and cast it like a grey wall between the Prince and
the Princess. Deftly he caught Prince Radiance in its folds, and before
the Prince could make the least effort to free himself, the Giant
raised his Cloak high in air, and set it spinning about his head like
an enormous revolving cloud. Larger it grew, flying faster and faster
the while, and at every turn its stifling folds settled closer about
the captive Prince.
The hoarse laughter of the Giant roared in his ears like thunder. Half
choked, the Prince beat back the Cloak from his face, and struggled
violently to escape. But round and round spun the Cloak as the Giant
whirled his powerful arm, and Prince Radiance only exhausted himself
against its tightening clasp, in vain.
The Giant’s dull eyes began to glitter for he knew that none could
resist his evil Cloak for very long. Safe hidden within the hollow
between the Hills of Ash, Flying Soot peered out upon them, and near
him hovered the cruel Earth Fairy, ready to dart out and seize the
treasure that she coveted as soon as the Giant’s victory was gained.
Princess White Flame, stricken with grief and dismay at the sudden
disappearance of the Prince, quivered alone and helpless where the
Earth Fairy held her in thrall.
Gladly the Prince would have drawn his sword to slash his way through
the Giant’s great Cloak, but he could not free his arms sufficiently
to do so. Thus he seemed entirely without a weapon that he could use
in his own defense, and he was about to give himself up for lost, when
suddenly he remembered the Grey Pouch at his side. He remembered also
the words of the giver, “It will help you out of many a danger--out of
many a difficulty.”
“May it not be that it will help me now?” murmured the Prince faintly,
“Ah, if it does not, then all hope of escape is gone.”
By a great effort he slipped his hand down to his side. With shaking
fingers he undid the clasp of his Pouch and reached for the glowing
coal that lay within. He drew it forth, and felt, as he did so that
it was on fire with magic. He pressed it against the Giant’s Cloak.
Immediately a hole appeared in its folds, which widened rapidly. The
air rushed in, reviving the Prince with its freshness and giving
him zeal and new courage. So well did he use his weapon then, that
presently he had before him a great opening in the thick folds through
which he could pass with ease.
The Cloak in the Giant’s hands was still whirling at tremendous speed.
Prince Radiance, looking out through the opening saw the Seven Hills
of Ash and the Wide Grey Plain spinning dizzily round and round far
beneath him. Yet he was not afraid. He prepared himself to leap from
the opening that he had made, when suddenly the Giant hurled his Cloak
violently forward. Instantly the Prince was thrown through the air with
such force that he was driven far out of reach or sight of his enemies.
His scarlet mantle spread itself about him like great wings that bore
him swiftly on and on, until at last it settled slowly and allowed him
to alight in a place of safety.
The Giant, unaware that Prince Radiance was no longer in his power,
gave his huge Cloak an abrupt twist. Immediately it shrunk to its
former size, and he threw it down into the hollow between the Seven
Hills. Then he turned to the Earth Fairy triumphantly.
[Illustration: Suddenly the Giant hurled his Cloak violently forward]
“Come now, and take what you desire,” he roared, “for this miserable
Prince is without doubt completely destroyed.”
Forth rushed the wicked Earth Fairy in a tremor of delight, sure that
she was about to possess the Veil. With greedy hands she flung aside
the folds of the Giant’s Cloak; with greedy hands she searched within
its folds; but search as she would, she could find nothing. Unable to
believe in such ill-fortune she tore the Cloak to right and left, but
at last she knew for a certainty that the Prince was not there.
In a rage she turned upon the Giant. “Miserable creature, see what you
have done!” she screamed. “With the Prince completely in your grasp as
he was, you have been so stupid as to allow him to escape.”
The Giant could not believe it possible. He stooped over the Cloak,
and himself examined each one of its great folds, but at last he was
convinced that the Earth Fairy was right. The Prince was indeed gone,
and the great hole burned in the Cloak showed plainly the manner of his
escape. Vexed as he was, his vexation changed quickly to anger as the
Earth Fairy continued to pour contempt upon him for his failure, and to
upbraid Flying Soot for having brought her to so worthless an ally.
Springing up in uncontrollable fury at her insolence, the Giant shouted
threats at her at the top of his lungs.
Flying Soot saw that he must interfere at once. He bent down and
whispered quickly to the Earth Fairy, “Do not tarry here an instant
longer. You have made an enemy of the Giant. In another moment he will
destroy us all. Come, let us go in quest of the Prince, for I have
other friends who may serve you better than the Giant.”
The crafty Earth Fairy perceived that he was right, and yielded herself
at once to his advice. Away she fled with Flying Soot across the Wide
Grey Plain, taking with her the sorrowing Princess, and soon the Giant
and his rage, and the Seven Hills of Ash lay far behind them.
At last Flying Soot checked the Earth Fairy’s flight. “Let us stop here
while I tell you what I mean to do,” he said.
The Earth Fairy was willing. She rested her Green Wand, and Princess
White Flame ceased to go forward, but her captor made sure that the
Princess was not near enough to herself and Flying Soot to overhear
anything that might be said.
“The Prince as you know, has escaped by the work of a magic coal,”
began Flying Soot. “Against such a fairy weapon the Giant’s wondrous
Cloak is powerless. But come--I will take you to one who will be proof
against this--one whose weapons are such that the Prince cannot even
approach him to injure him. This powerful friend of whom I speak is the
Great Black Dragon, and his haunt is yonder in the Gloomy Vale. From
here, as you see, it is not far distant. I will go at once to bespeak
his aid. Go you, on your part, and find the Prince, and when you have
brought him to the Dragon, you may be sure that you will find him ready
to serve you. Then shall you discover also that I have not boasted of
the Dragon’s power in vain.”
Glad was the Earth Fairy to consent to what promised so well for her
purpose, and presently they parted, each to go upon the errand set.
[Illustration]