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 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 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, 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 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 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, 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 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, scarce knowing how to defend
himself against an enemy so ferocious.
Then up rose the Dragon, black and terrible, a creature to strike
terror to one less valiant than the Prince. “Yield you, Sir Prince,”
he bellowed hoarsely, raising his bared claw in menace, “Yield to the
Master of the Gloomy Vale.”
“I yield to none,” retorted Prince Radiance, fearlessly, “for I follow
the Princess White Flame, and to her I must pass.”
“None passes where the Great Black Dragon bars the way,” roared his
enemy, “and none defies him but learns to rue his folly.” He crouched
to spring; his hard and glittering eyes were fixed angrily upon the
Prince, his tail lashed furiously from side to side.
The Prince knew that he must defend himself without delay if he would
escape destruction. Quickly he slipped his hand beneath his mantle to
his good Grey Pouch, opened it, and drew forth a brimming handful of
the fairy ash that lay within. Thus was he armed against his foe.
It was none too soon, for with a roar that shook the black hillsides
the Dragon sprang toward him with outstretched claws. The magic ash
of the Wise One flew from the hand of Prince Radiance, and met him
half-way. It fell full upon the bulging eye-balls of the Great Dragon,
and smote him with instant blindness. A howl of astonishment and rage
burst from him, but he was undismayed. Although he could no longer see
to direct his weapons, he struck out boldly with his claw. Again the
ashes met him and at their touch the Dragon’s terrible claw withered
and fell powerless at his side. One by one his remaining claws met
with the same fate. And now no weapon remained to him but his powerful
tail--that great tail with which he had thought to beat the Prince to
finest dust.
But blinded as he was, he could strike only at random--could only lash
it aimlessly from side to side. Thus, the Dragon’s last weapon was soon
rendered powerless also. Before the magic of the fairy ash it shriveled
at the very root, and presently it trailed limp and useless along the
ground.
The Earth Fairy, watching the battle, saw that the Dragon had also
failed, and anger rose hot within her. Flying Soot was quick to
perceive this, and hastened to conciliate her. He tapped her gently,
upon the arm saying: “My good Earth Fairy, to my great surprise I find
that the Great Black Dragon is no match for the Prince after all. But
do not let that discourage you. I have yet another friend to whom I
will take you, who is much more powerful than he.”
The Earth Fairy cut him short in wrath. “Were you not certain that the
Giant could help me?” said she. “Were you not equally certain that this
wonderful Dragon was invincible? Speak not to me of this third friend
of yours, I have no faith in him.”
“Ah,” answered Flying Soot, “but how should I know that the Prince
possessed the fairy ash of the Wise One? This alone it is that has
enabled him to overcome the Black Dragon. Neither this, nor the magic
coal with which he burned the Giant’s cloak will avail him however
against the great magician, Curling Smoke, to whom I now propose to
take you.”
“Nevertheless,” replied the Earth Fairy, “he wears a sword. Do you not
see it? Who knows what fairy virtue may dwell therein?”
Flying Soot laughed her to scorn. “Think you that if it possessed such
fairy virtue that he would not long since have drawn this sword to
cleave the Giant’s cloak, or to attack the Great Dragon? Nay, fear it
not. ’Tis but a useless toy that he well knows will serve him not at
all away from his father’s kingdom.”
The Earth Fairy glanced to where the flame of the Princess trembled
between hope and fear for the Prince. She looked to where the Dragon
groaning dismally lay close along the ground, his head buried
between his paws. She knew that here all chance of help for herself
was completely gone. She had no plan of her own that promised more
than this of Flying Soot. She had almost decided to consent to his
proposal, when he caught at her sleeve. “Look quickly!” he cried, under
his breath. “Do you not behold him there in the distance, my friend,
Curling Smoke. See--there he rises in the plain beyond that dark hill.
He is a marvelous magician. I am certain that he will not fail you. Do
not be foolish, Earth Fairy. Permit me to go to him in your behalf. I
assure you, you will not regret it.”
Urged thus, the Earth Fairy gave her consent, and Flying Soot flew off
in a twinkling upon his errand of evil.
With the Dragon now fully vanquished Prince Radiance saw that he could
at last pass on his way in safety. Leaving his enemy behind him he
stepped boldly into the country beyond. There he discerned the flame
of his Princess flickering pure and pale against a gloomy hillside.
Swiftly he hastened toward her, and presently he found himself so near
that he believed he could cast the Veil upon her from where he now
stood. Trembling with eagerness he felt for the golden box in which the
wondrous Veil lay hid--found it, and pressed upon the clasp.
Alas for his hopes! The keen eyes of the Earth Fairy saw what he was
about to do. Before he could draw out the Veil or even undo the clasp,
the Green Wand was lifted, and by its dread power the Princess was
once more compelled to take her flight from him who would fain have
delivered her.
With a sinking heart Prince Radiance beheld her receding down the dark
valley, but with fresh rallying of his courage he called to her,
“Princess, dear Princess, go if you must, but remember always that I
follow--follow to the end.”
[Illustration]