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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 of you! Out, out into the Borderland.”
Away they were driven by the fury of the Wind like leaves before a
storm, down through the black Chimney and out of its mouth, into the
Borderland near to the Kingdom of Earth.
There the Wind scattered Curling Smoke far and wide in thin pale
streamers that slowly floated back at last to the great plain from
whence he had come.
As for the wicked Earth Fairy, the Wind in the Chimney drove her away
and away into the Land of Desolate Places there to remain forever a
prisoner.
In the Borderland he cast down Prince Radiance, and roughly tossed the
flame of the Princess upon a pile of scattered ash, and blackened coals.
Then with his anger satisfied, the Wind rushed back to his Chimney,
shrieking and howling with glee at the punishment that he had dealt out
to those who had offended him.
Princess White Flame, so pale that she could scarcely be discerned,
quivered and flickered where the Wind had rudely thrown her. Too weak
to cry out, she only sighed faintly, and sank still lower upon the
ashes.
She knew not that by her entrance into the Borderland the cruel spell
had been broken by which the Earth Fairy had so long compelled her to
flee from Prince Radiance. She only knew that she felt helpless, and
almost without life. And indeed the Princess was now in great danger,
for away from the Fire, no Fire Fairy can live for long.
Over Prince Radiance the Borderland possessed no evil power. He arose
unharmed from the stones and looked anxiously about him for his
Princess. So almost extinguished was her fairy flame that at first
he did not see her, and his heart was rent by fear lest the Wind had
carried her away from him forever.
But presently he descried her lying there, as if unable to proceed
further, and hope rose again in his breast. In haste he took forth the
Veil of Disenchantment--in haste he ran to her holding it securely in
his hand. He reached her, he bent above her, and she did not stir.
“At last my White Flame,” he cried, in an outburst of joy, “at last
you flee from me no more.”
He cast the mystic Veil over the flame of the Princess. Like a web of
gossamer it settled slowly upon her, and the Prince, scarce daring
to breathe as he watched it, saw the Wise One’s promise instantly
fulfilled.
At his feet, visible in her true form, lay a creature so beautiful,
so charming as none had ever seen the like before. The Veil of
Disenchantment, in touching her, had changed to a marvelous robe, soft
and silvery, that swept in shining folds from her head to her feet.
Over her shoulders and down to her knees streamed the silken splendor
of her hair; pale gold it was, and finer than the finest floss. Her
delicate red lips were closed, her eyes fast shut.
Prince Radiance fell on his knees before her and touched her gently.
“White Flame,” he whispered, “dear White Flame, awake and speak.”
The Princess lay there pale and still, giving no sign that she had
heard. The Prince laid his hand on hers, but felt no glow of life.
In wild alarm he cried aloud, “White Flame! White Flame! Awake--awake!”
Still the Princess made no answer, and though he tried by every means
he knew to revive her, his efforts were all in vain.
At length, choked with grief he bowed his head upon her breast. If he
had reached her, and freed her, only to lose her thus, he had no wish
left except to die by her side.
A fierce tug at his arm aroused him. “Do you not know that a Fire
Fairy cannot exist in the Borderland?” demanded an indignant voice.
“Take her back to the Fire at once, and warm her back to life.”
[Illustration: Prince Radiance fell on his knees before her.]
The Prince raised his head, and saw at his elbow a fuzzy little
creature, who clutched and shook him with a pudgy hand. It was an Elf
of the Borderland.
“Come, come,” cried the Elf, “bestir yourself, or it will be too late.”
Quickly the Prince bent over Princess White Flame to raise her in his
arms, but before he could do so the Elf had laid a fuzzy ear to the
heart of the unconscious Princess.
“Ah, me,” he murmured, lifting his head, and regarding the Prince
mournfully, “I fear she can never live to reach there. She should have
warmth at this very moment.”
Hardly had the Elf spoken, when Prince Radiance remembered his good
Grey Pouch. He tore it open, took out a glowing coal quickly, and laid
it over the heart of the Princess. What was his joy to see an exquisite
roseate glow steal into her face, to feel her hand grow warm under its
fairy touch. Then as it lay there warm against her heart, the eyes of
the Princess opened slowly to behold Prince Radiance bending above her;
her ears awoke to his voice calling tenderly, “White Flame, my own
White Flame!”
For a moment she gazed up at him lovingly, too overcome with joy to
speak; then fear crept into her face, and she clung to him whispering,
“The Earth Fairy!--where is she?”
“Gone, gone forever,” the Prince assured her, drawing her closer to
his breast. “Her wicked spells are broken. Fear her no more.”
The Princess, beholding her hands, her figure, her shining garments,
knew that it was indeed true, and gave a low cry of rapture.
Prince Radiance raised her gently to her feet. “Come,” said he, “let me
lead you home to your father, King Red Flame, as I have promised. He
waits and yearns for you in his Palace of Burning Coals.”
“Yes, let us go to him quickly, dear Radiance,” she answered. “Had it
not been for you he must have waited always in vain.”
So they set out, and the Elf of the Borderland went before them, and
guided them to the boundary of the Land of Fire, by the nearest way.
[Illustration]