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.”