land, when the mother of the genius stood before
them. She had learnt that Iliane had fled from her prison in company
with a merchant, and, as her son was absent, had come herself in
pursuit. Striding over the blue waters, hopping from wave to wave, one
foot reaching to heaven, and the other planted in the foam, she was
close at their heels, breathing fire and flame, when they stepped on
shore from the ship. One glance told Iliane who the horrible old woman
was, and she whispered hastily to her companion. Without saying a word,
the princess swung her into Sunlight's saddle, and leaping up behind
her, they were off like a flash.

It was not till they drew near the town that the princess stooped and
asked Sunlight what they should do. 'Put your hand into my left ear,'
said he, 'and take out a sharp stone, which you must throw behind you.'

The princess did as she was told, and a huge mountain sprang up behind
them. The mother of the genius began to climb up it, and though they
galloped quickly, she was quicker still.

They heard her coming, faster, faster; and again the princess stooped to
ask what was to be done now. 'Put your hand into my right ear,' said
the horse, 'and throw the brush you will find there behind you.' The
princess did so, and a great forest sprang up behind them, and, so thick
were its leaves, that even a wren could not get through. But the old
woman seized hold of the branches and flung herself like a monkey from
one to the others, and always she drew nearer--always, always--till
their hair was singed by the flames of her mouth.

Then, in despair, the princess again bent down and asked if there was
nothing more to be done, and Sunlight replied 'Quick, quick, take off
the betrothal ring on the finger of Iliane and throw it behind you.'

This time there sprang up a great tower of stone, smooth as ivory,
hard as steel, which reached up to heaven itself. And the mother of the
genius gave a howl of rage, knowing that she could neither climb it
nor get through it. But she was not beaten yet, and gathering herself
together, she made a prodigious leap, which landed her on the top of the
tower, right in the middle of Iliane's ring which lay there, and held
her tight. Only her claws could be seen grasping the battlements.

All that could be done the old witch did; but the fire that poured from
her mouth never reached the fugitives, though it laid waste the country
a hundred miles round the tower, like the