cross
the bridge of clouds and go into the wood beyond and cut down all the
trees there before sunset. At the same time she cautioned him with
many angry words against speaking to a black girl he would most likely
meet in the wood.

The Prince listened to her words meekly, and when she had finished
took up the glass axe and set out for the forest. At every step he
seemed to sink into the clouds, but fear gave wings to his feet, and
he crossed the lake in safety and set to work at once.

But no sooner had he struck the first blow with his axe than it broke
into a thousand pieces against the tree. The poor youth was so
terrified he did not know what to do, for he was in mortal dread of
the punishment the wicked old Fairy would inflict on him. He wandered
to and fro in the wood, not knowing where he was going, and at last,
worn out by fatigue and misery, he sank on the ground and fell fast
asleep.

He did not know how long he had slept when a sudden sound awoke him,
and opening his eyes he saw a black girl standing beside him. Mindful
of the Fairy's warning he did not dare to address her, but she on her
part greeted him in the most friendly manner, and asked him at once if
he were under the power of the wicked Fairy. The Prince nodded his
head silently in answer.

Then the black girl told him that she too was in the power of the
Fairy, who had doomed her to wander about in her present guise until
some youth should take pity on her and bear her in safety to the other
side of the river which they saw in the distance, and on the other
side of which the Fairy's domain and power ended.

The girl's words so inspired the Prince with confidence that he told
her all his tale of woe, and ended up by asking her advice as to how
he was to escape the punishment the Fairy would be sure to inflict on
him when she discovered that he had not cut down the trees in the wood
and that he had broken her axe.

'You must know,' answered the black girl, 'that the Fairy in whose
power we both are is my own mother, but you must not betray this
secret, for it would cost me my life. If you will only promise to try
and free me I will stand by you, and will accomplish for you all the
tasks which my mother sets you.'

The Prince promised joyfully all she asked; then having once more
warned him not to betray her confidence, she handed him a draught to
drink which very soon sunk his senses in a deep slumber.

His astonishment was great when he a