oment a bright light seemed to shine, and standing near the
goblins was a lovely lady.

"Goblins," she cried, "welcome to the cave of the fairies. Long have I
waited for this happy day, when my kingdom should be once more restored
to me. You must know that many years ago the wicked wizard, Tom Tiddler,
cast over me a cruel spell. I and my people were forced to leave our
fairy isle, and wander in the shape of birds in the Big World. We were
told that never would the spell be broken until three goblins should
enter the cave in search of a feather. We therefore stole your Royal Red
Feather, and hid it in our cave. No sooner had we done so than the cruel
wizard turned it into a yellow serpent and put a terrible dragon at the
entrance of the cave. Our friend Rowley the frog told your father that
we had stolen the feather, and as soon as you were old enough we gave
you the wish to undertake this journey. But for your courage I should
still be in Tom Tiddler's power. In return for your bravery I now charm
your Red Feather. Henceforth any goblin holding it in his hand shall
have his wish--whatever it may be--granted." As the Princess said these
words she touched the Feather with her wand.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

The goblins thanked the lovely Princess many times, and asked her to
send for them at once if they could ever help her. They then took leave
of the fairies and started for home.

They sailed again over the sea and found the rabbit waiting for them.
They jumped on the rabbit's back and off they went. When they got to the
place where they had left the sack of gold and silver they found it had
been dug up ready for them, and standing by it was a big blue bird with
a red beak and red legs.

"Jump on," said he, "and I will pull you; I am Pukeko,[A] the fairies'
servant, sent to take you back to the mountain."

[Footnote A: New Zealand Swamp-hen.]

They thanked the kind rabbit, and jumping on the sack went on their way.
They had not gone far when they heard a great noise behind them, and
looking round saw Tom Tiddler trying hard to catch them.

Before Tom Tiddler could touch them, however, Blue-Cap pointed the
Red Feather at him, and said, "I wish you to become a snail!" and Tom
Tiddler turned at once into a crawling snail.

"He can never hurt any one again," the goblins cried with joy. "His
treasure now is ours. Hurrah!"

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

They soon reached home, and Old Black-Cap was