take her there herself.

The whole court was delighted to see their much-loved princess at
liberty, and everyone set off in high glee to join in the fete.

The princess, overjoyed at being once more in the open air, was walking
a little in advance of her party when suddenly the earth opened under
her feet and closed again after swallowing her up!

[Illustration: The Princess is swallowed up by the Earth.]

The queen fainted away with terror, and the younger princess burst into
floods of tears and could hardly be dragged away from the fatal spot,
whilst the court was overwhelmed with horror at so great a calamity.

Orders were given to bore the earth to a great depth, but in vain; not a
trace of the vanished princess was to be found.

She sank right through the earth and found herself in a desert place
with nothing but rocks and trees and no sign of any human being. The
only living creature she saw was a very pretty little dog, who ran up to
her and at once began to caress her. She took him in her arms, and after
playing with him for a little put him down again, when he started off in
front of her, looking round from time to time as though begging her to
follow.

She let him lead her on, and presently reached a little hill, from which
she saw a valley full of lovely fruit trees, bearing flowers and fruit
together. The ground was also covered with fruit and flowers, and in the
middle of the valley rose a fountain surrounded by a velvety lawn.

The princess hastened to this charming spot, and sitting down on the
grass began to think over the misfortune which had befallen her, and
burst into tears as she reflected on her sad condition.

The fruit and clear fresh water would, she knew, prevent her from dying
of hunger or thirst, but how could she escape if any wild beast appeared
and tried to devour her?

At length, having thought over every possible evil which could happen,
the princess tried to distract her mind by playing with the little dog.
She spent the whole day near the fountain, but as night drew on she
wondered what she should do, when she noticed that the little dog was
pulling at her dress.

[Illustration: SHE.SPENT.THE.WHOLE.DAY.NEAR.THE.FOUNTAIN.]

She paid no heed to him at first, but as he continued to pull her dress
and then run a few steps in one particular direction, she at last
decided to follow him; he stopped before a rock with a large opening in
the centre, which he evidently wished her to