, and soon
they stood before its door. Creeping Shadow looked with astonishment at
its bright red walls, covered with magic inscriptions, whose meaning was
hidden from all but the Wise One. She beheld with amazement the
chimneys, like lighted torches, that topped its roof and the blazing
flame-bushes that surrounded it. When the Prince knocked on the quaintly
carved door and entered at the Wise One's word, she drew back quickly
and seated herself under a flame-bush until he should again appear.

Within the hut the Prince found the aged fairy awaiting him. "Hail,
Prince Ember," said he, rising to greet him. "You go upon a noble
quest."

"I go gladly," replied the Prince, and the words came from his heart.

"You must not go unprepared," returned the Wise One. "Upon those fairy
gifts that you carry with you, upon the use that you make of them, the
success of your adventure depends."

"And what shall these gifts be?" inquired the Prince.

"First of all, a sword," was the instant answer. "A fairy sword of
power."

"Alas!" sighed the Prince. "That I do not possess."

"It can be provided," returned the Wise One, smiling. He stepped to an
ancient chest, deeply carved with mystic signs, that stood quite by
itself in a corner of the hut. From out that chest many magic gifts had
come, when need was great. Filled to the brim with treasures as it
always was, none saw aught within but those gifts which were for his
own use.

The Wise One bent down and fitted a key in the lock. After its manner
the key turned of itself in the lock; after its manner the lid rose of
itself upon its huge hinges.

"Come," said the Wise One, "and behold your sword."

Prince Ember stepped quickly to his side. Before his eyes, close
sheathed in its shining scabbard, lay the fairy sword of power. A thrill
of awe passed through him at the sight.

"Take it," commanded the Wise One.

The Prince lifted it out, and as he unsheathed it, at the Wise One's
word, it filled the hut with a burning glow. Heat, intense and ardent,
streamed from it, making warm the air.

"This is the Sword of Fire," the ancient fairy told him. "As potent it
will be in your hands and for your use, as was the Sword of Flames in
the hands of Prince Radiance. In every danger that you must meet, over
every obstacle that you must encounter, save one, it will be
victorious."

Prince Ember's heart beat fast. "And for that other?" he asked eagerly.

"For that, also, I have a gif