1THE LOST

to be set you. Meanwhile, you will be shown the beauties of our home by my maidens.”

With these words the Queen rose and descended to a lily-boat, which bore her quickly away. Now three of the loveliest of the fairies stepped with Zandilli into the golden canoe—wonder after wonder unfolded itself to his aston-

ished gaze. All was glitter and light. But there was once dark cavern, whose walls were lustre-

less and black as night. Yet Zan- dilll was impatient to win the spear, especially as the Queen had spoken of another who

was to win the Princess Lala cre two moons had risen.

He therefore begged to be taken back to the

Queen, who sat again upon her throne. She

greeted him with a smile, and laid her lily-white hand upon his bronze arm. “We have decided,” she said, “upon your first task. My coun- cillors have made

SPLCAR. 433 He thought of the flowers, the birds, the butterflies. At the thought that then came, he laughed. The butterfly he had saved ! Could 1ts help be of use to him? It scemed hopeless.

Zandilli sighed, and, overcome by fatigue, laid himself down to sleep.

The butterfly heard its saviour’s scarce-formed cry for help. So at break of day it called together its brethren and its cousins, the fire- flics. Then they all flew into the dark cavern. The sound of their flut- tering wings awoke Zandilli. Greatwas his surprise to find the dullwalls trans- formed into a fairy palace of gorgeous wings and tender pale-green gems. Thebutterflies and fireflies had spread themselves over the entire walls.

Vi Whenthe Queen s/ and her followers g came to see if the

task had been per- formed, great sur- prise and joy did they express at the wonderful transformation the

/ b

7

i

1t no easy one. You have seen the black chamber? It 1s the one blot upon our home. If you can make 1t as beautiful as each of the others, half your task will be fulfilled. Before the moon has risen again this must be performed, or death will be veuar doom.” Zandilli was taken to the black chamber ; and there he was left alone in the golden canoe, with despair at his heart, for he had no means of beautifying those hideous walls. He thought of the foam-flecked sea, which he should never see again ; of the shy maiden who was to have been his bride.

““HE WAS LEFT ALONE IN THE GOLDEN CANOE,”

Mortal had worked. With one voice they cried :—

“He has won ! He has won !'”

All that day was spent mm revelry ; but the Queen was absen-. She was with her wise men, discussing the second task.

At the close of the day, the Queen spoke thus to Zandilli: “ You have completed your first task, and the spear is partly won. It has therefore been placed here upon the steps before my throne. See! This is to be your second task : My maidens’ robes are woven from the wings of flies. Our looms are idle, for our store-rooms are empty. To you is Vol. iv.—56.