FAIRYLAND, 95

the hunter’s little maid, and listened to her
description of the beautiful things she had
seen, Wassa’s mind began to waver. A long-
ing seized her to see for herself the wonders
of Fairyland, and bring away some of the.
treasures it contained. In vain did she ques-
tion Mona about the path that led to the
entrance of Fairyland; but the hunter’s little
maid could only reply that she knew nothing
of the path,—that her first glimpse of Fairy-
land was the brilliantly lighted cave.

“T know thou canst tell me if thou wilt,”
said Wassa, “but I will hunt until I find it.
Be sure I will discover the path.”

Day after day Wassa spent in roaming over
the hill in the neighborhood of the spot where
Mona’s cap had fallen, and day after day she
returned home without having gained any
information.

One day Wassa’s attention was attracted by
a beautiful blue dragon-fly that hovered over
her head as if it would alight. Sometimes it
came so near that the little maid’s quick hand
almost closed over the fragile creature, but it
always escaped just as it seemed within her
grasp.