WASSA CAPTURES THE FAIRY PRINCE. 203

snake once more engrossed in her cooking, and
muttering distractedly to herself as before.

The passageway into which Wassa had turned
grew narrow, and she was obliged once more to
creep on her hands and knees. In this way
she proceeded for some time, until her back
became so stiff and her arms and knees so lame
that she could hardly move, and she thought she
could go no farther, but in the distance, all
at once, appeared a beautiful rosy light. Her
courage revived, and she hastened to reach it.

Before long the passage grew higher and
broader, and she again rose to her feet, and
hurried toward the light. Suddenly the pas-
sage opened into a lofty cavern, the shining
walls of which were of pure rock-salt, and a
bright, rosy light fell over all, causing the
crystals to shine until her eyes could hardly
bear the brilliancy.

“Oh, how beautiful!” exclaimed Wassa as
she gazed about her in wonder.

At that moment the gurgling of a waterfall
fell on her ears, and she beheld a beautiful
fountain sending streams of rosy-tinted water
high into the air.

“Now I can quench my thirst,” cried Wassa