230 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

prince, whom I imprisoned with thee in this
cave? Answer me truly, for if I find thou
art deceiving me, thou shalt pay dearly for
ite

“Sire,” answered Wassa humbly, and trem-
bling before the loud tones of the angry giant,
“TI have not deceived thee. On my way down
the hill, after King Rondo set me free from
Fairyland, I was suddenly caught up and
brought to this place. Not a living creature
was with me, except a blue dragon-fly, who
was passing at the time. She has just flown
away, and I pray thee to allow me to depart
too.”

“The prince! the dwarf prince!” thundered
the enraged giant, who began to believe that
he had been duped. “I ask thee for the last
time, where is the dwarf prince?”

As soon as the blue dragon-fly had made her
escape, the elf Toto the Slim, unperceived by
the giant or Wassa, had slid down from the fir
tree, and crept up behind the giant, and before
poor frightened Wassa could reply, the mischie-
vous elf, imitating the fairy prince who had
caused Wassa so much trouble, danced up and
down, and screamed: —