TWILIGHT LAND

he, “for there must be some wonder about it.” po he
brought it out, and sat looking at it and looking at It, but
he could make nothing of it for the life of him. Never-
theless, it might have some wishing power about it, like
the magic stool. ‘I wish,” said the soldier, ‘‘ that I might
get out of this scrape.” That is what we have all wished
many and many a time in a like case; but just now it did
the soldier no more good to wish than it does good for the
rest of us. ‘ Bah!” said he, it is nothing but a black
stone after all.” And then he threw it into the fire.

Puff! Bang! Away flew the embers upon every side,
and back tumbled the soldier, and there in the middle of
the flame stood just such a grim, black being as he had
one time shot at with the silver button.

As for the poor soldier, he just lay flat on his back and
stared with eyes like saucers, for he thought that his end
had come for sure.

‘What are my lord’s commands?” said the being, in
a voice that shook the marrow of the soldier’s bones.

‘Who are you ?” said the soldier.

‘Iam the spirit of the stone,” said the being. “You
have heated it in the flame, and I am here. Whatever
you command I must obey.”

“Say you so?” cried the soldier, scrambling to his
feet. “Very well, then, just carry me to where I may
find my wife and my palace again.” j

Without a word the spirit of the stone snatched the
soldier up, and flew away with him swifter than the wind.
Over forest, over field, over mountain and over valley he
flew, until at last, just as the crack of day, he set him
down in front of his own palace gate in the far country
Where the magician had transported it.

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