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Through the Fire

glowing hills, from which sprouted jets of flame, like trees. Here and there was a black mountain, which smoked and hissed most alarmingly. But how hot it was! At first Jack felt as if he were going to faint, and could not breathe.

“Well,” said the red man, who now seemed to Jack quite full-size, “how do you feel now?”

“It’s warm,” murmured poor Jack.

“If you can’t bear this, you won’t be able to stand Fireland. Better not come any farther,” said the fairy.

“I’m all right,” said Jack, making an effort. “I daresay soon I shall feel quite used to it. How does one get to Fireland?”

“I’ll show you,” said the man, taking a thin piece of stick from his pocket. This he took in both hands, and dug into the coal beneath his feet till he had made a good-sized hole. Then he took from his pocket some little marbles, and dropped them one by one into the hole, which gradually began to grow larger and larger, until it was an immense black gulf in the coal in front of him.

“Now come along,” said the red man, sitting on

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