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asked he is bound to answer truthfully, but if you ask him more than one, he will at once seize you and keep you under the ice. He will do all he can to tempt you to ask more than one, but you must not mind him. And be sure to remember exactly what he says about me.”

“What am I to say, then ?” asked Jack.

“Say, ‘I come from the fire Princess Pyra, and she is in love with Prince Fluvius, the water Prince, and wants to know how they are to be married;’ and then shut your lips and do not speak again, whatever he says. When you come to the ice-country, you will find it very cold, so I shall give you a fire-ball to keep you warm. And be sure you do not stop and talk to the ice-people, for if you do you will be frozen to death.”

“How am I to go?” asked Jack again.

“Go to the window, and you will see the wind- fairy who is to take you.”

Jack did as he was told, and saw standing beside Prince Fluvius a little man dressed in light dust-coloured clothes, which hung on him loosely, seeming barely to touch him.

His face was very cheerful, but there was