rove them down beneath the surface.
He then approached the jagged rock, on the top of which he saw the
filthy monster glaring at him with bloodshot eyes. Enda poised his
spear and hurled it against his enemy. It entered between the
monster's eyes, and from the wound the blood flowed down like a black
torrent and dyed the plain, and the shrunken carcase slipped down the
front of the rocks and disappeared beneath the sand. Enda once more
ascended the rock, and without meeting or seeing anything he passed
over the stony waste, and at last he came to a leafy wood. He had not
gone far in the wood until he heard the sound of fairy music, and
walking on he came upon a mossy glade, and there he found the fairies
dancing around their queen. They were so small, and were all so
brightly dressed, that they looked like a mass of waving flowers; but
when he was seen by them they vanished like a glorious dream, and no
one remained before him but the fairy queen. The queen blushed at
finding herself alone, but on stamping her little foot three times
upon the ground, the frightened fairies all crept back again.

"You are welcome, Enda," said the queen. "My little subjects have been
alarmed by your strange dress and crystal helmet. I pray you take them
off; you do not need them here."

Enda did as he was bidden, and he laid down his water-dress and helmet
on the grass, and the little fairies, seeing him in his proper shape,
got over their fright, and, unrestrained by the presence of the
queen, they ran tumbling over one another to try and get a good look
at the crystal helmet.

"I know what you have come for, Enda," said the queen. "The golden cup
you shall have to-morrow; but to-night you must share our feast, so
follow me to the palace."

Having said this, the queen beckoned her pages to her, and, attended
by them and followed by Enda, she went on through the wood. When they
had left it behind them Enda saw on a green hill before him the
snow-white palace of the fairy queen.

As the queen approached the steps that led up to the open door, a band
of tiny fairies, dressed in rose-coloured silk, came out, carrying
baskets of flowers, which they flung down on the steps to make a
fragrant carpet for her. They were followed by a band of harpers
dressed in yellow silken robes, who ranged themselves on each side of
the steps and played their sweetest music as the queen ascended.

When the queen, followed by Enda, entered the palace, the