stols, and
from the tall mosses came sudden explosions and the scattering of
illuminated spores. All this in honour of the night.

Suddenly Walter became aware of a huge rock in front of him. Towering up
black and high on its summit was the wonderful castle that he had seen
from the distant plain. White and grey were its cloudy walls, rose and
lemon and emerald its towers and turrets; its roof was the sky studded
with a thousand diamond-rayed stars.

The horse could go no farther; his mission was accomplished. The boy
bade his dear steed farewell with many fond regrets, and set out with a
brave heart to scale the rock alone. It was a difficult and dangerous
climb in the dark night; but, however, he managed with the help of
bushes and shrubs to reach nearly to the top. But alas the last step was
too steep for the little boy; it was a sheer, perpendicular wall. Our
hero looked round in despair; big drops gathered in his eyes; but he
_would_ not let them fall. He stood quite still, clinging to the rock
and unable to move either forward or backward. It seemed like the climax
of a bad dream. Suddenly he saw a bright cloud approaching him, and the
air was full of a multitude of tiny elves. They seized hold of him by
his coat and knickers and boots and even by his curly hair, and bore him
upwards singing:

"Fairies seek and fairies save
Children who are bold and brave."

So they supported him up the last step and they floated off as they had
come, looking in the distance like a cloud of bright fireflies.

Walter now found himself in a dark, mysterious garden. The bushes and
trees took strange forms and seemed alive. One shrub that looked like a
big black bear gave a low growl, as he passed by. He was really
frightened and his little heart beat fast, in spite of all the fairies
had said in praise of his bravery. But he soon reached a lovely lighted
avenue leading straight up to the entrance of the castle. The doors
were open wide. Two large white owls stood on either side as sentinels.
A stream of light poured out of the hall and dazzled Walter's eyes, so
that he could not see distinctly at first. Graceful wood nymphs stood
chatting in groups. A statue of Siegfried slaying the dragon was in the
centre of the hall. Small fountains played round it. It seemed as if he
were expected at the castle as his arrival created no surprise. Two
fairies advanced and took him by the hand. Walter thought they were the
loveliest ladies