t distance was a wide landing, seemingly
composed of one immense slab of white stone.

They crept close to the house, but Daimur was afraid to mount the stair
for fear of being seen from one of the windows which faced the sea on
each side of the door. He was very anxious to know who was in the
house, but to his surprise his cap could not tell him anything about it.

The Princess eagerly volunteered to go.

"I am white like the gulls that are flying about," she said, "and will
not likely be noticed."

Up she flew and alighted on the window sill, which was open, and after
looking carefully in, she disappeared inside.

The King and Queen and Daimur waited in the greatest suspense for more
than half an hour. At the end of that time she reappeared, looking
very frightened.

"There is a witch in there," she whispered. "Let us go back at once."

They said nothing further, but all hurried away as fast as they could,
crawled under the stone wall, and Daimur threw back the sand against
it, and smoothed it down. They did not stop until they had reached the
cave. Then they all sat down, very tired, and the Princess told them
what she had seen.

"I went in at the window," she began, "and was in a great kitchen. At
the far end of it I saw a room with a window in the end of it, so as
there seemed to be no one about I cautiously slipped into the other
room, which from the bottles and pots on the shelves I thought must be
a sort of chemist's work-room.

"I hopped up on the window sill and looked out, and saw a beautiful
large ship with three masts tied up in a small bay at the end of the
house. I was then coming away, when I heard a noise and looking
around, saw coming through the kitchen a very ugly old crone hobbling
towards me, muttering to herself.

"I crept into a large box that stood empty in a corner, and saw her go
up to a big wicker basket near the window out of which I had just been
looking. She opened the basket and out came a long green snake, which
fastened itself around her neck. I quite quivered with terror.

"'How are you to-day, my daughter?' asked the old crone.

"'Oh, much better, thank you,' said the reptile, in a horrible rattling
voice. 'Did you find the magic tablets yet, mother?'

"'Alas, my dear,' replied the witch, 'I found hundreds of them. They
are on a shelf behind the cupboard, in a dark corner, but are locked up
in a glass box. I am afraid the Magician carries the key with him, a