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the rocks with minute inspection。 But she was not able to come to
a conclusion； for the moon was very small； and so she could not see
well。 She turned therefore and swam home； without saying a word to
explain her conduct to the prince； of whose presence she seemed no
longer conscious。 He withdrew to his cave； in great perplexity and
distress。
Next day she made many observations； which； alas！ strengthened her
fears。 She saw that the banks were too dry； and that the grass on
the shore； and the trailing plants on the rocks； were withering
away。 She caused marks to be made along the borders； and examined
them； day after day； in all directions of the wind； till at last
the horrible idea became a certain factthat the surface of the
lake was slowly sinking。
The poor princess nearly went out of the little mind she had。 It
was awful to her to see the lake； which she loved more than any
living thing； lie dying before her eyes。 It sank away； slowly
vanishing。 The tops of rocks that had never been seen till now；
began to appear far down in the clear water。 Before long they were
dry in the sun。 It was fearful to think of the mud that would soon
lie there baking and festering； full of lovely creatures dying； and
ugly creatures coming to life； like the unmaking of a world。 And
how hot the sun would be without any lake！ She could not bear to
swim in it any more； and began to pine away。 Her life seemed bound
up with it； and ever as the lake sank； she pined。 People said she
would not live an hour after the lake was gone。
But she never cried。
A Proclamation was made to all the kingdom； that whosoever should
discover the cause of the lake's decrease； would be rewarded after
a princely fashion。 Hum…Drum and Kopy…Keck applied themselves to
their physics and metaphysics； but in vain。 Not even they could
suggest a cause。
Now the fact was that the old princess was at the root of the
mischief。 When she heard that her niece found more pleasure in the
water than any one else out of it； she went into a rage； and cursed
herself for her want of foresight。
〃But；〃 said she； 〃I will soon set all right。 The king and the
people shall die of thirst； their brains shall boil and frizzle in
their skulls before I will lose my revenge。〃
And she laughed a ferocious laugh； that made the hairs on the back
of her black cat stand erect with terror。
Then she went to an old chest in the room； and opening it； took out
what looked like a piece of dried seaweed。 This she threw into a
tub of water。 Then she threw some powder into the water； and
stirred it with her bare arm； muttering over it words of hideous
sound； and yet more hideous import。 Then she set the tub aside； and
took from the chest a huge bunch of a hundred rusty keys； that
clattered in her shaking hands。 Then she sat down and proceeded to
oil them all。 Before she had finished； out from the tub； the water
of which had kept on a slow motion ever since she had ceased
stirring it； came the head and half the body of a huge gray snake。
But the witch did not look round。 It grew out of the tub； waving
itself backwards and forwards with a slow horizontal motion； till
it reached the princess； when it laid its head upon her shoulder；
and gave a low hiss in her ear。 She startedbut with joy； and
seeing the head resting on her shoulder； drew it towards her and
kissed it。 Then she drew it all out of the tub； and wound it round
her body。 It was one of those dreadful creatures which few have
ever beheldthe White Snakes of Darkness。
Then she took the keys and went down to her cellar； and as she
unlocked the door she said to herself；
〃This is worth living for！〃
Locking the door behind her； she descended a few steps into the
cellar； and crossing it； unlocked another door into a dark； narrow
passage。 She locked this also behind her； and descended a few more
steps。 If any one had followed the witch…princess； he would have
heard her unlock exactly one hundred doors； and descend a few steps
after unlocking each。 When she had unlocked the last； she entered
a vast cave； the roof of which was supported by huge natural
pillars of rock。 Now this roof was the under side of the bottom of
the lake。
She then untwined the snake from her body； and held it by the tail
high above her。 The hideous creature stretched up its head towards
the roof of the cavern； which it was just able to reach。 It then
began to move its head backwards and forwards； with a slow
oscillating motion； as if looking for something。 At the same moment
the witch began to walk round and round the cavern； coming nearer
to the centre every circuit； while the head of the snake described
the same path over the roof that she did over the floor； for she
kept holding it up。 And still it kept slowly oscillating。 Round and
round the cavern they went； ever lessening the circuit； till at
last the snake made a sudden dart； and clung to the roof with its
mouth。
〃That's right； my beauty！〃 cried the princess； 〃drain it dry。〃
She let it go； left it hanging； and sat down on a great stone； with
her black cat； which had followed her all round the cave； by her
side。 Then she began to knit and mutter awful words。 The snake hung
like a huge leech； sucking at the stone； the cat stood with his
back arched； and his tail like a piece of cable； looking up at the
snake； and the old woman sat and knitted and muttered。 Seven days
and seven nights they remained thus； when suddenly the serpent
dropped from the roof as if exhausted； and shrivelled up till it
was again like a piece of dried seaweed。 The witch started to her
feet； picked it up； put it in her pocket； and looked up at the
roof。 One drop of water was trembling on the spot where the snake
had been sucking。 As soon as she saw that； she turned and fled；
followed by her cat。 Shutting the door in a terrible hurry； she
locked it； and having muttered some frightful words； sped to the
next； which also she locked and muttered over； and so with all the
hundred doors； till she arrived in her own cellar。 Then she sat
down on the floor ready to faint； but listening with malicious
delight to the rushing of the water； which she could hear
distinctly through all the hundred doors。
But this was not enough。 Now that she had tasted revenge； she lost
her patience。 Without further measures； the lake would be too long
in disappearing。 So the next night； with the last shred of the
dying old moon rising； she took some of the water in which she had
revived the snake； put it in a bottle； and set out； accompanied by
her cat。 Before morning she had made the entire circuit of the
lake； muttering fearful words as she crossed every stream； and
casting into it some of the water out of her bottle。 When she had
finished the circuit she muttered yet again； and flung a handful of
water towards the moon。 Thereupon every spring in the country
ceased to throb and bubble； dying away like the pulse of a dying
man。 The next day there was no sound of falling water to be heard
along the borders of the lake。 The very courses were dry； and the
mountains showed no silvery streaks down their dark sides。 And not
alone had the fountains of mother Earth ceased to flow； for all the
babies throughout the country were crying dreadfullyonly without
tears。
12。 Where Is the Prince？
Never since the night when the princess left him so abruptly had
the prince had a single interview with her。 He had seen her once or
twice in the lake； but as far as he could discover； she had not
been in it any more at night。 He had sat and sung； and looked in
vain for his Nereid； while she； like a true Nereid； was wasting
away with her lake； sinking as it sank； withering as it dried。 When
at length he discovered the change that was taking place in the
level of the water； he was in great alarm and perplexity。 He could
not tell whether the lake was dying because the lady had forsaken
it； or whether the lady would not come because the lake had begun
to sink。 But he resolved to know so much at least。
He disguised himself； and； going to the palace； requested to see
the lord chamberlain。 His appearance at once gained his request；
and the lord chamberlain； being a man of some insight； perceived
that there was more in the prince's solicitation than met the ear。
He felt likewise that no one could tell whence a solution of the
present difficulties might arise。 So he granted the prince's prayer
to be made shoeblack to the princess。 It was rather cunning in the
prince to request such an easy post； for the princess could not
possibly soil as many shoes as other princesses。
He soon learned all that could be told about the princess。 He went
nearly distracted； but after roaming about the lake for days； and
diving in every depth that remained； all that he could do was to
put an extra polish