THE WITCH OF THE ROCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 136, 11 June 1927, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE WITCH OF THE ROCK.

(By DORIS WILSON.) Eight in the centre of the ocean was a small black rock. To anyone who didn't know the secret, it was just a i rook over which the foam crested waves flung themselves night and day leaving small shell-fish to cling to the jagged ledges and forming pools in crevices wherein sea anemones opened their flowerlike faces—a rock that was the terror of the men who guide great ships —for its cruel jagged top, just covered at high tide was sharp enough to tear a hole in the bottom of the ship that was not cautious enough to keep far off. But all the sea-fairies and other inhabitants of the fairy world far down on the ocean bed knew that this was the home of the hated and feared witch of the rock, so accordingly it was given a wide berth and even the sea-birds shuddered and cried mournfully if they had to fly over it. The sea-folk were never free or safe from this witch's cruelties. She used to swim out at night and put small stones into the open arms of the sea anemones so that, not being able to catch the insects they lived on, they died in agony, catch all kinds of delicacies—shrimps, mussels, insects—and put them in the way of small fish so that they thought they would have a feast—then just as they came swimming eagerly along, off she would sweep the food with the huge branch of seaweed she always carried and swim off, laughing, leaving the poor little fish hungry, but worst of all she used to hide in the forest of coloured seaweed and when the sea fairies, twining their while arms round each other's necks, would whisk their pretty little tails and gaily swim off for a day in the sea king's garden, would creep into their small grottos where they ate off mother-o-pearl and s,L?pt in coloured fan shells, and smash and tear all the festoons of seaflowers of the walls, breaking the shells and leaving the whole 011 the soft sandy floor so that when the sea-fairies arrived, they wept bitterly to see such havoc in their little homes.

At last it was not safe for the seafolk to leave their homes, for every day the witch of the rock would think of something worse than she had ever done before, so the king of the seafolk called a great meeting. Along the seaweed paths of the ocean bed swam the king's messenger. He was a mer-fairy, one of the king's own bodyguard and a stalwart fellow about eight inches high, daintily dressed in a tight jacket of red seaweed with a large gaily coloured anemone on one shoulder which was a badge of office and showed the high position he held in the court. When he reached the market square where the sea-fairies did their shopping he halted and blowing a sweet shrill note on a small shell he carried in his hand, cried:

"O people of the kingdom of the sea. Your king bids you attend a great meeting to bo held in the palace to-night when the anemones close. "Anyone not present must send a reason to the se"ashell office when the first rays of the sun touch the ocean. Any one absent without reason will be condemned to six weeks in tho cave of eternal darkness." It was a wonderful sight that night when the seafolk gathered in the palace to hear what tho king had to tell them. The reception room of the palace was a huge cave entirely lined with very small delicate shells which gave out a curious light very beautiful to behold. Couches of mother-o-pearl stood about covered with rugs of pale blue and heliotrope seaweed but the seafolk did not dare sit on these but sat in orderly rows before the great rock at one end of the cave which was the king's throne. Above

IDEOMATIC. Country Kid: "Run! The bull is coming!" City Kid: "Stand your ground! We ain't done nothing to run for!"

the seat on which the king sat was one perfect globe of sea-water, shimmering with every colqur of the rainbow. The throne was of black marble patterned with pearl and covered with fresh sea flowers of many hues. Over all hung a curtain of seaspray which kept his majesty cool. Like the sighing of the wind on the sea came the flrst faint shell-notes of the court musicians, swelling gradually until their sweetness was almost unbearable heralding the arrival of the king surrounded by his bodyguard—ten mer-fairies each eight inches high and clad in sea-weed armour, carrying the sting of the stingarees in their hands as weapons against any possible attack on their king. They swam beside the king and when his majesty was seated beneath the spray curtain, took up their positions at the side of the throne. Requesting the seafolk, who had risen at his entrance, to be seated, the king said: "My people I have called you together to-night to tell you that something must be done to rid our fair kingdom of the scourge of the witch of the rock. To-day she swam into the sea-nursery and took nine small babies from their spratmother. Before anyone could stop her

she gave them to a passing shark. Many other evil things has she done and the time has come when she must die. To the man who rids this kingdom of our enemy I will give my daughter, the Princess Sea-spray with a palace equal to my own." So saying the king svyam off attended by his bodyguard while the seafolk went to their shells and caves talking excitedly of the glorious offer made by the king.

One of the seafolk only stood alone. His name was Mer-sliell and he was always alone, poor little man. Years ago he had been brought to this kingdom on the back of a whale and was not like any of the other seafolk. Where as they were tall and straight he was round, where they had shining coloured tails he had two funny little feet like claws, so he was not asked if he was going to plan to rid the kingdom of the rock witch, but he thought carefully, and taking no notice of the jeers of the seafolk rolled himself into a little ball near the path that led to the witch's rock. Many days passed, six of the seafolk had been taken and nothing had been done to kill the wicked witch. On the seventh day, Mer-shell, without a word to a soul, packed some sea fruit in a shell and spt off for the cave. While the witch of the rock was out preying on the seafolk, Mer-shell with much scrambling and pushing managed to creep through the hole which led to the inside of the rock. The gloomy cave was lit only by six smallgow-worms, who wept bitter tears at having to stay in a dark walled home. Mer-shell comforted them, telling his plaus and how he would take them away with him when he had got rid of the witch for ever. Then he found a dark corner in which to hide so that when the witch came home he could watch his opportunity. At night, her seaweed robe in rags, her lank green hair falling into her eyes came the witch. Muttering to herself she crawled into the cave and Mer-shell's heart almost stood still to see that in her hand she carried three of the seafolk. After her cruel supper she laid down to sleep and through the night he watcher her on her rocky bed, but plan and scheme as he would he could not think of any way to get rid of lier, for he was so small and weak against her strength. The next two nights the witch came home with seafolk for supper, sleeping quietly, while Mer-shell lay in his dark corner, faint with hunger, yet determined not to move from the cave until either he or the witch was dead.

Just before the witch came home on the third night one of the glow-worms called excitedly to Mer-shell and told him that whilst hanging on the roof tliey had noticed the witch wps very careful never to step on a square of

rock at one side of the cook iup pot. Mershell thanked the plow-worm and walked across to examine this rock. Seeing the piece was moveable he bent down and lilted one edge. Underneath was a huge hole half-filled with water. In the half light Mer-shell saw a large shark swimming round and then he realised how the witch of the rock got rid of the seafolk she didn't eat. In the distance Mer-shell heard the witch returning so quick as lightning he dragged the rock aside and crept to his corner just in time. The place where the rock had been was so dark that it had taken Mer-shell all his time to make out what was in the pool, so it was quite certain the witch would not notice the hole. Mer-shell and the plow-worms watched as the witch walked about the cave. Nearer, nearer she was almost at the pot with the food when she forgot something and turned back for it while poor Mer-shell shivered with fright. Forward she moved once more—there was

ONCE BITTEN Doctor: "Show me your tongue!" Boy: "Oh, no! I got a spanking yesterday for showing it to the teacher!"

a splash, a scream of rage. Before the witch could pronounce any of her spells on the shark it had gobbled her up in two mouthfuls.

Little Mer-shell, now the happiest man in the kingdom of the sea, for he had saved his people, took the glow-worms off the roof and back they went to the palace.

When he arrived he asked to see the king and walking to the foot of the throne said: "Your majesty. I have killed the witch of the rock so now I ask you to fulfil your promise. The hand of your daughter and a palace to equal your own."

"What," said the angry king. "What is this. You have saved the land from

the witch and demand that I keep my promise. If you are lyinp O undersized thing with the claw feet I shall have you tied until you die in the cave of eternal darkness. Wait here until I send a messenger to the cave to see that you arrf telling the truth."

Mer-shell, Vaiting sadly, thought of his puny little forin and funny little claw feet, bitter tears dripping on his seaweed tunic. How would the princess take him for a husband with so many handsome Mer-folk asking for her hand. In two hours, by the closing of the anemones came the messenger with the news that the witch was indeed dead. The king was ashamed of his unkindness but nevertheless determined that his beautiful daughter should not marry this poor undersized mer-fairy. The princess hearing that the witch of the rock was dead, came running in to find out and seeing Mer-shell standing in the corner, tears running down his face at he tried to hide his little twisted claw feet, turned to her father to know if that was the man to whom her hand was to be given. The king said, "Yes. But wait my daughter. Perhaps we can get rid of this misshapen thing by giving him the palace." The princess, her heart torn with pity, said: "No, my father. You are king and your word must be kept at all costs'." Going to Mfr-shell she said sweetly: "Mer-shell, I will be a good wife to you until in one thousand years we change to foam. Do not grieve because of your misshapen body for you have a glorious soul." As the kind little princess said these words she bent and kissed Mer-shell on the forehead. Instantly Ips claw feet vanished, a shimmering coloured * tail nearly as perfect as the king's own took their place, he grew taller than anyone of the king's bodyguard and his face was as handsome and manly as any princess could wish her prince to have. Taking the bewildered Princess Seaspray by the hand he led her to the king and said: "0 king of the seafolk. When a baby in a sea land hundreds of miles from here, a witch cast a spell on me. Never would I change from the misshapen thing I was, until a princess would take mc to be her husband and should seal her approval by kissing me on the forehead." Hearing these words the king swam to Mer-shell and cried: "Take her and be happy 0 Mer-shell. Your palace shall be the finest ever made by the shell carpenters, so let tjie seafolk make all preparation for the wedding." Thus Mer-6hell and his princess were married and were happy until the day came when they clasped hands and were borne away to float as foam on the ocean waves for ever.