Chapter 111.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 16

Chapter 111.

Now we must see how poor Rita was faring all this time. When she woke on the morning after she had been taken away, she, of course, expected to find herself in her own pretty bedroom at her father's palace. Instead, however, she found herself lying on straw in a rude hut, and saw a hideous old hag bending over a fire of sticks trying to get something to boil. She cried out with fright, and then the old hag turned round and looked more hideous than ever, grinning and showing her two horrible yellow tusks. " It's of no use for you to cry out, my beauty," she said. " You are on the Enchanted Island, and no one can hear you. No one will ever be able to find you, either, for this island is invisible to ordinary people unless they come quite close to it. So, now, dry your eyes, my girl, and make the best of it. I am going to brush something on your hair which will make it grow, for I want as much of it as I can get." Rita was a true princess, and very brave, though she had been frightened at first. " You are a wicked old woman," she said. " How do you know that I shall give you what you wish ? " With that she rose haughtily and walked out of the hut into the sunshine of the lovely morning. She saw then that she was on an island in the midst of a large and beautiful lake. Far, far away in the distance she could see blue mountains, some of them covered with snow, and nearer were the blue, sparkling waters. But, alas ! Water was all round her, and poor Rita saw that she could not possibly escape. Presently the old witch came hobbling after

her. But Rita would not let her come near. She ran away as fast as ever she could, and the old woman herself could not run nearly so fast.

But suddenly, to Rita's horror, the witch turned into a wolf, and came running up and caught her by the dress. Then she turned back into an old woman again.

After that, poor Rita saw that it was of no use to run away, and she had to submit to having her pretty hair cut off again, for quite a lot had grown just in the few days since it was cut before. Then the old witch went back into the hut and shut the door on Rita, for she did not wish her to see how she made her beautiful hair into gold.

Rita was very tired with running away from the old witch, and she sat down on a beautiful grassy bank, and wept bitterly. Soon she began to feel sleepy, and she laid her head down on the s< ft grass and presently forgot her sorrows in sleep. She was awakened by hearing a voice close to her ear say :

" Princess ! Princess ! "

She lifted her head and gazed all around, but saw no one. Hearing nothing more, she put her head down on the grass again, and again she heard a voice say, " Princess, look down, I am here."

Then she looked on the grass and saw a small green lizard.

" I was once a maiden like you,'" said the small creature, " but when I was of no more use to the witch, she turned me into a lizard. That will be your fate too, unless your prince comes in time."

" My prince,' 7 said Rita, " but I haven't one.*'

'• Oh, yes, you will have one," said the lizard. " Every princess has, but the other princes did uot succeed Every time a new princess comes we always hope something will happen to free us. There are several of us here, and if once a prince succeeds the old witch will die and we shall be set free. I mustn't say much more Lo you, the old hag has such sharp ears. But be always on the lookout for something coming across the water, and don't despise any sign, however small. It may be that your prince will be more successful than any of the others. Who knows ? "'

So saying, the little creature darted away ; and though she saw many green lizards after that, Rita never got any of them to speak to her again, and indeed she seldom got the chance to be alone for long.