ADVENTURES OF BUD AND PETAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 16 (Supplement)

ADVENTURES OF BUD AND PETAL.

After the Fairy Queen had dismissed him Knowall went in search of the twins. He found them waiting by the Flying Cloud, all eager to be off. “Well, kiddies,” he said; “all ready for our trip to the Lower World 1” “Rather I” answered Bud. “I want to see the River Lethe.” “Is it far?” asked Petal. “Hop in and you will see,” said Fairy Knowall. The twins lost no time in taking their places, and soon they were off. “We must make for Lake Avernus.” “What is Avernus?” asked Petal. “It is a lake,” answered Fairy Knowall, “through which we enter the Lower World." On and on flew the Flying Cloud, until they came to the middle of the world. “Lookl” said Knowall. “Do you see that lake below us? That is Lake Avernus.” Looking down, the twins saw a big lake, gloriously blue, and the water danced and sparkled in the sunshine. Knowall flew lower, and gradually the trees and ferns growing around the lake became bigger and took more definite shape, until at last the ’plane landed by the side of Lake Avernus. Our travellers were soon out of the ’plane and walked to the edge of the lake. Fairy Knowall blew a shrill blast on his silver trumpet, and immediately Hermes appeared before them. Hermes, you know, is the messenger of the gods, and it is he who looks after travellers, and lie conducts also travellers to the gates of thfe Lower World. He greeted the Fairy King’s secretary very cordially, and on being told of the misison on which he had been sent Hermes touched the water with his staff and there appeared before our travellers a path to the middle of the lake. The twins followed Knowall and Hermes, and when they reached the centre of the lake they saw some steps leading down to the depths of the earth. They all descended, and gradually the light grew dim, until it was like twilight. As they went down Hermes told them that Hel, the Queen of the Lower World, was waiting to receive them. When the bottom step was reached the twins saw a tall lady waiting for them. Her face was very pale and her black hair hung in two long plaits reaching to her knees; she was wearing a soft grey dress made of twilight mist. When she saw the children she smiled and held out her hands to them. This lady was Queen Hel. She greeted Fairy Knowall very' pleasantly, and said that she would go with them on their quest for water from the River Lethe. Hermes bade the twins and Knowall au revoir, and the travellers proceeded with Queen Hel.

“Before we come to Castle Hades,” said the Queen of the Lower World, “we must go through Erebus, the dark place, where the Queen of Darkness lives. Sometimes she is called the Lady of the Night, but her real name in Nyx.” As Bud and Petal followed Queen Ilel and Fairy linowall they noticed that it grew darker and darker, and Petal grew afraid. Bud was a bit scared, too, but of course he did not show it. “Don’t fear, Petal,” said the Queen; “it is quite safe. This is Erebus, the place where the Greeks believed the spirits of the dead travelled through on the way to Hades.”

Soon the twins heard'the sound of running water, and it began grow lighter, until once again it was twilight and they could see each other’s faces; and they beheld before them the River Styx. The Styx is a river in the Lower World by which the gods swore their most sacred oaths. Old Charon was waiting to row the travellers across in his quaintly-carved old boat. Buil Petal waited until the Queen and Known: 1 took their seats, and then they too stepped into the boat. Charon was in a chatty mood, and he told the children stories of ancient warriors who had passed over centuries before. Stories of old Vikings on their way to Valhalla. Of, course,

vou ail know that Valhalla is the hall where all the great old warriors went after they were slain on the battlefields. The StjoUs-a fairly yd<t

(By “Calliope.")

(Continued from last week.) Part IV.

and is so deep that no one has ever been able to find out just how deep it is. It flows very silently and swiftly, and is a fitting place for the gods to make their vows. When the boat reached the opposite shore the twins found themselves on a broad road, at the end of which they could see Castle Hades. They walked on, and the children were wildly excited to see Cerberus. They had often heard of him, and now that they were actually to see him they were greatly excited. “What is he really like?” asked Petal. "Will he bite?” “No, dear,” answered Queen Hel; “he is a great pal of mine, and will not harm anyone when I am near.” As they drew nearer the twins saw that the gates of the castle were black, and on asking what they were made of Knowall told them that the shiny black material was coal—wondrously carved and highly polished coal. When they came up to the gates Cerberus came rushing up. You know, he is the dog with three heads that guards the gates of Castle Hades. Petal gave a great shriek. “Oh I” she cried. “Doesn’t he look terrible?” “Come, dear Petal," said Queen Hel. “See he is quite gentle now.” And indeed he was. He came up to the Queen and lay down at her feet. She patted his three great heads, each in turn, and he wagged his tall and followed the travellers into ' the grounds of Castle Hades. The River Cocytus flows through the gardens of the castle, and is sometimes known as the River of Wailing; all the tears of mortals And their way into the Lower World and form the river; that is why it is called the River of Wailing.”

Queen Hel led the trio over . the Bridge of Sighs, which spans the Cocytus, and the children found themselves’at the door of the castle. Queen Hel entered, and was met by Hades, her husband. Hades is the King of the Lower World, and he of course knew Fairy Knowall, and when the fairy told him of his mission to procure some water from the River of Forgetfulness—or, as it is better known, the River Lethe—the King said he would send a servant for it. King Oberon wanted the water from this wonderful river for use in the world. When the Fairy King sees poor mortals worried and distressed he sends Morpheus, the keeper of sleep and dreams, to visit them. When Morpheus sees the worried mortals preparing to retire he gently rubs their eyelids with the Water of Lethe and they fall into a sweet, refreshing sleep and forget, for a while at least, their worries, and when they wake up they are refreshed and are able to battle against their troubles.

“While we are waiting for the water,” said King Hades, “I will show you the River Phlegethan, the river of fire. It flows under Castle Hades. Vulcan, the God of Fire, watches always on the banks of this river. He controls all the fire in the world, and all the fire fairies are at his command. Did you know that matches are Are fairies, and whenever you strike a match Vulcan sees your signal and he sends a fire fairy to answer your call? The flame you make when you strike the match is a tiny Are fairy from the River of Fire, or the Phlegethan, come all the way from the Lower World to give you Are.

The twins were delighted when they saw the great Vulcan. His armour is made of flame-coloured metal. You know Vulcan is also god of the metal workers, and his armour was a wonderful piece of workmanship. Vulcan is tali, and his eyes are a wonderful golden brown; his hair is auburn, and is very long and curly. He was pleased to see the twins, and showed them how gold is made, and haw it is formed in seams in the earth. He showed them all the wonders of the earth, and the great ruby mines; and he told them how diamonds are made from coal. “All,” he said, after a while; “here.is my wife. I will leave you now in her care, and she will talk to you.” Next week 1 will tell you about. .Vulcan’s wife, and how the' twins and Fairy Knowall cams back frum the Lower World. ...