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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
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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
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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。
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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
on the dainty pair of boots that was never called for。
For the princess kept her room； with the curtains drawn to shut out the
dying lake； But she could not shut it out of her mind for a moment。 It
haunted her imagination so that she felt as if the lake were her soul； d