the light princess(光明公主)-第7章
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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。
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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
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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 i
