"'Fear not, my children! Fear not, for I am your friend!'
"Then without another word she entered the mouth of the dark cave and at the chiming sound of a deep-toned bell, the cavern became filled in a second with a million bright and glowing lights, the like of which no mortal eye had ever beheld.
"The two little children, now overcome with amazement, stood for the moment speechless and motionless in the presence of the strange scene that lay before them.
"The great flood of light that poured from the cavern illumined the scene with a strange beauty, that, falling upon the clear, crystal-like rocks of the glen, seemed to make them glow with sparkling radiance like so many diamonds; and the wild flowers of the woodland and the foliage of the trees hung trembling beneath the magic glare that the flood of fire cast upon them from the mouth of the enchanted cave.
"Both Arthur and Maud seemed enchanted too. They could have remained upon the spot perfectly contented, for a long time, had not 'Aunt Twaddles' broken the spell by calling them. Taking each by the hand, she led them into the cavern.
"Instead of the rough, rude, unpolished walls of dark stone that the two children had expected to find, they were surprised to see the beautiful crystallized formations that hung everywhere from the roof of the cavern. The whole place seemed to be one living blaze of light. The floor was as smooth as a piece of glass and so polished that it might have answered the purpose of a mirror.
"They stood gazing about the great cave for some time, when 'Aunt Twaddles' hurried them on their journey, exclaiming:
"'Come, children, for we have far to go!'
"They walked rapidly on through the cavern for some distance, not failing, however, to take time to explore its most interesting parts.
"It was not long before they came to a broad river that, with its swift current, dashed through the great cave with mighty roar. 'Aunt Twaddles,' realizing that in order to proceed upon their journey they had to cross this stream in some manner, paused with the two children on the shore. They stood at the edge of the water, gazing far out over the tide and wondering what they were going to do, when, at a wave of command from 'Aunt Twaddles,' a water sprite rose slowly from the tide and in another instant stood bowing and scraping before them.