“Down from the palace crept the little people, carrying their silver treasure. The night being dark, they reached the Earth without being discovered. In a little while they found the ocean beach the Queen so loved,—for it was here the first jewelled rounds of that sparkling ladder should be laid. By the soft light of the stars, the sprites saw that the Earth was very beautiful; but what were those queer, sad sounds they heard, mingling with the breaking of the waves upon the beach? The workmen stopped to listen, and caught the strains of music; then, looking closely at the water, they saw a line of lovely maidens, with flowing golden hair, which they continually combed as they sang. The Moon sprites were quite astonished at the sight. The maidens were surpassingly beautiful, but their song was very sad.
“‘Who are you, and why do you sing so sadly?’ they called.
“‘Alas!’ replied the charming creatures, ‘we are mermaids. Our father is the Sea King. We have always been as happy as the day is long, until a few years ago, when a terrible misfortune came upon us. One of the prettiest of our sisters was about to be married. We were busy with the preparations for her wedding, gathering the seaweed and the pretty mother-of-pearl shells that float up on the land, to decorate her palace. We had searched carefully our large and magnificent sea-gardens for the finest specimens of weed and shells. But a beautiful shell, brilliantly tinted in every shade of rose and green and blue combined, had been thrown high upon the sandy beach, out of our reach. Our dear sister became too venturesome, and floating on a big wave she grasped the shell she coveted.
“‘At that moment, the hideous Gnome King sprang suddenly from behind a rock, and snatching her in his arms ran off. In vain we pleaded with him to restore our lost darling. The cruel monster only laughed, and swore she should become his wife. Her bridegroom of the Sea was almost beside himself with grief when he learned the awful news. He offered his life in exchange for hers, and we gathered together all our jewels for her ransom. But nothing would move the hard heart of the wicked Gnome King, and he still keeps our beloved sister in his power. That is why we sing so mournfully. The monster, finding she would not marry him, carried her to the top of a high mountain, where she could see her beloved home, but never reach it.
“‘She is helpless upon the land, and though she can look down at the foot of the mountains and see the curling waters of her home, she cannot reach it. Her lover sits below, encouraging her with words of love, but he is helpless to reach her. Miserable and longing for home, she watches all the ships that pass, and with her lute sings the most wonderful songs, begging the sailors to rescue her. Many have tried, and the mountain-side is white with the bones of those who have perished in the attempt. For the Gnome King makes mad those who try to save her; they lose their way and die.
“‘Alas, kind friends, unless you will help us, we fear she is lost to us for ever.’
“The kind-hearted Moon sprites were certainly touched by this pathetic tale, and they determined among themselves that they would form a plan to outwit the cruel Gnome King, and rescue the sea maid. Of course to do this they would have to delay a little the planting of the Moon ladder, but they felt that her Imperial Majesty would certainly have consented to delay in such a case. So, gathering up their precious burden, they climbed the mountain to seek the sea maid.
“Knowing that she could never reach her sisters alone, and enchanting all the mortals who tried to rescue her, the Gnome King had no guard to watch the maiden. She was left entirely alone upon a big rock overlooking the ocean. The wicked king came at rare intervals to see if she would consent to marry him, but otherwise she was left undisturbed.
“A glimmering figure sitting on a high cliff.” ([Page 106])