"Why of course," said Prince Redmond proudly. "It is the source of water supply for nearly the whole of the kingdom. There isn't purer water anywhere in the world."
"Purer," said Daimur, who was stooping to examine the waters through his spectacles, "why, it's poisoned!"
"Poisoned!" exclaimed both the princes, looking at each other incredulously. "Impossible!"
"I tell you it is," said Daimur, "the poison is an oily substance which covers the surface of the water. It may not be deadly; I cannot tell."
"Then that's what ails our subjects," cried Tasmir. "They must be drinking this poison every day."
"Where is the source of this river?" asked Daimur.
Prince Redmond turned and pointed to the highest hill behind them. "In Mirror Lake, on that hilltop," he said.
"Let us go there at once then," said Daimur, and leaving his marines on guard duty around the palace he followed the two princes, who had taken a path that led along the stream. This grew rough and stony as they came to higher ground, and they soon were clinging to rocks and bushes as they climbed up the steep hillside.
At length after a great deal of scrambling and some tearing of their clothes on the thorns and brambles, they managed to reach the top, and followed a narrow winding path which led to the lake. After half an hour of quick walking they came upon it very suddenly. It was quite small, and completely surrounded by trees. The water was as blue as the sky and reflected every little cloudlet perfectly. Daimur, however, at once noticed vast quantities of laurel leaves floating about, coming apparently from a little cove at the far end of the lake.
"It is those leaves that are poisoning the water," he cried excitedly, "I can see the poisonous oil oozing from them."