“No, you cannot,” said Salamander sternly; “nor will I till you give up all claim to Duldy.”
“I do! I do!” shrieked the Water-witch, listening with terror to the roar of the fire mountain.
“And tell Duldy who he really is?” said Salamander relentlessly.
“Yes! yes!” cried Foamina, who was now getting thinner and thinner as the hot lava scorched her springs in the distant mountain. “Only stop that cruel, cruel fire!”
“Who am I?” asked Duldy. “Quick! tell me, and Salamander will stop the fire.”
“You are the son of the old King,” cried Foamina wildly. “I drowned your mother and carried you off. I surrender all claim to you now, only stop the fire—stop the fire!”
“You will never do cruel things again?” said Salamander.
“Never!—never!” said the Water-witch, who was now writhing on the floor.
“Then make the waters leave the city,” cried Duldy.
The Water-witch flew to the window and muttered some words, whereupon the river sank down to its usual level, all the fountains stopped pouring out jets of foam, and in a short time the city was as dry and clean as if no waters had been there at all.