"Let me go before you, and follow in my footsteps."
So Zenia took the lead; and, to Rick's surprise, he found that, by following directly in her steps, he had a perfectly firm footing in the midst of the swamp.
On the other side of the swamp rose another line of high hills, and it made Rick's tired limbs ache harder to think of having to climb over them.
But as they approached these hills, the two directly in front of them appeared to move apart, disclosing a very good, grassy road.
The fairy followed Rick along the winding road between the mountains, singing to herself in a low, monotonous tone, and not deigning to speak to Rick until they came out into a meadow, whose farther end seemed to rest against the sky. But to Rick's surprise, they had gone only a little way before they stood upon the verge of a hill, and below him Rick saw the familiar river-road again, lying, a white, winding streak, as far as he could see on either hand, and, not far to the right, half hidden by the trees, was the castle, its windows burning with the sunset glow shining beneath a mass of clouds that had just lifted from the horizon.
Rick's heart leaped with joy and thankfulness. Never before had his mother and Nanette and the castle seemed so dear.
"Hurry home now, as fast as you please; but don't forget all that Zenia has told you," said the fairy.
Rick ran down over the long, slanting fields of the descent before him as fast as he could go. He had turned to thank the fairy for her kindness; but she had suddenly disappeared, leaving him alone upon the brow of the hill.
His mother and Nanette had grown so anxious about him, that they had sent Peter, the groom, off on horseback to look for him. They were astonished enough to see Rick coming into the yard on foot, with torn and soiled garments. But as soon as they found he was sound and well, although exhausted by fatigue and excitement, Nanette said,—
"What has become of Skip?"