What a strange place it was, this country of his into which he was leading her! It was so dark that she could see nothing but gleaming lights shining through the darkness, red and yellow and green and crimson, like tiny magic lanterns hung at intervals high above her head against the wall.
She began to perceive that they were going deep down under the earth, and she shivered, partly with cold and partly with fear, as she stepped carefully and slowly over the uneven path down which she and her guide were descending.
"Is it far we have to go?" she asked at length, rather timidly.
"Oh no," answered her companion. "This is simply a long corridor that runs through the base of the hills, but we have almost reached the end of it. In a few moments I shall lead you into the presence-chamber of the king."
"The king!" echoed the child, hardly knowing whether to be frightened or pleased. "And am I to go before a king?"
"Yes, yes," laughed the little man. "You don't suppose we are a people without a king?"
As he spoke he knocked three times against the wall, and a voice from within called out, "Who's there? who's there? who's there?"
"Aleck the gate-keeper," answered her companion, and immediately a door flew open.