Violet Jacob > Stories told by the miller

THE TREE OF PRIDE
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them ; they flew over towns twinkling with
lights and rivers which lay in the darkness
like shining snakes. Sometimes a heavy bird
of prey would pass on its way beneath them, and
sometimes the cry of a nightjar would come up
from below. At last they came upon a dark
mass covering many miles, which the Enchant¬
ress told him was the forest of the Bat-King.
A curious twilight shone through the branches,
caused by the presence of many glow-worms.
The owls lit upon an open patch among the
trees, and she got out of the car, telling the King
to remain beside her as he valued his life. The
owls crouched near, ruffling as they settled.
In a short time they saw a dark-winged
figure coming towards them, whose crown of
pale flame threw furtive shadows on the tree-
trunks. The Enchantress went to meet him,
and for some time the two friends walked up
and down at a little distance from the King.
He looked above and around for some chance
of escape. Once he thought of springing into
the owl chariot, but the Enchantress had taken
her whip of plaited twdgs with her, and he
feared that without it the owls might refuse to fly.
He felt under his doublet for a dagger which he