LAST OF THE FAIRIES. 6 



their beloved stream. It welled out from beneath 

 the grotto-like recesses of a high rock, and in this 

 sheltered spot, Ina commanded her obedient subjects 

 to remain in peace and safety. She however staid 

 not with them, but hastened to prosecute her errand 

 of mercy. 



Gently spreading her silver pinions, she mounted 

 into the air, and, gliding past fertile valleys and ver- 

 dant lawns, directed her unerring flight to a vast, 

 uncultured moor. Here the genius of desolation 

 reigned without controul. Ina shuddered, as resting 

 on the pinnacle of a stupendous tor, she surveyed 

 the apparently interminable waste. As far as the 

 eye could reach, the solitary track extended, broken 

 only by those rugged masses of stone, piled, (as the 

 fairy Report had before stated) in wild and motley 

 confusion, by the gigantic efforts of the early rava- 

 gers of the place. Dense and sullen wreaths of fog 

 marked the course of a hundred rivers which took 

 their rise in the surrounding marshes. A solemn 

 grandeur, unredeemed by any trace of beauty, 

 reigned around. Ina shuddered : — She had heard 

 of the frightful genii of the place, she knew her 

 power was feeble in comparison with theirs, but 

 strong in her work of kindness she rose to proceed. 

 Once again her eyes wandered over the scene. The 

 mist which had been slowly gathering, now rolled 

 rapidly onward, magnifying every object into start- 

 ling dimensions ; onwards and onwards it came, 

 alternately magnifying and then hiding every object 

 on which it rested. Heavy clouds obscured the 

 light of the friendly moon, and in its place lurid 

 lightnings swept with fitful power across the sky. 

 The rock to which Ina still clung, groaned, and 

 heaved, and shook, mingling its hollow murmurings 

 with the thunderings of heaven. On a whirlwind 

 rode the genius of the storm, smihng with frightful 

 dehght at the havoc and destruction beneath. 

 Again the rock to which Ina clung, trembled and 

 shook. At length, with a mighty crash, it fell. 



