Through the fire (4)

Through the fire (4)

" I daresay soon. I shall feel quite used to it, " said Jack, making an effort.
" How does one get to Fireland ? "

" I'll show you, " said the little man, and dug into the coal beneath his feet till he had made a good-sized hole.
Then he took from his pocket some little marbles, and dropped them one by one into the hole which gradually began to grow larger and larger until it was an immense black gulf.

" Now come along, " said the red man, sitting on the edge with his legs swinging over.
" Get on to my shoulder and put your legs round my neck. Give me your hands, and I'll take you quite safely. "

Jack did as he was told, and they went down ー down － down.
It was pitch dark.

At  last he saw a faint red light growing larger and brighter every moment.

" There's Fireland, " said his guide.

As they passed from the darkness into the light through a kind of archway, Jack looked about him.
There were great hills, and they were every shade of red and orange, some pale, some bright, and on the hillsides were lakes of fire.

The sky was one mass of flame. On they went until they came in sight of a large city with tall spires and bridges, and a little way out of it stood a palace made of red-hot iron and glistening with precious stones.

" That's the King's palace, " said the fire-man.
" We'll go there first. "

(4/15)