“We fairies have hit upon a splendid plan,” he said. “But there is no time to lose. Sybil, I have seen your brother, but he did not see me. I was at the castle this morning before cock-crow. I flew in through a loop-hole. Nobody saw me. It took me a long time to find out in what room your brother was kept, but, at last, I made it out. I intended to stay until I did. He is in a room, high up in the north tower. He has been pretty well, but now his jailers have begun the plan of starving him; and he will soon be too weak to save himself as we propose, which is the only way open to him. It requires steady nerves, and great courage. But do not weep, for we will save him, only it must be done speedily. Do you, Christern, be ready to go with me to the castle at break of day. Pretend you are a beggar. There are so many of these you will pass unsuspected. I will point out to you a small postern door at the back of the castle, stay about that; and I will hide near it. I could slip inside easily enough, and tell Maghar what to do, but he does not know me, and would not trust me. So you must get inside the castle some way and see him. And, not only that, but you must get out again. And this is our plan for doing this. We fairies have three magical cocks. At a signal from me these cocks will appear on the crest of the hill at the back of the castle, and will sing a song. This will so astonish the sentinels that they will be thrown off their guard. I will then slip in through a loop-hole, unlock the postern door, and let you in. We will tell Maghar how he can escape. Then the cocks will appear again, and while the attention of the guards is distracted, we will get out of the castle. Remember now to be here at daybreak.” And the fairy disappeared, much to Sybil’s regret, who had a hundred questions to ask him about her brother’s appearance, and treatment. He had not even told her what his plan was for her brother’s escape. But he did not come back, and she was obliged to be satisfied with the information she had. The programme was carried out in every particular. Christern acted his part of beggar so well that he managed to get near the postern door, unsuspected, with the fairy snugly tucked into a fold of his ragged dress. On arriving at the place the fairy concealed himself in some vines. At the appointed signal three magnificent cocks appeared abreast on the top of the hill. [Illustration: THREE MAGICAL COCKS.] The like of these cocks had never been seen in that country, and they immediately attracted the attention of everybody. But when they opened their mouths, and began to sing the words of a war song, the sentinels forgot everything, and deserted their posts to get as near the wonderful songsters as possible without alarming them.