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and save me。〃
But her voice was too faint for her mother to hear。 Indeed； it is most
probable that Ceres was then a thousand miles off； making the corn grow
in some far distant country。 Nor could it have availed her poor daughter；
even had she been within hearing； for no sooner did Proserpina begin to
cry out； than the stranger leaped to the ground； caught the child in his arms；
and again mounted the chariot； shook the reins； and shouted to the four
black horses to set off。 They immediately broke into so swift a gallop； that
it seemed rather like flying through the air than running along the earth。 In
a moment； Proserpina lost sight of the pleasant vale of Enna； in which she
had always dwelt。 Another instant； and even the summit of Mount Aetna
had become so blue in the distance； that she could scarcely distinguish it
from the smoke that gushed out of its crater。 But still the poor child
screamed； and scattered her apron full of flowers along the way； and left a
long cry trailing behind the chariot； and many mothers； to whose ears it
came； ran quickly to see if any mischief had befallen their children。 But
Mother Ceres was a great way off； and could not hear the cry。
As they rode on； the stranger did his best to soothe her。
〃Why should you be so frightened； my pretty child？〃 said he； trying to
soften his rough voice。 〃I promise not to do you any harm。 What！ you have
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been gathering flowers？ Wait till we come to my palace； and I will give
you a garden full of prettier flowers than those； all made of pearls； and
diamonds； and rubies。 Can you guess who I am？ They call my name Pluto；
and I am the king of diamonds and all other precious stones。 Every atom
of the gold and silver that lies under the earth belongs to me； to say
nothing of the copper and iron； and of the coal mines； which supply me
with abundance of fuel。 Do you see this splendid crown upon my head？
You may have it for a plaything。 O； we shall be very good friends； and you
will find me more agreeable than you expect； when once we get out of this
troublesome sunshine。〃
〃Let me go home！〃 cried Proserpina。 〃Let me go home！〃
〃My home is better than your mother's；〃 answered King Pluto。 〃It is a
palace； all made of gold； with crystal windows； and because there is little
or no sunshine thereabouts； the apartments are illuminated with diamond
lamps。 You never saw anything half so magnificent as my throne。 If you
like； you may sit down on it； and be my little queen； and I will sit on the
footstool。〃
〃I don't care for golden palaces and thrones；〃 sobbed Proserpina。 〃Oh；
my mother； my mother！ Carry me back to my mother！〃
But King Pluto； as he called himself； only shouted to his steeds to go
faster。
〃Pray do not be foolish； Proserpina；〃 said he； in rather a sullen tone。 〃I
offer you my palace and my crown； and all the riches that are under the
earth； and you treat me as if I were doing you an injury。 The one thing
which my palace needs is a merry little maid； to run upstairs and down；
and cheer up the rooms with her smile。 And this is what you must do for
King Pluto。〃
〃Never！〃 answered Proserpina； looking as miserable as she could。 〃I
shall never smile again till you set me down at my mother's door。〃
But she might just as well have talked to the wind that whistled past
them； for Pluto urged on his horses； and went faster than ever。 Proserpina
continued to cry out； and screamed so long and so loudly that her poor
little voice was almost screamed away； and when it was nothing but a
whisper； she happened to cast her eyes over a great broad field of waving
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grainand whom do you think she saw？ Who； but Mother Ceres； making
the corn grow； and too busy to notice the golden chariot as it went rattling
along。 The child mustered all her strength； and gave one more scream； but
was out of sight before Ceres had time to turn her head。
King Pluto had taken a road which now began to grow excessively
gloomy。 It was bordered on each side with rocks and precipices； between
which the rumbling of the chariot wheels was reverberated with a noise
like rolling thunder。 The trees and bushes that grew in the crevices of the
rocks had very dismal foliage； and by and by； although it was hardly noon；
the air became obscured with a gray twilight。 The black horses had rushed
along so swiftly； that they were already beyond the limits of the sunshine。
But the duskier it grew； the more did Pluto's visage assume an air of
satisfaction。 After all； he was not an ill…looking person； especially when he
left off twisting his features into a smile that did not belong to them。
Proserpina peeped at his face through the gathering dusk； and hoped that
he might not be so very wicked as she at first thought him。
〃Ah； this twilight is truly refreshing；〃 said King Pluto； 〃after being so
tormented with that ugly and impertinent glare of the sun。 How much
more agreeable is lamplight or torchlight； more particularly when reflected
from diamonds！ It will be a magnificent sight； when we get to my palace。〃
〃Is it much farther？〃 asked Proserpina。 〃And will you carry me back
when I have seen it？〃
〃We will talk of that by and by；〃 answered Pluto。 〃We are just entering
my dominions。 Do you see that tall gateway before us？ When we pass
those gates； we are at home。 And there lies my faithful mastiff at the
threshold。 Cerberus！ Cerberus！ Come hither； my good dog！〃
So saying； Pluto pulled at the reins； and stopped the chariot right
between the tall； massive pillars of the gateway。 The mastiff of which he
had spoken got up from the threshold； and stood on his hinder legs； so as
to put his fore paws on the chariot wheel。 But； my stars； what a strange
dog it was！ Why； he was a big； rough； ugly…looking monster； with three
separate heads； and each of them fiercer than the two others； but fierce as
they were； King Pluto patted them all。 He seemed as fond of his three…
headed dog as if it had been a sweet little spaniel； with silken ears and
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curly hair。 Cerberus； on the other hand； was evidently rejoic