Once upon a time there was a little princess. Her name was Ellen. She lived with her mother the queen in a great house by the sea. She had three brothers. One day, as they were playing ball, one of her brothers threw the ball over the house. Ellen ran to get it, but she did not come back. The three brothers looked for her. They looked and looked, but they could not find her. Day after day went by. At last the oldest brother went to a wise man and asked what to do. "The princess is with the elves. She is in the Dark Tower," said the wise man. "Where is the Dark Tower?" asked the oldest brother. "It is far away," said the wise man. "You cannot find it." "I can and I will find it. Tell me where it is," said the oldest brother. The wise man told him, and the oldest brother set off at once. The other brothers waited. They waited long, but the oldest brother did not come back. Then the next brother went to the wise man. The wise man told him as he had told the oldest brother. Then the next brother set out to find the Dark Tower. The youngest brother waited. He waited long, but no one came. Now the youngest brother was called Childe Rowland.