s.

The Prince came nearer till he was close beside her, and as he did so,
her cheek, till now so pale, flushed to a crimson glory against the
dusky splendor of her hair. Gently he drew away her shielding hands and
looked into her lovely face, bright as none but he had ever seen it.
Gently he raised her drooping head and looked into the sweetness of her
eyes. "Dear Shadow Witch," he whispered tenderly, "come, ah, come with
me, and leave behind forever the darkness of this evil place."

Low was her voice and soft as she made answer: "Happy, thrice happy am
I, Prince Ember, that I may leave it with you."

[Illustration]

CHAPTER X

When the Wizard parted from his sister, he believed that she was
hopelessly in his power, but as he proceeded on his way, he began to
recall to himself how defiantly she had borne herself at the last, and
with what confidence she had spoken. He remembered, too, how often she
had baffled and eluded him before he had imprisoned her, and he knew
that it was not entirely impossible that she might do so again. Could
she but release herself from the deep darkness that surrounded her, all
her own magic would return to her, and then, in spite of all his guards,
she might be able by means of one of her clever tricks, to make her way
to liberty.

Thinking of these things, he reached a bend in the corridor where two
ways met. The one went directly on to the Cave Hall, but the other led
away into that remote and dangerous part of the cavern where lay the Pit
of Fumes. Thither he was wont to go to practice his most secret arts. No
Imps ever dared to tread that way, for it was well known that none but
himself could pass over it in safety.

He paused, for he suddenly bethought himself of how easily he could, by
a stroke of enchantment, close with a wall the way to the Cave Hall and
leave only that one open which led to the Pit of Fumes. Then if by some
strange means his sister should contrive to escape from her dungeon, she
would unsuspectingly go on to the Pit of Fumes. This she would be unable
to pass, and would, therefore, be forced to return to the prison that
she had left.

The Wizard laughed aloud, for the thought pleased him well. He
determined to prepare this trap for her at once. Abruptly he bade the
Imps to rest their lanterns. They did so and stood motionless with eyes
fixed on their master. The Wizard bent on them his ster