ss,
gathering her trailing robes over her arm, took her way to the Wizard's
Cave.

Gloomy and forbidding was the Cave of Darkness. Its outer walls rose
high and cliff-like from the great Plain of Ash, and a yawning opening
led off to its dark corridors and many dusky chambers.

The Shadow Witch had no sooner reached the Cave mouth and entered it
than the Chief Imp, with a spark lantern in his hand, met her to conduct
her to his master. They passed swiftly down the narrow passage and came
presently to that vast black chamber called the Cave Hall, where the
Wizard was wont to sit.

The Cave Hall was filled with Imps, some clustered in groups, whispering
together; some lolling idly upon the soot cushions that lay about the
floor; some peeping stealthily from behind the heavy curtains of soot
with which the walls were hung. But their master was nowhere to be seen.

The Chief Imp went directly to the farther wall and struck upon it with
his wand. Instantly it yawned apart, and an inner corridor was revealed.

This part of the cave was strange to the Shadow Witch, but she entered
boldly and followed her guide without fear through many winding ways and
secret chambers, until at last he paused before a second wall. He struck
upon it, as he had upon the other. It opened, in its turn, and she saw
before her a room more profoundly dark than any that they had yet passed
through. Its charcoal walls were set about with faintly glowing
lanterns, but so heavy were the soot curtains that surrounded them that
their light was almost quenched.

Here, too, were Imps, one beside each spark lantern, but in the centre
of the room the Shadow Witch saw that which caused her to turn pale with
misgiving, for the Wizard of the Cave was there--not weak or ill, as she
had been led to believe, but recovered and standing in the fulness of
his strength.

Beholding him thus, she knew that he intended mischief against her;
knew, also, that for her safety she must show no sign of fear. "After
all," she thought, "my own magic will protect me. Never has it been less
potent than his. It will not fail me now."

She lifted herself to her full height and stood tall and beautiful
before him, her rich black hair falling like a mantle over her
shoulders, her eyes gleaming like stars through the dusk. "So, you have
deceived me, brother," she said coldly. "I might have known that it
would be so."

"Even as you have deceived me," retorted the Wizard, bendin