eason, and to
punish them, when suddenly a low-toned laugh struck on his ears. It
startled him, for it was the familiar laughter of his sister--his sister,
whom he believed to be far away, hopelessly imprisoned in the deepest
recesses of his cavern. He turned his head in the direction from whence
it came, and as he half rose from his seat, puzzled and uncertain, it
echoed a second time through the Cave. It came from close by, in that
dusky corridor that led to his own bedchamber, led to the rooms beyond
where the Imps were busy, ay--and led on still further to his Pit of
Fumes. By that way his sister could not pass. He smiled cruelly as he
thought of that inconquerable barrier to her coming. By the other way
there was the double wall, sealed by his enchantment. Remembering these
things he was certain that he but imagined that he had heard her echoing
laugh.

Even as he said this, he heard it again, and stealing toward him from
out the corridor came a grey figure, laughing as she came. He gazed at
it in wonder. It could not really be the Shadow Witch, he told himself.
It must be that his eyes were deceiving him.

Impossible as it seemed, however, he presently saw that it was she who
stood before him, knew that it was her own voice that rang clear and
triumphant in his ears.

"The dungeon in which you thought to hold me was not strong enough when
that day came of which I warned you, brother," she declared. "By a power
stronger than yours I have escaped, and I am here in proof that you have
failed. In this place, as you well know, you can do naught against me."

The Wizard's eyes flashed fire. He made a step forward with hands
outstretched to seize her. "Do not boast too soon," retorted he. "I have
yet a spell to conquer you even here."

Although the Shadow Witch held her head high in defiance of him, she
retreated a few paces. It was true, as she had said, that she was not
afraid, but she did not mean to be without caution. She would make her
test quickly. If she could but baffle him once more with that old trick
of hers, that thus far had never failed to confound him, she would know
that she was safe against him.

She waved her grey sleeves, and instantly there fell between her and the
Wizard her magic curtain, her moving curtain of shadow. Before it stood
a shadow image, so like to herself that it deceived even the keen eyes
of the Wizard. Behind the curtain she herself was perfectly concealed.

It was done so q