g a look of
malice upon her. "But you have been clever once too often, my sister.
Did you think that I could not guess that it was you who made it
possible for the stranger prince to steal upon me unawares with his
Sword of Flames? Do I not know your trick of the moving curtain of
shadow? It was that which screened him from my eyes until it was too
late for me to destroy him. It was yourself who told him when to
unsheath his sword. It was you, then, who made me suffer. But now my
time has come to repay you--to make you feel the wrath of the Wizard of
the Cave."

The Shadow Witch laughed scornfully. "I fear you not," she cried. "Have
I not magic of my own, ay, as great even as yours, that will serve to
protect me against your enchantments. I defy you, then, magician though
you are. You cannot harm me."

Her words were bold, but fear clutched at her heart in spite of them.
Here in this deepest part of the Wizard's Cave, surrounded by his
servants, and distant from her own, what would become of her if her
magic failed before his? She knew that it would be folly to stay and
test it. She determined to escape while there was yet time.

With a rush she attempted to dart past him, but in vain. He stretched
his long arms and caught her to him, and though she struggled
desperately against him, he held her fast.

"Away with the lights," shouted the Wizard hoarsely.

Obediently the Imps snatched the lanterns from the walls and vanished
with them in haste, leaving the Shadow Witch alone with her brother,
wrapped in deepest darkness. By what means he wrought upon her there she
could not tell, for she could neither see his face, nor hear his words.
She only knew that suddenly all her magic powers departed from her,
leaving her completely helpless.

In her ears the harsh voice of the Wizard sounded triumphing over her.
"Thus you are repaid in part, my sister, for giving aid to my enemies.
It will be long before you trick me again, for, lest you should try to
give me some fresh proof of your cleverness, I have prepared for you the
darkness of this prison chamber. In it no Shadow can have power, can
work magic. Here you shall remain, until I choose to set you free."

He released her hands, and she sank weakly down to the floor of the
cavern. She heard his footsteps departing through the darkness and
presently she knew that she was quite alone.

Lying where she had fallen, she waited until a little strength came back
to her. The