t did he believe that the
Prince could escape it and come within reach of the giant's arms.

While he worked and exulted thus, he did not forget that in conquering
Prince Ember, he would pay off, also, his old grudge against the Shadow
Witch for her mockery of him.

The Shadow Witch, coming across the Plain of Ash with the Prince,
safe-sheltered by the Cloak of the good Elf, had been sure that they
were now safe from peril, when on a sudden it seemed as if a warning
hand were laid upon her. She stopped and looked around her, but saw
nothing.

Then, with piercing eyes, she scanned the Plain in front. At a
considerable distance from her, bent over the ash, she espied a figure
well-known to her--the Ash Goblin, intent upon some task. She suspected
danger, and caught at the Prince's mantle, exclaiming beneath her
breath, "The Ash Goblin! See, how stealthily he creeps along! Never does
he venture so far from home unless he has evil plans afoot."

Prince Ember had forgotten the Ash Goblin, had forgotten the words of
the Elf of the Borderland, but now they returned to him. "Beware of the
Ash Goblin! He is small of stature, but he cannot safely be despised,
for he is very cunning." He followed the pointing finger of the Shadow
Witch, that he might behold this new enemy, but he strained his eyes in
vain.

"I see nothing but the grey Plain that lies between us and the Elf's
dwelling," he replied.

She laid her hand lightly upon his eyes for a moment, and by the magic
of her touch made his vision more keen. "Look now," she urged,
withdrawing her hand, "and you will see."

Prince Ember obeyed, and immediately he, too, beheld the ugly form of
the Ash Goblin bending over his snare. "Yes, there he is," he said, "and
I remember now how earnestly the Elf of the Borderland bade me be on my
guard against his cunning."

"Ah, my Prince," the Shadow Witch responded, "you may well be on your
guard. Though he knows the weakness of his body too well to dare to
attack an enemy in fair and open fight, he is powerful in such craft as
he can carry out in secret. Whether or not he is preparing a trap for
us, I cannot tell. One thing is certain, we cannot choose but pass over
the place where he is at work."

"Whatever may lie in wait for us there, my dear Shadow Witch," Prince
Ember assured her, "we will meet it unafraid."

They went directly toward their foe. Nowhere did they see anything that
spoke of danger until they were but a stone