the
house of the Elf," she said. Then, turning, she pointed to a high black
cliff that rose in the distance. "And yonder is the Cave of Darkness,
where the Wizard dwells, and my poor mistress lies imprisoned. As soon
as you have left the Elf, lose no time in reaching her, I beg of you,
for the Wizard is very cruel, and I know not what he may do to her if
help is long delayed. When you have climbed the steep path which leads
up the cliff-side, you will behold the entrance to the cavern yawning
before you. As for myself, I shall return now to the Land of Shadows, to
await in hope the homecoming of my mistress."

She turned again and struck upon the Elf's door thrice. It was the
signal of the servants of the Shadow Witch. In silence the door swung
open, and the Prince set his foot upon the threshold.

"Farewell, noble and generous Prince," murmured Creeping Shadow. "Good
speed, and a safe return."

"Farewell," said Prince Ember. "Rest confident that I shall bring home
the Shadow Witch in triumph." He passed within, and as silently as it
had opened, the door closed upon him.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER V

Alone, in the deep darkness of her prison, sat the Shadow Witch growing
paler and sadder every day. She was beginning to fear that after all
Creeping Shadow could do nothing to help her, for how could she ever
penetrate to this dungeon, with its thick walls that hemmed her in. She
doubted not that the Wizard kept the entrance to the Cave closely
guarded; indeed he had told her that it was so.

Daily her food was brought to her by the Chief Imp, who grew more and
more impertinent to her. Daily her brother came to taunt her with her
weakness--with his own power over her. Proudly as she bore herself, she
could not but dread his coming, could not but wonder what he might still
have in store for her of punishment and suffering.

Never before had she so hated the evil magic of the Wizard and his
friends; and even her own magic, which she had always used more in
mischief than with evil in her heart, had grown detestable to her.

The longing to escape became so great that she could hardly endure it,
but with each visit from her brother, her hope of freedom became less
and less, so scornfully did he laugh at her when she demanded to know
when she should be set at liberty.

One day, as she sat thinking bitterly of the hardness of her lot, she
heard once aga