in the sound of approaching footsteps, and, immediately
after, the wall parted, and her brother entered. The lanterns of the
Imps who came with him, cast but a dim light in the thick darkness, yet
faint as it was, the Shadow Witch felt herself revive a little. She
gathered up all her strength and rose to face the Wizard defiantly. In
silence the Imps flocked in and ranged themselves along the soot-hung
walls. The Wizard advanced toward his sister with his cruel smile.

"Well, my clever sister," he asked her jeeringly, "how fares it with you
now, in this pleasant resting-place?"

The dark eyes of the Shadow Witch rested coldly upon his face, but she
vouchsafed him no reply.

"Here, it is true, you have no special opportunity to do further
mischief," continued the Wizard, "and that is a hardship for you, to be
sure. But you have plenty of time for repentance, which you need far
more. As for your Land of Shadows, word has come to me that your
servant, Black Shadow, holds sway in your absence. Nay, more, that she
rejoices in her power, and is none too eager for your return."

Still the Shadow Witch made no reply. She did not doubt what he said,
for she knew well the boldness and insolence of Black Shadow, but she
would not gratify him by showing that she cared in the least.

"And Creeping Shadow," he went on, "that other servant in whom, above
all the rest, you have had confidence, she, also, has joined herself to
Black Shadow, and obeys her in all things."

"In that I know you speak falsely," retorted the Shadow Witch. "There is
none more faithful to me than Creeping Shadow. Nothing could turn her
away from her loyalty to me. I have many other servants, also who love
me, and serve me well."

"She did not show herself loyal when she sought me in my Cave not long
since," observed the Wizard, stroking his dingy beard with a slow hand.
"At first she did indeed pretend to desire your freedom; at first she
wept and pleaded with me for your release, as though she were in
earnest, but when she found that I gave no heed to her, she cast off all
disguise, and showed plainly that she rejoiced in your imprisonment. She
even went so far as to try to bargain with me to hold you here. She
needed not to bargain, my good sister, for nothing could change my
purpose toward yourself. I have determined that in this prison you shall
find all of home or kingdom that will be yours for many a day."

"Naught that you can say would serve to