ey, no less than ourselves, have grieved over the absence
of our dearly loved mistress."

Creeping Shadow was but too eager to do so, and they set out at once.
They had gone but a little way when they came upon all the rest of the
Shadows, still sitting beneath the trees, talking sadly among themselves
with hushed voices.

When their fellow-servants saw the two approaching they sprang quickly
to their feet and hurried toward them, hoping that at last tidings of
the Shadow Witch had come.

Creeping Shadow could not contain herself until they met, but called to
them, "Rejoice! Rejoice, for soon our mistress will return to us again!"

At this glad news they all broke forth into joyful cries and rushed to
her side with rapid and excited questions, and no sooner had she begun
to answer them than Black Shadow, seizing her opportunity, slipped
silently away from them and losing herself among the trees, stole
unobserved out of the garden.

With all speed she took her way to the steep cliff that led to the Cave
of Darkness; swiftly and steadily she mounted it till she came to the
mouth of the cavern. She entered without pause. Strictly as it was
guarded by the Imps whom the Wizard had placed there, that none might
enter to bring help to the Shadow Witch, no one of them challenged Black
Shadow. They knew her and her ways--knew, also, that whatever might be
her errand, she was always a welcome guest to their master. An Imp at
once came to light her way, and she followed his flickering lantern
until she came out at last into the Cave Hall.

There she beheld the Wizard deeply engaged. He sat in his huge armchair
before a table, on which lay an ebony box filled with those wands with
which he worked his darkest magic. He took up the wands, one by one, and
ran his fingers over them carefully to test their power and having
satisfied himself that they were in perfect order, he wrapped each one
separately in a black cloth and laid it back in its place within the
casket.

The Imps were not allowed to come nearer to these wands at any time than
to touch the carefully locked casket as they bore it to and from its
place in their master's treasure chamber, but they watched the Wizard
from a distance with eyes that twinkled sharply with curiosity as he sat
handling them openly in their presence.

Black Shadow drew near to him, and the Wizard suddenly perceiving her,
swept the remaining wands together abruptly and placed them in the
ca