meets the Borderland, which all must cross in passing
from the Elf's house to the Wizard's Cave, or from the Cave to the Land
of Shadows. At this spot he purposed to set a cunning snare for Prince
Ember.

Across the great Plain he scuttled in haste. So like to the ashes about
him was he in color that only those who knew him well would have been
able to see him at all. He held his head down, and his hood was pulled
low over his forehead, but though his face was carefully concealed, his
sharp eyes peered out, searching the Plain to see if the Prince were
anywhere about. But there was no sign of him, and being satisfied that
he was still within the Elf's dwelling, the Ash Goblin went rapidly to
the spot which he had chosen, with eyes fixed upon the door through
which the Prince must come.

He had not quite reached the place, when suddenly he saw the Elf's door
opening slowly. Vexed that he had not arrived in time, but knowing how
great a risk he should run if he were seen by the Prince before the
snare was set, he dropped down quickly beside a hillock of ash, where he
could see without being seen. There he would lie hidden until Prince
Ember had gone by on his way to the Cave. After that he knew he could
make ready his snare at his leisure, sure in his heart that if the
Prince were so fortunate as to escape the Wizard, he could not fail to
be entrapped by the snare, when, as he must on his homeward journey, he
passed that way again.

But to his great surprise, although the door opened wide, it remained so
for a moment only, and then closed again silently without his having
seen anyone come out of it. Afraid to venture forth immediately, he
watched for a little longer, but the door remained shut, and finally
the Ash Goblin came out from his hiding-place and began to set his
snare, still keeping a watchful eye over the Elf's house as he did so.

As a matter of fact, however, when the Elf's door had stood open, Prince
Ember had passed out of it, and concealed by the Cloak of Ash, had
proceeded on his way to the Wizard's Cave. The Ash Goblin, on his own
part, had been so well hidden by the mound of ash where he had crouched
down, that the Prince had passed close by him without having perceived
him.

So while the Ash Goblin worked busily upon his snare, Prince Ember
traversed the Plain of Ash, keeping always in view that black cliff
toward which Creeping Shadow had pointed before she had left him. Even
from a distance it