looked forbidding, yet the bold spirit of the Prince
did not quail at the thought of the unknown dangers that awaited him
there. Straight forward he went over the long stretches of ash, past
high mounds and low grey hillocks, and through shallow vales. As he
journeyed he remembered the Elf's warning, and would not have been
surprised if he had been set upon at any moment by any of the foes that
had been mentioned to him. But a deep silence filled the Plain, and
nowhere did he see anything that could molest him. Never had the Prince
believed that there could be a land so empty and so lonely.

He arrived at the foot of the cliff and began to mount the steep path
that led to the Cave's mouth. Up and up he went, still on his guard, but
still seeing no foe and hearing no sound. Now on this side, now on that,
deep and dark crevices yawned, but his feet went surely and safely on.

In one of these same crevices, Curling Smoke lay hidden, peering out
with watchful eyes across the grey expanse, to catch the first glimpse
of the ruddy stranger of whom Black Shadow had told him, yet under his
very eyes the Prince was traveling and he saw him not.

At length Prince Ember reached the entrance to the Wizard's Cave.
Standing there, he looked first across the Plain and then into the gloom
of the cavern, but no enemy was in sight. Quickly he removed the Cloak
of Ash and then, as fairy raiment always may when fairy fingers press
it, it became as small as a kerchief in his hand. He thrust it to a
place of safety in his belt.

If Curling Smoke had but leaned a little farther out at that moment from
the dark hollow in the cliff-side where he lay, he must surely have
seen him, but crouching low, so that he might not be seen by the one for
whom he watched, he saw nothing and did not guess that the Prince was
actually within reach of his giant arms.

So, guarded from all his enemies, Prince Ember passed into the Cave of
Darkness, not knowing how well the Elf's good gift had already served
him.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER IX

Close to the mouth of the Cave of Darkness, but cleverly hidden from the
view of any passerby, sat a company of Imps. They had been commanded to
keep ceaseless watch at that point for the stranger Prince who was
expected soon to appear, and they were instructed to seize him as soon
as he attempted to enter the Cave and to bring him bound to their
master