ds of Prince Radiance. He gave a hoarse
cry to his servants for help, but they, voiceless and motionless
prisoners in their vaulted chamber, could not answer, could not come to
him, although they heard him call.

He tried to struggle to his feet, but it was quite in vain. Instead he
fell prone upon the ground. As he lay there, he saw his sister rise from
where his evil spell had cast her, saw her grow strong again, saw joy
and courage beam in her face. Her eyes were lifted to this stranger,
come to succor her with the glowing light and warmth of his conquering
Sword. By all these things he knew that the Prince, of whom Black Shadow
had warned him, had come at last.

Prince Ember stretched above his prostrate form the fiery Sword. "Cruel
and wicked master of the Cave," he cried, "here shall you lie in bondage
to this Sword until the hour when your sister stands safely within her
own borders. Cry not to your servants yonder. They, too, are bound by my
spell and cannot answer. Cry not to your guardians of the Cave Mouth.
They also shall be enchained."

Deep into the frame of the Wizard the magic of the Sword pierced its
way. He saw, as in a vision, the Prince put back his Sword. With dulling
eyes, he beheld his sister take the hand which the stranger tenderly
extended to her. He perceived them go together from the Cave Hall, and
into that corridor that led to freedom.

Then all sense and thought forsook him. The spell of the Sword of Fire
had so penetrated his inmost being that he no longer was aware that
beyond the Cave lurked Curling Smoke and the Ash Goblin, and that
farther away the Wind in the Chimney waited, all pledged to destroy
Prince Ember, and to prevent the escape of the Shadow Witch.

Meanwhile the two pursued their way to the Cave's mouth. At its
entrance those Imps who had been sent to guard it still kept vigilant
watch. None had ventured to sleep or to stir from his post, for though
the time had been long, and no one had tried to pass them, they dared
not be unfaithful to their trust. They feared the Wizard's wrath and the
punishment that would surely befall them, if anything should go amiss
through fault of theirs.

But as Prince Ember and the Shadow Witch approached them, a strange and
unfamiliar warmth stole over the watchers, benumbing all their senses.
Drowsiness came down upon them where they stood or sat, and with one
accord they began to nod, to sink off to sleep, and presently they were
wrap