" Prince Ember
tenderly reminded her, "for without its aid this victory could scarcely
have been won."

The Shadow Witch laughed sweetly. "On, on together, then," she cried.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XIII

With the perils of the Cave of Darkness left behind, with Curling Smoke
vanquished and driven far off, the Shadow Witch was happy; and in her
presence Prince Ember gave no thought for the moment to any further
danger that might beset them.

Danger was not far distant. In the spot that he had chosen, the Ash
Goblin worked fast and diligently upon the snare with which he meant to
entrap Prince Ember, hoping that he might be able to complete it before
the Prince arrived.

He could plainly see the Elf's house from where he labored. He believed
the Prince to be still within its walls, and he was sure that none as
yet had crossed its threshold. With his twisted hands he took from the
long bag hidden beneath his cloak the evil ash, of which alone his snare
could be made, and sifted it carefully over the ground. Meanwhile he
repeated the words of enchantment written in his Book of Craft, which he
believed would make certain the capture of Prince Ember, but he took
good care to repeat them silently, lest any, coming upon him unawares,
should overhear them and learn his secret. As the ash fell to the ground
from his fingers, it spread and ran together to form a thin and
web-like film, leaving no spot uncovered.

So treacherous was this snare, that if one but stepped upon its borders,
he would become unable to release his feet from it and would be drawn
helplessly to its centre. There the web would rise upon him from all
sides with lightning swiftness to enmesh him and draw him down till he
was fast bound in its folds, and there he must perish in his vain
efforts to escape. This was the trap that the Ash Goblin was cunningly
and silently preparing for Prince Ember, keeping watch in the meanwhile
for him to approach. He kept himself close to the ground, concealed by
the ashes around him, so like they were in color to his dingy robe, and
the cap that covered his matted grizzled hair. Occasionally he chuckled
to himself at the thought of the discomfiture which lay in store for
Curling Smoke, that boastful giant, whom he believed to be lying in wait
for the Prince near to the Wizard's Cave. Such confidence had the Ash
Goblin in his snare that never for an instan