wherein
were written all those ancient and cruel spells in which he most
delighted. An evil vapor floated from the pages of the book and,
circling round his head, half hid his grim face and dingy beard. It
crept along the folds of his black garments and settled slowly about
his feet, veiling them in a yellow mist.

The Shadow beheld him with dread. She feared to speak with him. But one
whom she loved was in danger. Without making a sound, she drew nearer
until she stood directly before him.

"Sir Wizard," she cried, "I come to seek my mistress."

Her voice, echoing through the silent Cave Hall, roused the Wizard from
his evil studies. He threw back his head in angry astonishment. "You
Shadows grow impudent," he exclaimed frowning. "Who has given you leave
to intrude upon me in my Cave?"

In spite of the indignant glance he cast upon her, Creeping Shadow was
not daunted. "I came to seek my mistress," she repeated. "She herself
has bade me do so. Tell me, then, where I shall find her?"

"You seek her here in vain," declared the Wizard. "I will give you no
news of her, neither will I be disturbed. Begone at once or it will be
the worse for you."

"Nay, but I must know what you have done to her," persisted Creeping
Shadow. "It was to follow the Chief Imp, whom you sent, that she left
her Garden of Shadows. It was here that she bade me seek her if she did
not return. The time has been long, and I have come to obey her
commands."

The sharp eyes of the Wizard flashed with wrath. "What if she be here?"
he thundered, smiting shut his Book of Craft. "She is my sister, and
when she offends me I shall punish her as I choose. Learn the truth
then. She lies hidden in the deepest part of my cavern, in a dungeon so
dark that she can work none of her grey magic therein; in a dungeon so
remote that none of her servants can ever penetrate to it; a dungeon
whose walls are so tightly sealed, so cleverly enchanted, that she will
try in vain to make her escape. There she shall remain until I choose to
set her free. I have told you. Go now, and let me see your face no
more."

At these words, so remorseless and cruel, a wailing cry broke from the
lips of Creeping Shadow. Even a worse fate than she had feared had
overtaken the beautiful Shadow Witch. She threw herself in anguish at
the Wizard's feet to plead with him for the release of her mistress, but
he would not hear her.

"Go, as I bade you," he commanded, spurning her from him