nge myself upon his sister."

This ally also having been gained, Black Shadow bade him farewell, and
went to the Wind in the Chimney.

Wide is the Chimney Mouth, which gives entrance to the Wind's dwelling,
for a giant must come and go through it. This entrance is dark, and
yawning, and perilous, and none dares enter it except at the Wind's
will.

The voice of the Wind is loud when he laughs in glee, but it is louder a
thousandfold when he howls with rage, and when he sweeps down from his
high seat in the Chimney and rushes out into the lands beyond, whistling
or shrieking as he goes, he drives all before him, whether they will or
no.

Today the Wind rested in his home, on the great rough bench which was
his favorite seat, and Black Shadow had but to ask of the Breezes who
loitered about the Chimney Mouth whether she might go into the Wind's
presence, to have her request granted immediately. Seldom did she trust
herself to such boisterous company, but the occasion was urgent. So she
entered, though not without some uneasiness, and went on and up the
rough uneven way, till she reached the huge cranny in the Chimney where
the Wind sat, humming a whining song to himself, as he lounged against
the Chimney wall.

He gave her no courteous greeting when she stood before him, but
stretched his mighty arm and shoved her unceremoniously into a seat not
far from himself. "What do you come to ask of me? Out with it quickly,"
he growled, with some impatience, for Black Shadow had not dared to
speak at once, but sat in silence for a moment considering how best to
deliver the message of the Wizard so that it might meet with favor.

Thus commanded, however, she delayed no longer and presently had told
her story to the end.

The Wind heard her with unconcealed pleasure. "Ho, ho!" he howled,
puffing his round cheeks till they seemed like to burst. "We shall have
great sport with this bold prince when he ventures forth from the Elf's
dwelling. He shall nowhere be safe from me, for I am the Wind in the
Chimney, and nothing stops or stays me in what I set out to do. Prince
Ember has no magic that will be proof against me, and so far as anything
that the Elf can do for him goes, I scorn it." So confident was he that
he laughed till the Chimney shook and rattled, and the soot that lined
its walls fell thick over the head and shoulders of his guest.

Hearing their master's uproarious laughter, the Breezes came stealing in
to discover