WHILE Prince Radiance, deceived by the Shadow Witch had gone away into the Land of Shadows, the Earth Fairy on her part had proceeded straight to the Cave of Darkness where the Wizard dwelt.

A figure that she believed to be the Prince followed the Princess steadily, so that she suspected nothing wrong.

The Cave was black and forbidding; its walls of charcoal were full of gaping crevices; and a very little way from the entrance it became pitch dark. Because of this great darkness it was the duty of many Imps, the servants of the Wizard, to run back and forth with glimmering lanterns, to light the way of those who came to see their master.

Flying Soot, who had arrived some time before, had told his story to the Wizard and had easily gained his consent to assist the Earth Fairy. So when the Earth Fairy with her companions reached the entrance to the Cave she found the Imps waiting there to conduct her to the Wizard. The Princess was first to enter, and so brilliant was the light of her pure flame that the lanterns of the Imps were quite dimmed by it. The Imps themselves stared at her in the utmost astonishment. Never before had they seen a light so gloriously beautiful. Scurrying in front to lead the way, they turned back every few moments to behold her. Behind the Princess came the supposed prince, and after him came the Earth Fairy, holding her cloak closely about her as she went, lest she should become blackened by the walls of the Cave.

Far down in a wider portion of the Cave called the Cave Hall, sat the Wizard in a great black armchair pushed close against the wall. He was very ancient and grim. His long dingy white hair and beard fell down over a loose black robe and mantle thickly powdered with finest charcoal. At his least movement little clouds of black dust flew from his garments and floated round about the Cave. His jet black eyes sparkled so sharply in his head that one saw immediately that he was not a person with whom one could trifle. Flying Soot, perched at a respectful distance on a lump of charcoal, waited for the coming of the Earth Fairy. He was quite sure that this time he had obtained for her the help of one who could not fail. He kept his eyes fixed on the dark passage before them, and at last he cried softly, “They come, Sir Wizard, they come, for I behold the flame of the Princess!”

Instantly the Wizard beckoned to one of the many Imps who clustered about. “Bring hither the Urn of Vapors,” commanded he, “and make no delay.”

Away rushed the Imp accompanied by a dozen or more of his companions to do the Wizard’s bidding, and presently a low rumbling was heard. It was the Imps returning, all pushing and shoving a huge black urn. A ponderous cover sealed it tightly, and when the Imps had succeeded in placing it beside their master, Flying Soot saw that it was so tall that it reached almost to the Wizard’s shoulders. Its sides were covered with inscriptions of evil magic. The Wizard scrutinized it closely, and satisfied himself that it was the one that he desired. Then he waved back his servants and turned to Flying Soot. “When I lift this cover,” he said, “the Earth Fairy has but to rush forward and take what she desires, for in the instant that the Prince is met by my magic vapor he will fall to the Earth unable to offer her the slightest resistance.”

Flying Soot had no time to answer, for at that moment Princess White Flame, driven by the Earth Fairy, fluttered terror-stricken into the Cave Hall, and came to rest in a corner at some distance from the Wizard. Soon after he whom the Earth Fairy believed to be Prince Radiance appeared also, but before he could advance into the Cave Hall the Wizard stretched forth his hand quickly to the urn. Uttering mystic words he lifted the cover and forthwith a stream of vapor rushed from it directly toward the Prince.

It had no sooner reached him than the Wizard’s prophecy was fulfilled; he fell to the ground in a heap, apparently without life.

The Princess seeing this uttered a piercing cry, but held by the spell of her enchantress she could not stir from her place.

The Wizard replaced the lid of the urn, and the Earth Fairy rushed forward to pounce upon the helpless Prince. Her eyes glittered with joy to see him in her power at last.She tore back his cloak, sure that the Veil of Disenchantment was hidden beneath it, but as soon as her fingers touched the prostrate form it vanished. Where it had been, she saw only the charcoal floor of the Cave. Puzzled and astonished she struggled to her feet, and stood dazed, peering down at the spot where the figure had lain as though she could scarcely believe her senses. When at last she could no longer doubt that the Prince had indeed disappeared, she rushed to the Wizard, shrieking in fury, “What evil magic is this that you have wrought upon me, wicked one that you are? You have ruined everything by your miserable enchantments. You have destroyed the Veil as well as the Prince.”

The Wizard interrupted her angrily. “How dare you speak to me in this manner,” he thundered, bringing his fist down upon the top of the urn. “You, who have deceived me by pretending to bring a Prince before me? But I will show you that you cannot trifle with the Wizard of the Cave.”

He waved to his Imps. They understood him without a word, and bounded forward with ropes of darkness in their hands to bind the Earth Fairy. It would have gone hard with her then if it had not been for Flying Soot. He jumped down with all speed from his lump of charcoal, and ran to cast himself at the Wizard’s feet. He threw his arms about them, and tried to soothe him. “Sir Wizard, Sir Wizard,” he pleaded, “listen but a moment. There has certainly been some strange mistake. I assure you that we are not to blame. This creature that has so suddenly vanished could never have been the Prince. Someone—I know not who, has tricked us all. I pray you, do nothing rash to the Earth Fairy. She is not to blame.”

The Imps who surrounded the Earth Fairy, hearing this, stood swinging the ropes of darkness in their hands, waiting to see what their master would say, before they ventured to bind her fast. White Flame, weeping and trembling in her corner, checked her sobs and listened breathlessly for the Wizard’s reply.

The Wizard thought for a time in silence. Then at last he spoke. “Since you yourselves have played no tricks upon me, there is but one way in which to explain this matter. My sister, the Shadow Witch, has been at work. She it is who has caused us to see a prince where no prince was. The real prince she has without doubt lured away into the Land of Shadows.”

At these words Flying Soot rose to his feet and turned to the Earth Fairy. “Then we must go to seek him there,” he declared.

The Earth Fairy was but too anxious to set forth. At a signal from their master, the Imps drew back, leaving her free to go as she would, but as she was about to depart from the Wizard’s presence with her companions, an Imp came rushing down the long dark corridor from the Cave entrance, and into the Cave Hall. “Sir Wizard—Sir Wizard!” he panted. “A second prince approaches! Even now he is within the entrance to the Cave.”

Certain that this could be no other than Prince Radiance himself, the Earth Fairy and Flying Soot paused instantly.The Wizard, seeing this, was not unwilling to prove his skill upon the true prince. He spoke in a friendly manner to the Earth Fairy, and prepared himself once more to lift the cover of his Urn of Vapors. The Imps, flinging their ropes of darkness into a corner, retreated so close against the Cave Wall that they could scarcely be seen. In her corner quivered Princess White Flame, her longing to see her beloved Radiance once more overborne by her fear of what might befall him at the hands of his foes.

Each in his own place peered eagerly down the dusky corridor, awaiting in silence the coming of the Prince.

But one accompanied the Prince whom they did not expect. It was the Shadow Witch. Although by her grey magic she had sent a shadow prince to deceive her brother, she had never for a moment lost sight of Prince Radiance, and now that he was drawing near to the Wizard, she knew that the time for her further good offices had arrived. If she could prevent him from being seen by her brother until the Prince was near enough to use his Sword of Flames, she knew that all would be well.

Prince Radiance was so near to the Cave Hall that one short turn would bring him into the Wizard’s view. The Shadow Witch knew that her time to help him had come. She waved her long arms and instantly a thick curtain of shadow fell directly in front of the Prince. He could not see a yard before him, and stood still at once, fearing that some trap had been laid for him.

“Do not be afraid,” whispered a voice at his ear. “Go forward. It is I, the Shadow Witch, who have come to help you.”

Prince Radiance knew her voice, yet he hesitated.

“Fear nothing,” insisted the Shadow Witch. “Go forward, and no harm shall come to you.”

Trusting her then, the Prince trod boldly on, and before him went the curtain of the Shadow Witch like a covering shield. Beyond it the Wizard and his companions watched and waited, but saw only the corridor of the Cave stretching before them darker than ever, and filled with shadows so deep that their eyes could not penetrate them.

Nearer and nearer came the Prince, and presently the voice of the Shadow Witch was heard again at his ear. “Have out your Sword of Flames,” she whispered. “The time has come.”Radiance laid his hand upon the hilt. At that moment the shadow curtain dissolved, and he beheld the Wizard little more than a yard away. So suddenly had the Prince appeared that the Wizard started with astonishment, but he recovered himself immediately, and shot forth his hand to lift the cover of his urn.

“Now, now,” urged the Shadow Witch, at the Prince’s ear. “Now, or it will be too late!”

Out flashed the Sword of Flames. It filled the Cave with blinding light. The cover of the urn settled back to its place with a harsh clang, as the Wizard leaped to his feet, shielding his eyes with his hands.

“The Sword of Flames! The Sword of Flames!” he shrieked. “Away! Away!”

He tried to flee, but fell prostrate across the Urn of Vapors instead. From every corner of the Cave sprang a crowd of Imps in answer to their master’s cry. Seeing the dread weapon that flashed in the hand of Prince Radiance they turned their backs upon it in terror, and screaming wildly surrounded the urn in a huddled mass. Throwing themselves upon it, they hurried it away into a dim passage, with their master still lying senseless across its top. As they disappeared into the pitch dark opening, a heavy door of charcoal fell shut behind them, closing the entrance to the place to which they fled.

Overjoyed at his victory, Radiance lifted his eyes to where but a moment since he had seen Princess White Flame trembling against the Cave wall, but the Princess, the Earth Fairy, and Flying Soot were nowhere to be seen. Except for the Shadow Witch he was entirely alone in the Cave of Darkness.

With a gesture of despair the Prince let the Sword of Flames drop back into its sheath. “What has it availed me to overcome this miserable Wizard,” he groaned, “since it has brought me no nearer to my dear White Flame? Again she has vanished, and I know not where to seek her; whether in some dusky portion of this hateful Cave, or in the open country without.”

The voice of the Shadow Witch answered him. “Have courage, good Prince. All is not lost. Leave the Cave of Darkness with me, and seek her in the light.”

Prince Radiance hesitated, but the Shadow Witch insisted. “She is not here,” she told him. “Trust yourself fully to my guidance, and I will lead you safely out.” Then the Prince yielded, and together they left the Wizard’s Hall. Down the dark corridor they passed swiftly and soon arrived at the Cave’s mouth. There they parted, the Shadow Witch stealing away with drooped head to her Land of Shadows, the Prince standing for a moment gazing with eager eyes across the plain, hoping that not far away he might behold the flame of his Princess.