The Ash Goblin was filled with pride. To have his assistance asked by so
powerful a magician as the Wizard of the Cave was something that had
never before occurred. Although he was small and weak, he was always
desirous of having a part in any mischief that might be going on, and
now that his chance had come he was determined to prove to all those who
had hitherto despised him and overlooked him, that his cunning and skill
in evil magic were fully equal to their own.
Scarcely had the door of his hovel closed upon Black Shadow than he
locked it securely. Then he hurried across the room and pressed upon a
certain spot in the wall. It yielded to his touch, and a portion of the
wall slid back upon itself, showing a small, rude cupboard within. Upon
a shelf there lay a book, covered with dust. It was his Book of Craft.
He took it out and carried it to a table. He undid the rough clasp that
bound the book and began to turn the dingy pages. At length, he reached
the one whereon the spell that he sought was written. The letters were
crabbed and dim with age, and the Ash Goblin strained his eyes to see
them, following the words with his crooked forefinger. He read the spell
through carefully, again and again, until he was certain that he knew it
by heart. Then he closed the book and returned it to its hiding-place.
He made the wall fast again, and went to the chest that held his pouch
and cloak. Taking them out, he carried the pouch to the hearth and
filled it to the brim with the evil ash that lay thick there. He bound
the pouch about his waist, covered himself from head to foot with the
cloak and left the hovel, closing the door tightly, so that none could
enter in his absence.
The Plain of Ash stretches wide and grey between the hovel of the Ash
Goblin and the Borderland where the Elf dwells. In the Borderland itself
no evil fairy can practice his craft, but the Ash Goblin knew a spot
where the Plain meets the Borderland, which all must cross in passing
from the Elf’s house to the Wizard’s Cave, or from the Cave to the Land
of Shadows. At this spot he purposed to set a cunning snare for Prince
Ember.
Across the great Plain he scuttled in haste. So like to the ashes about
him was he in color that only those who knew him well would have been
able to see him at all. He held his head down, and his hood was pulled
low over his forehead, but though his face was carefully concealed, his
sharp eyes peered out, searching the Plain to see if the Prince were
anywhere about. But there was no sign of him, and being satisfied that
he was still within the Elf’s dwelling, the Ash Goblin went rapidly to
the spot which he had chosen, with eyes fixed upon the door through
which the Prince must come.
He had not quite reached the place, when suddenly he saw the Elf’s door
opening slowly. Vexed that he had not arrived in time, but knowing how
great a risk he should run if he were seen by the Prince before the
snare was set, he dropped down quickly beside a hillock of ash, where he
could see without being seen. There he would lie hidden until Prince
Ember had gone by on his way to the Cave. After that he knew he could
make ready his snare at his leisure, sure in his heart that if the
Prince were so fortunate as to escape the Wizard, he could not fail to
be entrapped by the snare, when, as he must on his homeward journey, he
passed that way again.
But to his great surprise, although the door opened wide, it remained so
for a moment only, and then closed again silently without his having
seen anyone come out of it. Afraid to venture forth immediately, he
watched for a little longer, but the door remained shut, and finally
the Ash Goblin came out from his hiding-place and began to set his
snare, still keeping a watchful eye over the Elf’s house as he did so.
As a matter of fact, however, when the Elf’s door had stood open, Prince
Ember had passed out of it, and concealed by the Cloak of Ash, had
proceeded on his way to the Wizard’s Cave. The Ash Goblin, on his own
part, had been so well hidden by the mound of ash where he had crouched
down, that the Prince had passed close by him without having perceived
him.
So while the Ash Goblin worked busily upon his snare, Prince Ember
traversed the Plain of Ash, keeping always in view that black cliff
toward which Creeping Shadow had pointed before she had left him. Even
from a distance it looked forbidding, yet the bold spirit of the Prince
did not quail at the thought of the unknown dangers that awaited him
there. Straight forward he went over the long stretches of ash, past
high mounds and low grey hillocks, and through shallow vales. As he
journeyed he remembered the Elf’s warning, and would not have been
surprised if he had been set upon at any moment by any of the foes that
had been mentioned to him. But a deep silence filled the Plain, and
nowhere did he see anything that could molest him. Never had the Prince
believed that there could be a land so empty and so lonely.
He arrived at the foot of the cliff and began to mount the steep path
that led to the Cave’s mouth. Up and up he went, still on his guard, but
still seeing no foe and hearing no sound. Now on this side, now on that,
deep and dark crevices yawned, but his feet went surely and safely on.
In one of these same crevices, Curling Smoke lay hidden, peering out
with watchful eyes across the grey expanse, to catch the first glimpse
of the ruddy stranger of whom Black Shadow had told him, yet under his
very eyes the Prince was traveling and he saw him not.
At length Prince Ember reached the entrance to the Wizard’s Cave.
Standing there, he looked first across the Plain and then into the gloom
of the cavern, but no enemy was in sight. Quickly he removed the Cloak
of Ash and then, as fairy raiment always may when fairy fingers press
it, it became as small as a kerchief in his hand. He thrust it to a
place of safety in his belt.
If Curling Smoke had but leaned a little farther out at that moment from
the dark hollow in the cliff-side where he lay, he must surely have
seen him, but crouching low, so that he might not be seen by the one for
whom he watched, he saw nothing and did not guess that the Prince was
actually within reach of his giant arms.
So, guarded from all his enemies, Prince Ember passed into the Cave of
Darkness, not knowing how well the Elf’s good gift had already served
him.
[Illustration]