188 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [iv.

 

warren about a mile off over the cliffs, and also that
many of the little animals were to be seen in the
large wood which ran down nearly to the sea at a
break in the cliffs which occurred some mile anda
half along the shore. To neither of these places,
however, could she very well go that night, and
eventually she came to the conclusion that she must
spend a solitary evening, and wait until the morning
light should enable her to take active measures. By
this time the wind had fallen, and the waves beat less
violently upon the beach. The cottage seemed more
lonely than ever, and Molly felt desolate indeed as
she sat by the window gazing out over the sea in the
direction of the Witches’ Island. As she gazed, a
dim light appeared to glimmer along the edge of the
island, as if a boat were moving along close in by
the shore. Presently other lights seemed to flicker
up, and evidently something was _taking place upon
that mysterious shore.

Molly kept her eyes steadily fixed in the same
direction, and fancied that she could see dark figures
flitting to and fro—then they seemed to come down
close to the sea, and after a while the light she had
first seen appeared to leave the island and come
towards the mainland. The eager watcher could for
some time make out nothing in the darkness which
had now fallen upon the sea, but after a little while
she clearly distinguished a boat, rowed by a single
individual, but containing several others seated in the
stern. Nearer and nearer it came, until at last it
touched the beach with the usual harsh, grating noise
of a boat pulled sharply in, and grounded within a