190 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [iv.

 

thing which looked to Molly Goodchild remarkably
like a‘pie-dish. Such indeed it probably was, and
most likely one of those primitive earthen dishes
which folks of old used to place on their fires in order
to bake the meat within.

However this may be, the fire soon burned up,
and while it cooked the Witches’ meat, gave Molly
a better opportunity of observing their countenances
and general appearance. They were certainly an ill-
looking lot. One had the most awful squint you can
imagine: another had very small eyes, a very thick
nose, and a beard like that of a man; the third was
humpbacked ; and the fourth had her nose slit, and
bore such an evil expression on her face that Molly
thought she was certajnly the ugliest old woman she
had ever set eyes upon.

Whilst their supper was cooking the Witches pro-
duced several black bottles, the contents of which they
poured into drinking-horns and appeareto imbibe
with much satisfaction. Then they poked the fire and
blew it to increase the flame, and turned the pie-dish
round until they seemed to think the inside was
thoroughly cooked, when they proceeded to take it
off the fire, and, dividing it into four portions, began
to devour it ravenously, only stopping to take occa-
sional deep draughts from their horns.

When they had apparently concluded their repast,
the Witches arose and shook the crumbs from their
clothes for all the world as ordinary mortals might
have done, and then, joining hands, danced slowly
round the expiring fire, chanting as they did so ina
slow, monotonous tone. And thus ran their song :—