tv.] THE WITCHES? ISLAND. 199.

Here the voice stopped, and Molly derived some
satisfaction from its words, inasmuch as they assured
her that the rabbits had reasons of their own for
hating the witches, and she was wise enough to know
that however kindly people may be disposed towards
others, they usually act with more vigour and zeal if
some motive of self-interest be added: But although
the words she had heard were so far reassuring,
Molly had not as yet been told what she was to do in
order to rescue her husband from the power of the
witches, and the fondness of the latter for rabbit-pie
was of itself a circumstance which interested the good
woman in a very small degree. So when the speaker
came to an end, Molly became impatient, and without
waiting many seconds, took up the conversation in
her own way.

“Aye, they’re a bad lot, them witches, so they are ;
but what be I to do for to sarcumvent them, Master
Rabbit ?’

And then the same voice uttered the following
words :—
; ‘By a witch when a man is enslaved
In an awkward condition is he,

' And perils immense must be braved.

By those who’d again set him free.

Yet things still more hard may be done

By a rabbit’s invincible guile,

If the risk thou art ready to run,
" And face the old hags on their isle !’

As the voice paused here, apparently expecting an
answer, Molly at once boldly replied: ‘Face ’em on
their isle!‘ aye, Rabbit, that I will, and scratch their
eyes out, too, if I .get a chance, for carrying off my
John!’ .