_ Iv] THE WITCHES’ ISLAND. 203

a i

understand ; but having by this time arrived at a state
of complete confidence in her counsellors, she made
up her mind to observe all the directions faithfully,
and leave to those wiser than herself the task of show-
ing to her the moment at which she was to act in
any particular manner.

So, first and foremost, she busied herself in pre-
parations for her dinner, and when the hour for that
repast had arrived, sat down and ate as heartily as
could have been expected under the circumstances.
Having done this, she went into a little shed attached
to the cottage, in which a couple of boats were always
kept, one of which was of a small and manageable
size for her powers of rowing. This, without much
difficulty, she pushed down to the water’s edge.
Then she fetched one of her husband’s old jackets,
put it on, and placed in the pockets the three packets
which she had received. Next she provided herself
with oars, and having ascertained that she had every-
thing in the boat necessary for her trip, launched
boldly forth upon the sea, and pulled straight towards
the Witches’ Island.

The sun was shining brightly above her head, and
the sea was calm and as clear as crystal, a mighty -
contrast indeed to its appearance on the previous
evening. As she looked over the boat’s side she
could see quantities of fish darting about here and
there, or sailing quietly round her as if wondering
who it was that was invading their domain, and mak-
ing such a splashing noise above their heads. Sud-
denly, however, a change came over the face of the
deep. Molly’s boat had got about half-way between.