Iv.] THE WITCHES’ ISLAND. 213

 

creature appeared, and Molly knew not what to do
or whence to seek for aid. She must have wandered
on in this way for half a ‘mile or more, when she
began to think that it was evidently no use to look
for her husband by the sea, and that there was nothing
for it but to make up her mind to go boldly into the
interior of the island. Scarcely had she come to this
conclusion when she perceived a path leading from the
shore in an inland direction. It was not a very wide
path, but quite wide enough for one person to wall
on, and it was apparently the only road on that side
of the island from which the wood could be entered.
So Molly boldly turned up this path and moved
forward, still calling upon John as she advanced.
Presently the wood grew thicker, the oaks appeared
to be less stunted, ivy plants of great size clung round
them, immense creepers interlaced their branches,
thick bramble-bushes and low-growing thorn-trees
filled the intervening spaces, and Molly could see little
either to her right or left as she advanced along the
path. Suddenly, her attention was attracted to a
large board fixed upon a tree at the side of the
path, upon which was inscribed in large letters, ‘No
thoroughfare! trespassers in these woods will be
prosecuted as the law directs. Whilst on another
board immediately below the following startling in-
formation was given to the traveller: ‘Man traps
and spring-guns in these woods!’ Molly stopped for
an instant in surprise. This all seemed so very like
what she had seen in certain localities on the main-
land, that she could hardly believe she was in the
Witches’ Island. They could certainly have no need