1v.] _ DHE WITCHES? ISLAND. 231

 

other fish, a creature whom she firmly believed to be
her old friend the Turbot, rose up in the sea and came
darting towards her as if to prevent her from either
escaping or succouring her husband.

But Molly was equal to the occasion. Without the
delay of a second she pronounced the word ‘ Wharl-
mone !’ which sent the fishes hurry-scurrying off as
fast as they could. To right and empty the boat,
however, was not such an easy matter, and meanwhile
John was swimming in a listless way towards the
shore, evidently under the complete control of his
witch rider. Molly could swim pretty well, but she
had the boat to look after and dared not leave it; 3 so
she raised herself out of the water as well as she could
by laying hold of it, and shouted at the top of her
voice, ‘John! Wharlmone! I say, come back!’ In-
stantly John stopped, and then dived as if he had
been shot, in which action he dislodged the damsel
from his back, who yelled lustily as she found herself
struggling in the water some twenty yards from shore.

- John, meanwhile, rose again nearer to his wife, and
now came straight to her Assistance. Between them
they managed to right the boat, which they presently
succeeded in emptying of the water which remained
in her, and then set off rowing homewards once more.

Not one whit was Molly moved by the screams of
thedrowning witch, which, however, attracted a number
of fish, to whom she was fair game ; and the last that
Molly saw of her was the great pool of water splash-
ing to and fro, and fishes jumping around it in great
glee. Whether she was drowned or not the fisher-
man’s wife neither knew. nor cared. She made her

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