1v.] THE WITCHES?’ ISLAND. 233

 

me how to prevent those witches from getting of him
again, I would be mortal obliged, so I would.’ -

After a moment’s pause the old voice spoke once
more, and the fisherman and his wife eagerly listened
to the words it uttered :—

‘When mortal man by witch is slaved,
By wile alone can he be saved,
And by ‘the word” of magic power
Alike in witch or warlock’s bower.
Once freed, he still shall free remain,
Ne’er by such arts enslaved again.
And those whose malice has been foiled,
Whose plans are neutralised and spoiled,
No more have power to vex thé man
Nor any of his kindred clan.
Wherefore, good dame, attend to me!
Thy foes thou ne’er again wilt see :
Defeated, they will elsewhere fly,
And leave to thee the victory !’

The voice ceased, and Molly, though much pleased
with the purport of its words, earnestly desired
further explanation of their meaning. This, however,
she could by no means obtain. Not another word
would the Rabbit say, and she and her husband were
obliged to go home satisfied with what they had
heard. That same night there came a terrible thunder-
storm. Thunder at least there was, awful to hear, and
the lightning flashed more vividly than the fisherman
and his wife ever remembered to have seen it before.
Yet not a drop of rain or hail fellpyand the night was
dry and sultry all through.

The first thing next morning the. fisherman and
his wife walked out on the beach and looked towards
the sea. Wonder of wonders! There was nothing