234 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [iv.

.to be seen of the Witches’ Island but a dense mass
of smoke. During the day a breeze sprang up which
swept away the smoke, and showed a complete desert
where had been the woods of stunted oak. Evidently
the brushwood had caught fire in the night, and the
whole place had been-consumed by the flames. So
said the people on the coast, but John and Molly
knew something beyond ¢hat. It was plain enough
to them that the Witches had determined to leave
the country, because, as the Wise Rabbit had said,
their power was broken, as regarded that neighbour-
hood at least, by the escape of the man they had
enslaved ; and what was more probable than that.
they had set fire to their island home, resolved that
no one else should enjoy the woods and shady re-
treats from which they were about to be banished ?
However this may be, it is certain that these fearful

y creatures were never seen any more upon that part of
the coast. :

Molly lived to a good old age, but she saw no
more of them, neither was she ever addressed by a
Turbot, comforted by a Sandpiper, or instructed by a
Wise Rabbit during the remainder of her existence.
The principal event of John’s life was, that he gave
up smuggling shortly after these events had occurred.
They ‘had made him think seriously upon all matters,
and he came to the wise conclusion that ‘as witches
were people who cared for and respected no laws at all,
he had better be as different to them as he possibly
could; therefore, for the future he respected the
revenue laws, avoided all smuggling, and took to
honest fishing. Being one of the best fishermen on