Klytia Part 12

"I know nothing about the matter," murmured the old woman, now thoroughly aroused.

"You know all, the name was even on your lips. Do you confess everything or else to-morrow I tell the magistrate that I have already found you twice at midnight on the Kreuzweg, and the previous week before sunrise by the Linsenteich."

The witch grinned. "They will burn you as well as me, if I say, what I know about you."

"I however die for the Lord Jesus Christ and you for Satan." The old woman would have laughed mockingly but suddenly the forest immediately behind her seemed alive. A c.o.c.k crowed, then the grunting of swine was heard together with an outlandish neighing.

"Be quiet, George," said the Miller angrily. The witch stared at him in fear, then looked behind her, thinking to see in the thicket a man breathing out flames. "What do you wish to know," she tremblingly asked.

"What has become of the maiden?"

"The sons of the host of the Rose, and the red Maier frightened her away from here. She flew towards the cloister, I heard the three shouting after her. What they have done to her, I know not."

The old man's heart sank within him, then he said sternly: "When was that?"

"It may have been four hours ago, the moon had just risen."

"Then are we too late. May G.o.d have mercy on your soul, if you have caused this. And now quit this foolery," and he gave her kettle a kick, causing it to tip over, so that the coals flamed up with the fat of the snakes. "Come out, George, and show her, what sort of devil has frightened her." The boy came out and stood before the fire looking at the old woman mockingly. "The plague seize thee and thy father."

"Yes the plague, always the plague," quoth the old Miller, "but if ever it comes you will have wished you had not called upon it. I tell you, you will yet end badly, although your foolish witchcraft is not worth a straw." With that he took his boy by the arm and hastened towards the seven mills.

"We must find out the red-headed Maier and make him confess," said he.

After a sad pause, he began anew in a serious tone: "What thinkest thou does the old woman yet earn by her nightly arts?"

"The rack or the stake."

"Good, my boy, therefore do not be tempted to play at being the devil, for he who calls on the devil, is already in the devil's claws."

"But nevertheless we have often frightened with such jokes people who wished to disturb our meetings."

"I have never sanctioned it, and thou least of all shouldst help in such iniquity." The boy walked on ahead much mortified, as he felt certain that the old witch had only been induced to confess through his magic arts.

"Dost thou think, father, that she can bewitch?" asked he after a while.

"To wish and to do, are different things," replied the old man.

"But the neighbours a.s.sert that she can produce mice, prevent cows from milking, and cause women's hair to fall out."

"Yes especially when they have taken no precautions against vermin, fed their cattle poorly, and themselves acted immorally, then it is always witchery."

"But the peasant woman on the Hang relates, that Sibylla herself told her 'if you do not take in your hay on Sunday, the devil will carry it off.' Monday morning the hay was still there but when they came to rake it together, a storm arose and sent it all to the devil."

"Accident, George, accident. She must have felt that a storm was brewing. The evil spirit is a spirit, and has only power over spirits, not over bodies, otherwise he would long since have prevented thee from mocking him. But take care that he does not come into thee. There is he powerful."

END OF VOL. I.

PRINTING OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER.

COLLECTION

OF

GERMAN AUTHORS.

VOL. 45.

KLYTIA BY GEORGE TAYLOR.

IN TWO VOLUMES.--VOL. II.

KLYTIA.

A STORY OF HEIDELBERG CASTLE.

BY

GEORGE TAYLOR.

FROM THE GERMAN BY

SUTTON FRASER CORKRAN.

_Copyright Edition._

IN TWO VOLUMES.--VOL. II.

LEIPZIG 1883 BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ.