animous and solemn gesture, fell over the
hearts of the questioned and then came aloft once more, still as if
with a single nerve impulse. In a unison out of which no separate
voice emerged sounded the reply: "We does!"

Alexander laughed, but it must be confessed that that was pure bravado.
She knew that on the backwaters of many creeks were cabins where simple
folks invoked charms against witchcraft and did so with genuine dread.
She knew that many others, less candid, laughed at old superstitions
yet acknowledged them in their hearts. In her case the witchcraft
charge was of course a cloak for subterfuge, but it was a jest which
might bear bitterly serious results.

"Alexander McGivins," began the spokesman afresh, "we charges ye with
these weighty matters; thet ye glories in callin' yoreself a
he-woman--refusin' ter accept God's mandate an' castin' mortification
on yore own sex by holdin' on ter shameless notions. We charges ye
with settin' ther example of unwomanly behavior before ther eyes of
young gals, an' we aims ter make a sample of ye.

"We furthermore charges ye with practicin' witchcraft; with castin'
spells an' performin' devil's work." He wheeled and demanded suddenly;
"Number Thirteen, I calls on ye ter step forward an' testify. How does
witches gain thar black powers?"

The answering voice, was plainly disguised, and it came with the
lugubrious quality of calculated awesomeness.

"By compact with Satan."

"Number Thirteen, how is sich-like compacts made?"

"Thar's ways an' ways. A body kin go up ter a mounting top fer nine
nights an' shoot through a kerchief at ther moon, cussin' ther Almighty
each separate time, an' ownin' Satan fer master."

"Number Thirteen, what powers does Satan give these hyar sarvants of
his'n?"

"They gains ther baleful power ter kill folks with witch balls, rolled
tight outen ther hair of a cow or a varmint. By runnin' a hand over a
rifle gun they kin make hit shoot crooked. They kin spell a houn' dog
so thet he back-tracks 'stid of trailin' for'ards. They kin bring on
all manner of pestilence an' make cows go dry an' hosses fling their
riders. They kin----"

"Thet's enough, Number Thirteen," announced the spokesman. "Thet's a
lavish of evil. How kin they be hindered from this deviltry?"

"Thar's means of liftin' spells, but nothin' save death hitself cures
ther witches."

"Number Thirteen, how does ye go about hit, ter slay a witch?"

"By shootin'