forest on the other, they advanced sword in hand,
praying that that which should happen might happen quickly.

But as they went the woods about them grew clamorous with horrid
noises. All the evil beasts of the world seemed abroad that night in
the forests of Machecoul. Presently they issued forth into a more open
space. The greyish dark of the turf beneath their feet spread further
off. The black blank wall of the pines retreated and they found
themselves suddenly with the stars twinkling infinitely chill and
remote above them.

They were now, however, no more alone, for round them circled and
echoed the crying of many packs of wolves. In the forest of Machecoul
the guardian demons of its lord had been let loose, and throughout all
its borders poor peasant folk shivered in their beds, or crouched
behind the weak defences of their twice barred doors. For they knew
that the full pack never hunted in the Pays de Retz without bringing
death to some wanderer found defenceless within the borders of that
region of dread.

"Let us stop here," said Sholto; "if these howling demons attack us,
we are at least in somewhat better case to meet them and fight it out
till the morning than in the dense darkness of the woods."

In the centre of the open glade in which they found themselves, they
stumbled against the trunk of a huge pine which had been blasted by
lightning. It still stood erect with its withered branches stretching
bare and angular away from the sea. About this the three Scots posted
themselves, their backs to the corrugations of the rotting stump, and
their swords ready in their hands to deal out death to whatever should
attack them.

Well might Malise declare the powers of evil were abroad that night.
At times the three men seemed wholly ringed with devilish cries. Yells
and howls as of triumphant fiends were borne to their ears upon the
western wind. The noises approached nearer, and presently out of the
dark of the woods shadowy forms glided, and again Sholto heard the
soft pad-pad of many feet. Gleaming eyes glared upon them as the
wolves trotted out and sat down in a wide circle to wait for the full
muster of the pack before rushing their prey.

Sholto knew well how those in the service of Satan were able to change
themselves into the semblance of wolves, and he never doubted for a
moment that he and his friends were face to face with the direct
manifestations of the nether pit. Nevertheless Sholto MacKim w