ances did not much
disturb the people, who were Christians, as they believed that the
spectres of such persons as had been favourably received by the
goddess Rana were accustomed to show themselves after death. So fast
did the demons increase in number that they became a great band of
thirty, the exact number of people supposed to have had a period put
to their existence by demons. Many fled from the neighbourhood,
fearing that, if they remained, they would ere long be dead men, and
their spirits infernal demons. Possibly their fears would have been
realized, had not a pious priest exorcised the evil spirits. By a
plentiful application of holy water and celebration of a solemn mass,
they were frightened away, to return no more.

CHAPTER XXXV.

A Mysterious Hunter--Man and Horse supposed to be
Devils--Extraordinary Talents of the suspected
Hunter--Signs of Uneasiness--Terrible Shrieks--Groans
of Despair--Tortured Spirits--Severe
Flagellation--Disappearance of the Flagellant--Tales
of the Scotch Highlands--Witches in the shape of Hares
worried by Dogs--Croaking Raven--Death of a suspected
Witch--Resort of Witches and Evil Spirits--Spirits
hastening to a Church--Dogs in Pursuit--Black Man with
Eyes like Fire--Horse breathing Smoke and
Flame--Witch's Ghost and Demons sinking into the
Earth.

A strange tale of a mysterious hunter is given in the _Letters_ of
Lord Lyttelton, the truth of which, it is said, was attested by
gentlemen whose veracity was beyond question. We give an abridged
version of the tale:--

In the early part of --------'s life he attended a hunting club at
their sports, when a stranger of genteel appearance, and well mounted,
joined the chase, and was observed to ride with a degree of courage
and address that called forth the utmost astonishment of every one
present. The beast he rode was of amazing power; nothing stopped them;
the hounds could never escape them; and the huntsman, who was left far
behind, swore that the man and his horse were _devils from hell_. When
the sport was over, the company invited this extraordinary person to
dinner: he accepted the invitation, and astonished the company as much
by the powers of his conversation, and by his elegance of manners, as
by his equestrian prowess. He was an orator, a poet, a painter, a
musician, a lawyer, and a divine; in short, he was everything, and the
magic of his