e cries they had heard, and the melancholy sight they saw.
After a repetition of his entreaties, they retired; and in the morning
two of them went to his chamber, but he was not there, and, on
examining the bed, they found it to be one gore of blood. Upon further
inquiry, the groom said that, as soon as it was light, the gentleman
came to the stable, booted and spurred, and desired his horse might be
immediately saddled, and appeared to be extremely impatient till it
was done, when he vaulted into his saddle, and rode out of the yard at
full speed. Servants were immediately sent into every part of the
surrounding country, but not a single trace of him could be found;
such a person had not been seen by any one, nor has he since been
heard of.

Tales are related in the Scotch Highlands of witches being mortally
worried by dogs while they (the witches) appeared in the likeness of a
hare. They are so similar in all essential particulars, that one is
inclined to think that they are different versions of the same story.
Here, at all events, is one version:--A hunter, one early morning,
observed an old woman prowling about a glen in a suspicious manner.
Wishing to know what she was about, he watched her movements, and
succeeded in getting so near her that he was able to recognise her
features. She was a near neighbour of his own, held in good repute by
all in the district. Observing him approaching, the old woman walked
away quickly, to avoid him recognising her; but, as the hunter was
likely to overtake her, she transformed herself into the likeness of a
hare, and darted away at great speed. The hunter's dog gave chase,
and, after a long run, seized her. At that instant a shriek arose
that made the hills echo and re-echo. Hurrying forward to call off his
dogs, the hunter came within a few paces of the spot where the
struggle was going on, when a raven rose from the ground and flew
away, croaking angrily. A pool of blood marked the place, and his two
dogs lay dead. On returning home, he learned that the old woman whom
he had seen transformed into a hare lay dangerously ill in her house.
At night she died. The same night another neighbour of the woman was
returning home, whistling to keep up his courage, for he had to pass
the old parish church and burying-ground, and walk through a wood, the
favourite resort of witches and evil spirits. As the deep shadows of
the forest were beginning to conceal the moon from view, he was
sta