"Yea, sores until blow flies chased her even down there among the
rocks, and as she did lie, with a stone I broke her foul arm open! A
curse upon the scar-ridden bones of the unclean!"

"Verily a beast is not known by the number of his legs," said Jael
angrily as the herdsman turned across the plain.

When the fisherman reached Chorazin, the lean and warty dog led him to
the place where the hag gutted fish. When she saw the lean dog and the
hairy one which followed, she cursed.

"Vile dogs they are, yet there is one thing worse. Scarce a fortnight
ago and before the dawn of morning, there was a stirring up of the
lentil pods and melon skins cast upon the ground. And when the man of
the house looked out, in the light of the moon beheld he a sight
fearful to the eye, for one did cry 'Unclean! Unclean!' Wrapped was
this evil one in a fisherman's coat yet was she a woman. Then did we
shower her with fish long spoiled and with bitter curses, and she crept
away. On the evening of the next day came a pilgrim who did tell that
he saw one eaten alive of disease and uncleanness, creeping through the
marsh toward the Jordan. Feebly did she crawl as if life were all but
departed. And if she die not in the marsh then will the life be sucked
from her by serpents, for beyond the marsh dwelleth such snakes as
creep against the bodies of living things to seek warmth and take from
them the life that goeth to make the wisdom of the serpent." And when
she had said this, the hag returned to her fish cleaning.

With a sad heart Jael turned from her, yet not without hope. He
hastened on, keeping to directions. He saw the willows by the
watercourse and heard the murmur of the river. He cleared the marsh.
He came to the still pool. He saw the bed of rushes piled by the
spring flood against the bleached sycamore. All was as pictured by the
Wise Man of the East. Softly he made his way toward the bed of rushes
with eyes keenly watching for the serpent When he had come near he
stopped. A sore and loathsome hand lay over the top of the bed of
rushes. Underneath it two bright sparks suddenly appeared. Looking
close Jael saw the head of a serpent and that its body lay concealed
under the leaves, yet so like its surroundings was it that it seemed to
be but a part of them.

The eye of the serpent was both cunning and evil. Under its first
glitter Jael took a backward step. Emboldened by this move the serpent
thrust out a bar