feel, foolish boy," roared the angry voice of the
Miller. "How often have I told you not to play the devil. Now thou
alone hast made the matter look bad." The two groups met together at
the door, the angry Miller holding his howling son by the ear, the
Parson and the sergeant hauling along the old woman, who let her feet
drag over the ground, uttering the most bestial cries. "Did I not sell
you the snakes," she said every now and then to the Parson, "let me go.
You also use snakes for your enchantments." At this disgusting sight
the Miller let his boy loose. "Shame on you," he cried, "to thus
ill-use an old woman, you especially, a Priest!"

"Witch and heretic house together, that has ever been an old custom,"
replied the Magister angrily, whilst the sergeant and his officer bound
the old woman and then threw her on the ground.

"You have given shelter to the witch," now said the Magistrate, "we
heard in your yard with our own ears the neighing of the devilish host,
who with horns, tails, and claws galloped close past the sergeant as he
lay on the ground...."

"Dost thou see, George, what thou hast brought about," interposed the
Miller, seizing his boy once more by the arm and shaking him. "He it
was who imitated the hellish voices, to laugh over your fright, other
devils are not to be found in my house. You will make yourselves
ridiculous, if it is known, that you let yourselves be taken in by a
child."

Solemnly Herr Hartmann Hartmanni turned round to the red-headed George,
who stood sheepishly near the fence not understanding the extent of the
danger to his person. "Good, then he goes also with us to Heidelberg,
and if he be not found guilty of more devilish arts, he will
nevertheless get his _quantum satis_ of birching for ridiculing the
district magistrate."

"You will certainly never lock up a mere child in the witch's tower for
a boyish trick for which he has been already punished?" said the
Miller. "What will become of a child in this terrible prison, he will
be frightened to death."

"You will keep him company," now broke in the Magister, "Herr Hermanni,
I accuse this Baptist and heretic of intriguing for his sect contrary
to the prince's mandates. He has lately availed himself of the terror
caused by the plague, and also re-baptised certain families living in
Schoenau. Besides this you are witness, that he is in communication with
the witch who is to be found on all cross-roads."

The Miller drew him