coiled upwards with
the conflict. He appeared loth to allow of a supernatural agency in the
affair, and yet the testimony and its witness were not to be gainsayed.

"I had not believed the tale, stranger, if this token had not confirmed
thy speech:--verily thou hast a better witness than a fool's tongue to
thy story. That ill-omened losel may depart. See thou fall not hastily
into the like offence, else shalt thou smart from Childermas to
All-hallowtide. Hence! to thy place." Barnulf awaited not further
dismissal, glad to escape the scrutiny of Nicholas with a whole skin.

A loud shriek was heard from the court-yard.

"My boy!--Oh, my boy!" cried the almost frantic mother, as she rushed
into the chamber, leading in Uctred. He had been discovered on removing
some of the huge piles of timber again from the hill, where, under a
curiously-supported covering of beams and other rude materials, he lay,
seemingly asleep. The urchin looked as malicious and froward as ever,
even when standing before his chief.

"And where hast thou been, my pretty bird?" said the old woman, as she
began her vocabulary of signs. But the boy looked surly and would not
answer to the signal: he drew down his black swarthy brows, looking
eagerly and fiercely from behind their bushy curtains. Suddenly, and
with a fearful yell, he sprang forward, snatching the ring which Gamel
was then giving back to the stranger. With a wild and hideous laugh,
which sent a shudder through the assembly, he drew it on his finger. At
this moment the expression of his countenance began to change, and some
of the bystanders, over whom fear had probably waved the wand of the
enchanter, saw his form dilate, and his whole figure expand into almost
gigantic proportions. A thick haze rolled through the apartment; then
was heard a wild unearthly shout, and the vision had disappeared.

"Seize him!" cried Gamel.

The guards, trembling, prepared to execute his commands, but on gaining
the outworks of the castle, no vestige remained of his appearance, save
a slight whirlwind of dust, like a mist-wreath curling down the valley,
which, to their terrified apprehensions, became the chariot of the
departing demon. Nothing could shake this belief; and in after ages the
boy was spoken of as a changeling, left by some fairy, whose appointed
sojourn had been then accomplished, the means for his release being
fulfilled. Old Cicely became nigh crazed with the loss of her son; but
Gamel, s