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Will Hamilton went out and talked to him, came back and talked with father and the rest of our men, and then went out to the stranger again. Farther back we could see a man standing and looking on, whom we recognized as Lee. With us all was excitement. The women were so relieved that they were crying and kissing one another, and old Mrs. Demdike and others were hallelujahing and blessing God.
"May God send them the light then," I heard one of the Demdike sisters say to Abby Foxwell. "And soon," said Abby Foxwell, "for I don't know what we'll do a whole day without water, and our powder is about gone." Nothing happened all morning. Not a shot was fired. Only the sun blazed down through the quiet air.
Six months ago, Mary Baldwyn was as lovely and blooming a lass as could be seen, the joy of her widowed father's heart. A hot-headed, obstinate man is Richard Baldwyn, and he was unwise enough to incur the displeasure of Mother Demdike, by favouring her rival, old Chattox, to whom he gave flour and meal, while he refused the same tribute to the other.
A loud hubbub of voices ensued then there was a trampling of feet, accompanied by discordant strains of music after which a momentary silence ensued, and a harsh voice asked "Why are we brought hither?" "It is not for a sabbath," shouted another voice, "for there is neither fire nor caldron." "Mother Demdike would not summon us without good reason," cried a third.
Then it was," pursued Demdike, vehemently, and regarding the abbot with flashing eyes "then it was that I was again mortally injured by you. Then your ruthless decree to the clergy went forth. My child was denied baptism, and became subject to the fiend." "Alas! alas!" exclaimed Paslew.
And without waiting for a reply, he ran off with great swiftness. At the appointed time Demdike sought the church, and as he drew near it there issued from the porch a female, who hastily placing the child, wrapped in a mantle, in his arms, tarried for no speech from him, but instantly disappeared. Demdike, however, recognised in her the miller's daughter, Dorothy Croft.
It revealed, also, her weird attendants, as well as the group before her, consisting of the kneeling figure of Alizon, protected by the outstretched arms of her mother, and further defended by Mother Chattox, who planted herself in front of them. Mother Demdike eyed the group for a moment as if she would, annihilate them.
"Nay, thou hast done thy worst to me," rejoined Paslew, meekly, "thou canst not harm me beyond the grave. Look to thyself, for even as thou speakest, thy child is taken from thee." And so it was. While Demdike knelt beside Paslew, a hand was put forth, and, before the man who had custody of the infant could prevent it, his little charge was snatched from him.
"What have you done?" she cried, fixing a keen reproachful look on Demdike, who walked beside the wounded man. "Nothing," replied Demdike with a bitter laugh; "the fool has been hurt with a pike. Stand out of the way, Bess, and let the men pass. They are about to carry him to the cell under the chapter-house." "You shall not take him there," cried Bess Demdike, fiercely.
"Because thou wouldst not brave the resentment of one whose power is equal to thine own if not greater," replied the young man. "Greater it is not neither equal," rejoined the old hag, haughtily; "but I do not desire a quarrel with Alice Nutter. Only let her not meddle with me." "Once more, art thou willing to admit me?" demanded Richard. "Ay, upon one condition," replied Mother Demdike.
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