160 THE WITCH OF SMOKY HOLLOW 
as they made their nests, and the boldest of the chil- 
dren again ventured within the hollow ; but, to their 
terror, two of them, on getting there before the others, 
caught sight of a woman standing close to the house, 
the door of which stood wide open. Making a sign 
of warning to their companions, they crept through 
the thicket and wood again, on to the moor, where, 
with one look at each other, they scampered off like 
hunted rabbits, their hearts in their mouths, but no 
word on their lips. These forest children are peculiar 
in one thing, they are more silent when on the hunt. 
Each one made tracks for his own home without 
speaking. Once safely there, the tongues began to 
wag again, and they told their parents that ' niver 
agin wud they go to that 'ere place, fur 'twus hanted ; 
'twus right, ivery word on it what folks said, fur the 
ghost o' that ere furrin woman, as folks talken on, 
stood thear now.' 
They were cross-questioned, but all told the same 
tale. The father of the biggest urchin was hard of 
belief, and, much to* the boy's disgust, he rubbed a 
dose of ash-plant oil into his back and shoulders, 
telling him between each application that he'd ' larn 
him better than tu give his mind to lyin'.' 
'Go, an' see fur yurself !' yelled young Hopeful, 
' an leave off quiltin' me.' 
