1 62 THE WITCH OF SMOKY HOLLOW 
made a rough litter and hurried home with him, after 
binding up the wound to the best of their ability. 
As they passed the entrance to the hollow with their 
burden, they saw a strange woman standing near the 
house. She came to meet them, and in excellent 
English, but with a slightly foreign accent, questioned 
them about the accident, and bade them rest, as their 
injured mate had fainted. Going indoors, she re- 
turned in the space of a few minutes with bandages, 
and followed by another woman, who looked like a 
servant, carrying restoratives. 
The wound was quickly and skilfully dressed ; 
then she made the poor fellow swallow something 
which she gave him, in a small phial, and told his 
companions they could now carry him further without 
undue haste, for he would not take any harm. Before 
the astonished woodmen could thank her for her kind- 
ness she had vanished. As soon as the man reached 
home the village doctor was sent for. When he saw 
the bandages he asked a few questions ; did not 
remove them at all, but told the man that the lady 
who had put them on must have had great experience 
in such matters. Then he cross-questioned the other 
men as to the strange lady's appearance. The de- 
scription they gave was, ' not a young un, tall an' 
handsome, with dark hair an' eyes, leastways her 
