THE LEGEND OF KNOCK- A-TH AMPLE. 203 



was the blossom was still upon the bog-myrtle, and the 

 heath-flower was as bright and fragrant as though it 

 were the merry month of June. *' These are indeed 

 the works of hell and heaven," ejaculated the gray 

 friar. " Let no hand from this time forth pollute itself 

 by touching yon accursed corpse." 



Nightly the same horrible noises continued. Shriek 

 and groan came from the spot where the unburied 

 murderer was rotting, while by day the hill-fox and the 

 eagle contended who should possess the body. Ere 

 a week passed the villain's bones were blanching in the 

 winds of heaven, for no human hand attempted to 

 cover them again. 



From that time the place was deserted. The desperate 

 noises, and the frequent appearance of the Pedler's 

 tortured spirit, obliged the herdsman to abandon his 

 dwelling, and reside in an adjacent village. The night 

 of the day upon which he had removed his family and 

 effects, a flash of lightning fell upon the cabin, and 

 consumed the roof ; and next morning nothing remained 

 but black and rifted walls. Since that time the well 

 is only used for penance. The peasant approaches 

 not the desecrated burying-place if he can avoid it. 

 The cattle are never known to shelter underneath the 

 ruined walls — and the curse of God and man have fallen 

 on Knock-a-thample. 



