I62 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



were immortal ; they would prove if the powers of evil 

 were above those of good. 



A fleet of boats was got ready, laden with sharp 

 stones, which were to be cast at the foe — a safe mode 

 of onslaught! The islanders armed themselves with 

 staves and axes. Nets were prepared, in whose toils 

 the Denschman should fall if he, by any strange chance, 

 came to close quarters. The oldest udaller in the isle 

 ordered his best boat to be launched and consecrated, 

 to lead the attack. A day was fixed upon. It had 

 been ascertained on the previous evening that the 

 Denschman was still in his "had," alive and strong. 

 No one doubted by that time that there he would 

 remain while the island remained, if not ousted by 

 force and the help of holy powers, or if not aided by 

 demons to rise and blight the isle. 



"Pray," said the old udaller to his three fair 

 daughters, who stood to see him embark in the con- 

 secrated boat — "pray that I bring the Denschman's 

 dishonoured corpse back with me." 



" We will pray," said the golden-haired maidens. 



But what consternation there was on the Aire of 

 Widwick, a few minutes later, when it was found that 

 the old man's boat — the largest and best in the isle, 

 the skiff that was to have led the attack — had dis- 

 appeared ! She had not sunk into the pellucid water, 

 else she had been easily recovered ; she had not floated 

 out to sea, for the tide was running landwards ; yet she 

 had gone as completely as if she had owned feet to 



