THE LEGEND OF MICHAEL SCOT CONCLUSION 227 



he had suffered much during the night from a cat, 

 which leaped upon his bed, howled, and played 

 the most frightful antics. They then began to 

 suspect witchcraft, and resolved that the household 

 should watch during the next night. On the 

 stroke of twelve a cat was seen coming out of 

 their daughter's room. One of the servants gave 

 chase, and another went into the room, fearing that 

 the young lady had also been bewitched, and saw 

 her lying on the bed as cold as marble. The cry 

 arose that she was killed. The parents, mad with 

 grief, made after the cat to destroy it, but with 

 leaps and bounds, it kept them busy all night as if 

 they had been huntsmen chasing a hare, and all in 

 vain. As the bells began to sound for matins the 

 cat ran into the young lady's room, and the mother, 

 beating her brow, exclaimed : " she who has be- 

 witched my son is none other than his sister." 

 Rushing into the room they found her, no longer 

 like a dead body, but all panting from the night- 

 long chase. Her mother searched all the corners, 

 and finding the book and earthen pot, bade throw 

 them into the Arno. They then besought their 

 daughter to undo the mischief she had wrought 

 upon her brother, and so many more, and to promise 

 she would never do the like again ; but to nothing 

 of this would she consent. Then they threw her out 

 of window in fear and to the breaking of her bones. 

 The servants came and took her up ; laying her on 

 her bed again ; telling her to heal her brother. Not 

 even in the last moments of life, however, would 

 she repent. She could not die till Mengot had 

 read for her a spell of loosing, and on him therefore 

 she still lay crying. The servants told this to 



