"Ha!--the Witch--'tis the witch of Hangstone Waste herself!"
Very still she stood, looking round upon them all with eyes that glittered 'neath the shadow of her hood; and when at last she spake, her voice was rich and sweet to hear.
"Liar!" she said, and pointed at Gurth a long, white finger, "unhand her, liar, lest thou wither, flesh and bone, body and soul!" Now here, once again, men gave back cowering 'neath her glance, while Roger crossed himself devoutly.
"The evil eye!" he muttered 'twixt chattering teeth, "cross thy fingers, Giles, lest she blast thee!" But Gurth shook his head and laughed aloud.
"Fools!" he cried, "do ye forget? No witch hath power i' the sun! She can work no evil i' the sunshine. Seize her!--'tis an accursed hag-- seize her! Bring her to the water and see an she can swim with a stone at her hag's neck. All witches are powerless by day. See, thus I spit upon and defy her!"
Now hereupon a roar of anger went up and, for that they had feared her before, so now grew they more fierce; a score of eager hands dragged at her, hands that rent her cloak, that grasped with cruel fingers at her long grey hair, bending her this way and that; but she uttered no groan nor complaint, only the maid cried aloud most pitiful to hear, whereat Giles, dagger in hand, pushed and strove to come at Gurth. Then Beltane alighted from his horse and parting the throng with mailed hands, stood within the circle and looking round upon them laughed, and his laugh was harsh and bitter.
"Forsooth, and must ye war with helpless women, O men of Pentavalon?" quoth he, and laughed again right scornfully; whereat those that held the witch relaxed their hold and fain would justify themselves.
"She is a witch--a cursed witch!" they cried.
"Aye--a devil-woman--a notable witch--we know her of old!"
"Verily," cried one, "'tis but a sennight since she plagued me with aching teeth--"
"She bewitched my shafts that they all flew wide o' the mark!" cried a third.
"She cast on me a spell whereby I nigh did perish i' the fen--"
"She is a hag--she's demon-rid and shall to the fire!" they shouted amain. "Ha!--witch!--witch!"
"That doeth no man harm by day," said Beltane, "so by day shall no man harm her--"