Slowly the bishop and the accused approached the altar. They paused as they reached the iron kettle. All heads were bowed, and each continued to pray a prayer that the truth might be known, as the bishop with tongs lifted the stone and dropped it into the water. There was a hissing, seething sound. The water bubbled and moved tumultuously as it received the stone. At a sign from the bishop, with an inaudible prayer, Egwina plunged her bared arm into the water and lifted therefrom the stone. A look of intense amazement flitted across her face as she did so. Her lips parted as if about to speak, but the bishop made the sign of the cross and she remained silent. Still in dead silence, Denewulf, his own hands covered by a cloth removed from her hand the stone which he threw again into the embers. Solemnly he bandaged the arm and sealed it. “To God belongeth the judgment,” he said in grave tones, and withdrew from the church with the maiden. The people filed out after them. For three days was the arm to remain bound up, and if it showed foul on the third day guilt was assumed; if clear, without suppuration, then would she be innocent. “It pains me not, Adiva,” said the maiden doubtfully in answer to the solicitous inquiries of the dame. “I know not why but no smart of burn have I felt at all.” “Why shouldst thou?” demanded the dame. “Art thou not one of God’s own lambs? Rest thee contented, dear heart, that He meant thee not to suffer.” In the presence of the ealdorman, the gerefa Beornwulf, Oswald the thegn, Edwy, Ælfric, and all others present at the ordeal, the bandage was removed from the girl’s arm. Clear and white as alabaster, with no mark of scald or burn upon it, shone the beautiful member. A cry went up from those who saw it. “A miracle! A miracle!” they shouted. “One of God’s own virgins is the maiden!” CHAPTER XXIII—THE DREAD DECREE “The maid is innocent,” cried Denewulf the bishop. “By God’s own judgment is she so pronounced. What then of her accusers? Those who have perjured themselves, and by testifying falsely risked their soul’s salvation in so doing? Step forth, ye that have so spoken, and give cause why ye have done this thing!” Then did Oswald the thegn step forth. “I sware to thee, my lord bishop, that unwitting did I wrong the maiden. I spake only that which I knew when I deposed. The harp was gone. It was found with the maid. Marry, as I judged so would ye have judged likewise. Name the were, and it shall be paid! I have said.” “And well, Oswald, unwitting and unknowing didst thou wrong the maiden. As thou wilt willingly make amends thou hast atoned thy fault. More thou canst not do. But the others.” His brow darkened ominously as Edwy the gleeman came forward. The ealdorman and gerefa looked hard on the man; now, since Heaven itself had shown the innocence of Egwina, they were convinced that guile had been employed.