If but a movement caught the witches' view, To save his life no mercy would be found.- Down to the Devil's Pit the witches flew, And planted each her staff into the ground. A dozen staffs stood upright by the hill, Twelve witches entered in the Devil's Pit. Soon bold Bearslayer had regained his will, And entered too the cavern through a slit. Within the pit a thick deep darkness reigned, And round his head bats fluttered in the gloom; Until at length a glimpse of light he gained, And, going further, saw a lofty room. All kinds of things inside were found in store, Too many far the name for each to learn: With skulls and bones, and teeth and pelt and claw, With mounted heads and antlers all in turn. Round ladles, cauldrons, wooden bowls and pots, And dippers, wicker baskets, mortars, urns, Great hammers, pitchforks, rakes, in heaping lots, Cartwheels, old whetstones, broomsticks scorched with burns, Black books and parchments that all good defiled. A corner dim held plants and dried-up grass; On shelves stood boxes next to baskets piled, With herbs and potions stored in jars of glass. Upon the hearth a sullen fire dull burned, And in its light the walls unpleasant glowed; Hung from a crooked hook a cauldron churned. The fire's pale gleams foul toads and black cats showed, While in the corners snakes writhed round the room, And through the smoke flew bats and jet-black owls.- Bearslayer started, hidden in the gloom, When all at once the creatures all made howls! They hissed, and croaked, they whistled, such a roar! And soon a crone, a witch all old and bowed, Into the chamber entered through a door, Who, since the room seemed empty, called aloud: "What foul ill wind has brought base spirits here? When clear is known that all who tread this place A broken neck and dreadful fate must fear!" These words the creatures silenced in a trace. The witch then took a ladle in her hand, And going to the cauldron thrust it in: "The time has come to supper to command. The meat is cooked. The meal can now begin." And thrice upon the cauldron's side she beat. The twelve came in, a place for each reserved, Their portion was a sausage and some meat.- Bearslayer thought that suckling pig was served. A door into a second chamber led; This room held but a chopping block alone. The walls and ceilings like the floor were red, And on the block a blood-red axe was thrown. The room was starkly empty but for this. And further yet there led another door.- Into this open chamber, without miss, The witches went with bowls of meat, he saw. Horrors are revealed Bearslayer followed silently behind, And through the door he saw a chamber bright, With pallid chairs and tables it was lined, And all the walls were of a colour light. Two stoves of like pale colour at one side, One glowed with coals, and one held beans of white. The witches at their meal he here espied; Who ate in deathly silence every bite.