“Each time she has cursed us it has been something more terrible,” Black Eric’s voice rang out. “God knows what it will be this time! And always it has happened when our crops were doing nicely and our hopes were high----” “That is true; yes, yes, that is true!” “So now, with your barns so full of hay it sticks out for yards at the open sides and your grain ready to harvest, now--she comes cursing again! And you men are weak enough to let her rob you of this! And you women! What are you, that you will let her curse your children? Such mothers! Bah! Even a dog will protect its young! Yes, like as not it will fall upon the children this time----” “No, no, no!” The women shrank from him. Some staggered as though they would have fallen, and sat weakly down. A brutal look was dawning in the faces of the men. Silent Sven alone was not moved; his arms were folded in front, his head thrown back. “Even in the old days,” Black Eric went on, “before people were civilized, they destroyed the witches that brought them harm. They drove them out! They burned them at the stake!” “No, no!” Olga found her voice with a choking effort. “You will not be so cruel--you will not burn her!” Black Eric’s eyes gleamed savagely. He towered above them, triumphantly. “I shouldn’t advise that,” he agreed, “but--to drive her out----” “Who is to do this?” quavered a voice. “Look, Mamma,” cried the little girl. “She is running back to the woods!” “Running back to the hut,” shrilled Kaisa, peering out, “with her plaid shawl hanging over her bones!” “Now is the time!” cried Black Eric. “Now, when you can catch her in the hut! Go quickly, you men!” “And what about _you_?” Silent Sven addressed Black Eric for the first time. “Me?” cringed Black Eric. “It--would not--do for me----” “Oh, you _daren’t_!” Silent Sven flung the challenge at him. “_Daren’t!_ You can’t say that word to me! Come on, all of you! I will lead you! I will show you if I dare!” He started for the door, the men preparing to follow him. “I will go, too!” cried Olga. “You shall not burn her; I can at least see to that!” “I would burn her,” retorted Kaisa. “I would help light the fagots! Olaf, you stay in the store.” “Is that so?” said Olaf, with gleaming eyes. “I shall be needed, like as not. ’Tis a woman’s place to stay at home.” “I’m not going to be cheated of this!” Kaisa turned to the old crone. “You stay,” she coaxed. “You couldn’t climb the hill, anyway. It’s a long hill.” “I can climb the hill,” quavered the old woman. “I can climb it as well as anybody. I shall go with the others. See, everyone is going. I shall not stay behind.” “I will give you a pound of coffee, the best in the store. I will give you two yards of cloth for an apron.” The old woman’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Five pounds of coffee,” she wheedled, “and five yards of your best goods, or I go with the rest!” “Five pounds! No, that I will never----” “And some tobacco! Yes, I think I must have some tobacco!”