The Witch-Hunt

           OnreachingourhutImotionedtoInfadoostoenterwithus. 

           "Now,Infadoos,"Isaid,"wewouldspeakwiththee." 

           "Letmylordssayon." 

           "Itseemstous,Infadoos,thatTwalathekingisacruelman." 

           "Itisso,mylords.Alas!thelandcriesoutbecauseofhiscruelties. To-nightyeshallsee. Itisthegreatwitch-hunt,andmanywillbesmeltoutaswizardsandslain. Noman’slifeissafe. Ifthekingcovetsaman’scattle,oraman’swife,orifhefearsamanthatheshouldexcitearebellionagainsthim,thenGagool,whomyesaw,orsomeofthewitch-findingwomenwhomshehastaught,willsmellthatmanoutasawizard,andhewillbekilled. Manymustdiebeforethemoongrowspaleto-night. Itiseverso. PerhapsItooshallbekilled. AsyetIhavebeensparedbecauseIamskilledinwar,andambelovedbythesoldiers;butIknownothowlongIhavetolive. ThelandgroansatthecrueltiesofTwalatheking; itisweariedofhimandhisredways." 

           "Thenwhyisit,Infadoos,thatthepeopledonotcasthimdown?" 

           "Nay,mylords,heistheking,andifhewerekilledScraggawouldreigninhisplace,andtheheartofScraggaisblackerthantheheartofTwalahisfather. IfScraggawerekinghisyokeuponourneckwouldbeheavierthantheyokeofTwala. IfImotuhadneverbeenslain,orifIgnosihissonhadlived,itmighthavebeenotherwise; buttheyarebothdead." 

           "HowknowestthouthatIgnosiisdead?"saidavoicebehindus. Welookedroundastonishedtoseewhospoke.ItwasUmbopa.