For he seems like a rather pleasant young gentleman; and I hear he is the heir of a large estate in the old country." "Of course there may be nothing in it--but Mistress Putnam also heard from one of her female cronies the other day, that jailer Foster was at one time a mate on board Captain Burton's vessel." "Ah!" "And you know how very handsome that Mistress Dulcibel is; and, being besides a witch of great power, it seems to Mistress Putnam that it is exposing jailer Foster to very great temptation." "Mistress Putnam is quite correct," said Squire Hathorne.

"Mistress Dulcibel had better be transferred to Boston also.

There the worshipful Master Haughton has the power and the will to see that all these imps of Satan are kept safely." "As the seamen may be lying around and make a disturbance if the removal comes to their knowledge, Mistress Putnam suggested that it had better not be done until evening.

It would be a night ride; but then, as Mistress Putnam said, witches rather preferred to make their journeys in the night time--so that it would be a positive kindness to the prisoners." "Very true! very well thought of!" replied Squire Hathorne, with a grim smile.

"And no doubt they will be very thankful that we furnish them with horses instead of broomsticks.