Page:Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations (Volume 3).djvu/172

160 blame upon a flaw in his gun which had escaped his notice until the proceeding night.

“Now, dame, dost a’ see?” said the forester, laughing: “who’s wrong now, dame, I wonder? The witchcraft lay in the gun that wanted trimming; and the little devil, that by your account should have thrown down old father Kuno’s picture so early this morning, I’m partly of opinion lies in a cankered nail.”

“What’s that you’re saying about a devil?” asked William.

“Nay, nothing at all but nonsense,” replied the old man: “this morning, just as the clock was striking seven, the picture fell down of itself; and so my wife will have it that all’s not right about the house.”

“Just as it was striking seven, eh? Ha!” And the old soldier flashed across William’s thoughts, who had taken his leave at that identical time.

“Aye, sure enough, as it was striking seven: not a very likely time for devils to be stirring; eh, my old dame? eh Anne?” at the same time chucking her under the chin with a good-na-