e arrival of Adelpha, Sloughter, in a
moment of excitement, assented to the vote of the council, that Leisler
and Milborne should be executed. "The house, according to their
opinion given, did approve of what his excellency and council had done."

[Illustration: Eight men, bearing litters, were at the door. All were
dripping with water.]

The families of the doomed were notified that on the next day, the 16th
of May, 1691, Leisler and Milborne would be hung. The morning of the
16th dawned gloomy and dark. The rain poured in torrents; but Mrs. Alice
Leisler and her family, accompanied by Charles, went to bid the doomed
men adieu at the jail. Then Charles hurried the weeping women and
children home. Great thunder-bolts seemed to rend Manhattan Island. The
lightning spread a lurid glare on the sky, and the rain fell in
torrents. All of the household knew what was being done, and, falling on
their knees, they prayed God for strength. Two hours wore on, and then
there came a rap at the door.

Charles went and opened it. Eight men, bearing litters, on which were
stretched two lifeless forms, were at the door. All were dripping with
water.

"Come in!" said Charles, and he sprang to seize Adelpha, who had fallen
to the floor in a convulsion.

CHAPTER XIII.

CREDULITY RUN MAD.

The weird sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go about, about;
Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine,
And thrice again, to make up nine.
--Shakespeare.

Charles Stevens was detained in New York until early in 1692. First he
became involved in trouble through his sympathy with the unfortunate
Leisler family and was thrown into prison; but a few days later he was
released on bond. Then he lingered awaiting his trial; but the case was
finally dismissed, and then he joined an expedition against the Indians
on the frontier. He wrote home regularly and never failed to mention
Cora in his letter. All the while, Charles was at a loss to decide
whether it was Cora or Adelpha who had won his affections. Adelpha's
great misfortune and grief only seemed to endear her to him, for the
noblest hearts grow more tender with sorrow.

Early in 1692, he returned to Salem after an absence of ten months.
Great changes were soon to come about. Salem was about to enter upon
that career of madness known in history as Salem Witchcraft. There are
few portions of ancient or modern history which exhibit s