t think that there is a Maker who
watches over us? how foolish to think that he would let the evil
one go about like that and drown people at his will----"

Pierre suddenly interrupted him: "And Job," he said.

"Oh! that was in the olden times," said Frank; "besides, it's poetic
language, you must not take it so literally as you seem to do. Do
you know what lies at the bottom of all these superstitions?
Ignorance; nothing but the lack of education. Among men of
knowledge, nothing of this sort is ever heard of. They do not
believe in witches riding on broomsticks. Ah!" he added, seeing
Pierre was getting excited; "you believe in witches too?"

"Mr. Mathers," said the old man looking steadily at Frank, "you're a
young man, you should not try so to rail at people who have
experience; you should not try to make me disbelieve things which I
have seen with both my eyes; when you are older, when you have
passed through all that I have passed; ah, when you have, as we say
proverbially 'dragged the harrow where I have dragged the plough';
then, and only then, will you attempt to remonstrate with elderly
people. I think the proper thing for you to do now is to wait till
you have gained some experience and not to try and speak about
things which you know nothing of."

Frank was astonished at the serious tone in which this little speech
was delivered. He began to see how deep-rooted were Pierre's
beliefs, but if the difficulties multiplied in his path, his fervour
rose also. He had decided to show this man the fallacy of his
arguments, and he must accomplish his self-imposed task. He was now
very determined; the more so, as he noticed the air of superiority
old Pierre assumed.

"You have no proofs whatever in support of what you advance," he
said, "while I can prove to you that this light seen over or near
bogs and sometimes over cemeteries, is nothing but '_ignis fatuus_.'
This man found drowned, and all that nonsense, is nothing but what
would happen under ordinary circumstances. In a state of
intoxication, he walked in the pool and was drowned. Is not that
plain enough?

"The knife covered with blood was the result of some beast cutting
its leg with the sharpened edge, every sensible man will acknowledge
that; prove to me the contrary, and I will believe you; until then,
never.

"And these witches, by the by, you have not told me if you believed
in them."

The old man met his gaze defiantly as he answered: "Yes, I do