y Mother,
confound them!" The words had scarcely escaped from her lips, before
the lights were extinguished and horrid yells of despair sounded far
and near.

Left alone in such a fearful place, the poor woman began to think what
she could do. Remembering her distance from home, she felt at first
inclined to bestride a broom and fly back; but second thoughts brought
to mind the fate of her two unfortunate companions, whom she believed
were drowned. Resolved to walk, or rather run, back to her abode
before morning dawn, she went forward over moorland wilds, staying
not, nor even looking behind, until she entered her own house and
barred the door. Husband and besom occupied the bed as on the previous
night. Removing the latter, she quietly took its place, but not to
sleep; for her nervous system had received a severe shock--indeed so
much so, that for more than a week she did not rise.

Meantime the two lost women were missed; and the inhabitants far and
near turned out to search for them. Every effort to discover them,
dead or alive, proved unsuccessful.

When ordinary efforts to find the women failed, the disconsolate
husbands sought the advice of Madge Macdonald, the wise woman of
Tomintoul. This important person told the husbands there was a person
not far away who could tell about the women's disappearance, and that
if she did not speak out, she (Madge Macdonald) would see what could
be done. Madge commenced muttering to herself, "East, west, south,
north; east, west, south, north." This she said several times, and
then followed a long pause. A new idea seemed to strike her; and she
abruptly asked the farmers if either or both missed any of their
besoms or riddles. They had not; but, search being made, sure enough,
each husband missed a besom and a riddle. "So I thought," said Madge
at their next interview; and then added, "Look for your wives in the
Spey." No time was lost in following the woman's advice. A search was
made from the source of the Spey to the ocean, without any trace of
the bodies being obtained; but, most extraordinary, the riddles were
found near the "Witches' Pool," a deep part of the river, known by
this name to the present day.

A startling mountain tale is given of a girl who could control the
elements by means of magical power. The story runs thus:--A little
girl, walking with her father on his land, heard him complain of
drought and want of rain. "Why, father," said the child, "I can make