Robin, trembling all over with fright and
fatigue, was told by his mistress to graze where he could, while she
went into the feast:--"Make good use of thy time, for in two hours I
shall mount thee back again."
This was poor sustenance for Robin's stomach,--furze and heath were not
at all to his mind, and he peeped about for a quiet resting-place. Here
he was kicked and bitten by others of the herd; several of them were in
the like pitiable condition with himself; but some were really of the
brute kind, and these fared the best and were better mannered than most
of their human companions. Often did our unfortunate hero wish himself
in their place. Having little else to do, he was prompted by curiosity
to approach the building, from whence the loud din of mirth and revelry
grated harshly on his ears. A long chink disclosed to him some part of
the mysteries within. There sat on the floor a great company of witches,
feasting and cramming with all their might. An elderly gentleman of a
grave and respectable deportment, clad in black doublet and hosen, sat
on a stone-heap at the head, from whence he dealt out the delicacies
with due care and attention.
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