Attheoppositeendofthelistswasapileoffaggots，soarrangedaroundastake，deeplyfixedintheground，astoleaveaspaceforthevictimwhomtheyweredestinedtoconsume，toenterwithinthefatalcircle，inordertobechainedtothestakebythefetterswhichhungreadyforthatpurpose。Besidethisdeadlyapparatusstoodfourblackslaves，whosecolourandAfricanfeatures，thensolittleknowninEngland，appalledthemultitude，whogazedonthemasondemonsemployedabouttheirowndiabolicalexercises。Thesemenstirrednot，exceptingnowandthen，underthedirectionofonewhoseemedtheirchief，toshiftandreplacethereadyfuel。Theylookednotonthemultitude。Infact，theyseemedinsensibleoftheirpresence，andofeverythingsavethedischargeoftheirownhorribleduty。Andwhen，inspeechwitheachother，theyexpandedtheirblubberlips，andshowedtheirwhitefangs，asiftheygrinnedatthethoughtsoftheexpectedtragedy，thestartledcommonscouldscarcelyhelpbelievingthattheywereactuallythefamiliarspiritswithwhomthewitchhadcommuned，andwho，hertimebeingout，stoodreadytoassistinherdreadfulpunishment。Theywhisperedtoeachother，andcommunicatedallthefeatswhichSatanhadperformedduringthatbusyandunhappyperiod，notfailing，ofcourse，togivethedevilrathermorethanhisdue。
``Haveyounotheard，FatherDennet，’’quothoneboortoanotheradvancedinyears，``thatthedevilhascarriedawaybodilythegreatSaxonThane，AthelstaneofConingsburgh?’’
``Ay，buthebroughthimbackthough，bytheblessingofGodandSaintDunstan。’’
``How’sthat?’’saidabriskyoungfellow，dressedinagreencassockembroideredwithgold，andhavingathisheelsastoutladbearingaharpuponhisback，whichbetrayedhisvocation。TheMinstrelseemedofnovulgarrank；for，besidesthesplendourofhisgailybraidereddoublet，heworearoundhisneckasilverchain，bywhichhungthe_wrest_，orkey，withwhichhetunedhisharp。Onhisrightarmwasasilverplate，which，insteadofbearing，asusual，thecognizanceorbadgeofthebarontowhosefamilyhebelonged，hadbarelytheword=Sherwood=engraveduponit——``Howmeanyoubythat?’’saidthegayMinstrel，minglingintheconversationofthepeasants；``Icametoseekonesubjectformyrhyme，and，by’rLady，Iweregladtofindtwo。’’
``Itiswellavouched，’’saidtheelderpeasant，``thatafterAthelstaneofConingsburghhadbeendeadfourweeks——’’