Witches at the Cross

Though the witches used to be pretty lively in other places, they

were fond of climbing up and down the cross that stands by the road

to Malá Cermá (near Slaný). Joe Hilma heard tell of this, so he took

his horse and off he rode to see. He took with him a piece of chalk

which had been blessed, and made a circle with it. Then he went into

the circle and waited till midnight. Then, sure enough, he saw the

witches, a great swarm of them, climbing up and down the cross. They

didn't see him while this was going on, but when he rode out of the

circle, off went the witches after him. He galloped home at full

speed. When he rode into the yard they were close on his heels. They

couldn't go any farther, for they had no power to do it. I don't know

how it happened, but one of them flung a burning broom after him. The

broom hit the door, and the door was burned. Joe had quite enough of

seeing the witches.