“Maybe I could,” Bart said, grinning in an odd way. “I like you folks. You have more nerve than those other renters. Maybe, if you ask pretty, I’ll tell you the story of the Old White Witch.”
Chapter 6
THE WHITE WITCH
BART Ranieau’s remark about the White Witch intrigued the girls, who immediately pleaded with him to tell them the story connected with the cave.
“Okay,” he agreed, “but I’m late on my route this morning, so I’ll have to make the tale brief. Calico Cave is very old. It was here before the village was incorporated and has had a half dozen names over the years.
“According to an ancient legend, an old witch once lived in the cave, arousing the villagers by casting horrible spells upon them. In their terror they called upon a monk who once resided in the mountains, to turn the old hag into stone. So now in a chamber of the cave you may see a strange stalagmite formation—the White Witch.”
“Is that a true story?” Virginia asked, deeply impressed.
“The legend is true. As for the White Witch, you can see her if you’ve a mind to explore as far as the first chamber.”
“You don’t believe that tale yourself, I take it?” Miss Ward inquired with a broad smile.
“I think the story was made up to explain the white formation, which does resemble a witch,” Bart answered. “Over the years, the yarn took on more and more detail and color.”