And all the ring of elders fell forthwith upon their knees and cried with a loud voice, "Come forth, Satan!"
The girl involuntarily put her hands to her ears because of the clamour.
"What in the name of heaven are they about?" Nigel asked.
"'Tis an exorcising. The girl has an evil spirit!" said Hildebrand, crossing himself. "'Tis none of our business! Let us get on!"
But the girl wept and stood up crying aloud for a deliverer. She evidently dreaded the next step of the exorcisers. And with good reason, for Pastor Rad issued some brief directions and two men seized the girl, and, thrusting her hands between the rails of the waggon, were proceeding to bind them; another stood forward with a whip of many thongs.
"God condemn the Lutherans!" said Hildebrand, and spat upon the ground. "They are going to whip the devil out of her."
Once more the girl tried to wrench herself free, and in doing so turned her face, throwing back her flowing hair as she did so, in such wise that Nigel got a glimpse of it.
"By God's Son!" Nigel exclaimed, with a burst of passionate indignation that almost startled Hildebrand. "Go back! lead the men into the open, halt them in three lines and await my order! Tschk!"
Bowing his head and urging his horse he broke through the saplings and galloped to the girl's side.