THAT. Witches are so scarce nowadays. There may be some
somewhere in the world, but it's not likely there are any here
right in Prince Edward Island. They used to be very plenty long
ago. I know some splendid witch stories I'll tell you some day.
They'll just make your blood freeze in your veins."

We hadn't a doubt of it. If anybody could freeze the blood in
our veins this girl with the wonderful voice could. But it was a
May morning, and our young blood was running blithely in our
veins. We suggested a visit to the orchard would be more
agreeable.

"All right. I know stories about it, too," she said, as we
walked across the yard, followed by Paddy of the waving tail.
"Oh, aren't you glad it is spring? The beauty of winter is that
it makes you appreciate spring."

The latch of the gate clicked under the Story Girl's hand, and
the next moment we were in the King orchard.



CHAPTER III. LEGENDS OF THE OLD ORCHARD

Outside of the orchard the grass was only beginning to grow
green; but here, sheltered by the spruce hedges from uncertain
winds and sloping to southern suns, it was already like a
wonderful velvet carpet; the leaves on the trees were beginning
to come out in woolly, grayish clusters; and there were
purple-pencilled white violets at the base of the Pulpit Stone.