Then they went in again. The Black Man went up to the malvogue and made a ring round it on the wall, and the same vapour came out of the wall, and the same trace remained afterwards upon it. While he was stooping Shiana looked sharply at the tail, as he had the opportunity. He saw, out at the very tip of it, a great long, crooked, thick claw, with a dangerous-looking point upon it, and it kept swaying from side to side continually, as a cat's tail does when he is watching for a mouse.
"By the deer, my lad," said Shiana, in his own mind, "if you get an itching, you will have no lack of nails!"
Just as if Shiana had spoken aloud, the Black Man raised his head and looked at him.
"Beware of that nail," said he, "for fear that it might take the itch off you and give you pain instead of the itch. Go up now and move the chair."
Shiana went up, and he was trembling very much. He put his hand gently on the chair, and when he did, it moved to his touch as easily as ever. He put his hand on the malvogue, and no sooner did he touch it than it moved back and forward along the wall. He looked at the Black Man.
"Oh, sir," he said, "I am very thankful to you! Oh, oh, oh! may God prosper you greatly, and His Blessed Mother!"
Oh, my dear people! As soon as that word came oat of Shiana's mouth the Black Man changed. He raised up his two hands as high as his horns. A blue flame came out of his eyes. The hoof danced; the tail rose; the claw spread out; and he gave a roar like the roar of a mad lion. The roar began with a growl, and it swelled and strengthened until the
