But though I thought not of it, exorcism there had been already, and that of my evil spirit of yesterday, by the fearless hand of--a little child.
There came first an old priest, fully vested, bearing a great service book in one hand, and in the other a crucifix, and reading as he went, but in Latin, so that I could not know what he read.

And on either side of him were two youths, also vested, one bearing a great candle that flared and guttered in the wind, and the other a bell, which now and then he rang when the old priest ceased reading between the verses.
After these came the villagers.

I saw the collier among the first, and his knees shook as he walked.

Then some of the men were armed with bills and short swords, and a few with bows.

All, I think, had staves.