They all had heard of witch-marks, but never of one like this--the very serpent, perhaps, which had deluded Eve.

Joseph Putnam smiled disdainfully.

"A set of stupid, superstitious fools!" he muttered through his teeth.

"Half the De Bellevilles had that mark."[1] [Footnote 1: "Most part of this noble lineage carried upon their body for a natural birth-mark, from their mother's womb, a snake."-- _North_.] "I will have that looked into," said Squire Hathorne.

"In what shape does the spectre come, Mistress Putnam ?" "In the shape of a yellow-bird.