“Steady, lads—­steady a moment,” cried Potts, enchanted with the success of the experiment; “leave her where she is, that her buoyancy may be fully attested.  You know, masters,” he cried, with a loud voice, “the meaning of this water ordeal.  Our sovereign lord and master the king, in his wisdom, hath graciously vouchsafed to explain the matter thus:  ‘Water,’ he saith, ’shall refuse to receive them (meaning witches, of course) in her bosom, that have shaken off their sacred water of baptism, and wilfully refused the benefit thereof.’  It is manifest, you see, that this diabolical young woman hath renounced her baptism, for the water rejecteth her. Non potest mergi, as Pliny saith.  She floats like a cork, or as if the clear water of the Calder had suddenly become like the slab, salt waves of the Dead Sea, in which, nothing can sink.  You behold the marvel with your own eyes, my masters.”

“Ay, ay!” rejoined Baggiley and several others.

“Hoo be a witch fo sartin,” cried Jem Device.  But as he spoke, chancing slightly to slacken the rope, the tension of which maintained the equilibrium of the body, the poor woman instantly sank.

A groan, as much of disappointment as sympathy, broke from the spectators, but none attempted to aid her; and on seeing her sink, Jem abandoned the rope altogether.

But assistance was at hand.  Two persons rushed quickly and furiously to the spot.  They were Richard and Nicholas Assheton.  The iron bar had at length yielded to their efforts, and the first use they made of their freedom was to hurry to the river.  A glance showed them what had occurred, and the younger Assheton, unhesitatingly plunging into the water, seized the rope dropped by Jem, and calling to the beadle to let go his hold, dragged forth the poor half-drowned young woman, and placed her on the bank, hewing asunder the cords that bound her hands and feet with his sword.  But though still sensible, Nance was so much exhausted by the shock she had undergone, and her muscles were so severely strained by the painful and unnatural posture to which she had been compelled, that she was wholly unable to move.  Her thumbs were blackened and swollen, and the cords had cut into the flesh, while blood trickled down from the puncture in her breast.  Fixing a look of inexpressible gratitude upon her preserver, she made an effort to speak, but the exertion was too great; violent hysterical sobbing came on, and her senses soon after forsook her.  Richard called loudly for assistance, and the sentiments of the most humane part of the crowd having undergone a change since the failure of the ordeal, some females came forward, and took steps for her restoration.  Sensibility having returned, a cloak was wrapped around her, and she was conveyed to a neighbouring cottage and put to bed, where her stiffened limbs were chafed and warm drinks administered, and it began to be hoped that no serious consequences would ensue.