Many witty things were said -- or at least we thought them witty -- and uproarious was the laughter . Never had the old King orchard known a blither merrymaking or lighter hearts . The picnic over , we played games until the early falling dusk , and then we went with Uncle Alec to the back field to burn the potato stalks -- the crowning delight of the day . The stalks were in heaps all over the field , and we were allowed the privilege of setting fire to them . 'T was glorious ! In a few minutes the field was alight with blazing bonfires , over which rolled great , pungent clouds of smoke . From pile to pile we ran , shrieking with delight , to poke each up with a long stick and watch the gush of rose-red sparks stream off into the night . In what a whirl of smoke and firelight and wild , fantastic , hurtling shadows we were ! When we grew tired of our sport we went to the windward side of the field and perched ourselves on the high pole fence that skirted a dark spruce wood , full of strange , furtive sounds . Over us was a great , dark sky , blossoming with silver stars , and all around lay dusky , mysterious reaches of meadow and wood in the soft , empurpled night . Away to the east a shimmering silveryness beneath a palace of aerial cloud foretokened moonrise . But directly before us the potato field , with its wreathing smoke and sullen flames , the gigantic shadow of Uncle Alec crossing and recrossing it , reminded us of Peter 's famous description of the bad place , and probably suggested the Story Girl 's remark . `` I know a story , '' she said , infusing just the right shade of weirdness into her voice , `` about a man who saw the devil . Now , what 's the matter , Felicity ? '' `` I can never get used to the way you mention the -- the -- that name , '' complained Felicity . `` To hear you speak of the Old Scratch any one would think he was just a common person . '' `` Never mind . Tell us the story , '' I said curiously . `` It is about Mrs. John Martin 's uncle at Markdale , '' said the Story Girl . `` I heard Uncle Roger telling it the other night .
He did n't know I was sitting XXXXX the cellar hatch outside the window , or I do n't suppose he would have told it .
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