Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery

Abitha wakes, naked and alone, to the carnage of the previous night. She buries the dead Indigenous man by the side of the road with a sign to mark his grave.

Wallace, having made an arrangement with the town to evict Abitha and regain possession of the farm, arrives at the property with Sheriff Pitkin, Reverend Carter, and two of Pitkin’s deputies. The men see the grave of the Indigenous man on the side of the road and proceed with caution. Abitha accuses Wallace of having burned her corn down, which prompts Wallace to ask her for his payment, which is due today. Abitha reveals that she has Wallace’s payment in the form of honey. The Revered and Sheriff agree that the payment is sufficient, and Wallace storms off, accusing Abitha of witchcraft in procuring so much honey. When they leave, Samson arrives and asks Abitha if he should kill Wallace; she says no. Samson spots a group of Indigenous men at the edge of the forest and tells Abitha that he needs to follow them.

Wallace, believing that Abitha must have engaged in dark magic in order to best him, goes to find Ansel Fitch, whom he knows is on the lookout for such wrongdoing.