Chapters Seventeen and Eighteen Summary

Young Delys Pritchard has been murdered and three hundred men began a search to find the satanic "beast" who committed the crime. Bars are banned from serving liquor for a week. In the poor end of town, houses are searched and men brought outside for questioning to determine who was on the mountain during the day. Idris Atkinson's story does not hold up, and he has scratch marks and blood on him. The mob decides to turn him over to the girl's father, who takes him up to the scene of the crime and kills him. A policeman is snubbed by the townsfolk the next day, and leaves with no answers. After the funeral, the long procession of mourners gathers at the Pritchard home, where Mr. Gruffyd tries to comfort the grieving.

At home, the older Morgan...