Sentence:  [...] then appeared to me along the way by which I formerly came amid the darkness, as it were the brightness of a shining star, and the light was waxing more and more, and quickly hastening to me, and as soon as it came nigh me, then were scattered and away fled all the <WSD>witherward</WSD> ghosts, which formerly threatened me with their tongs, [...] 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Opposite, opposing; hostile.