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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26755-h.zip b/26755-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..654bc22 --- /dev/null +++ b/26755-h.zip diff --git a/26755-h/26755-h.htm b/26755-h/26755-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0ecd54 --- /dev/null +++ b/26755-h/26755-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5765 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Cornwall's Wonderland, by Mabel Quiller-Couch</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body {background:#fdfdfd; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size: medium; + margin-top:100px; + margin-left:12%; + margin-right:12%; + text-align:justify; } + h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; } + p {text-indent: 4%; } + p.noindent {text-indent: 0%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + hr.narrow { width: 40%; + text-align: center; } + blockquote.footnote { font-size: small; } + .caption { font-size: small; + font-weight: bold; } + .center { text-align: center; } + .ind1 {margin-left: 1em; } + .ind2 {margin-left: 2em; } + .ind3 {margin-left: 3em; } + .ind4 {margin-left: 4em; } + .ind5 {margin-left: 5em; } + .ind6 {margin-left: 6em; } + .ind7 {margin-left: 7em; } + .ind8 {margin-left: 8em; } + .ind9 {margin-left: 9em; } + .ind10 {margin-left: 10em; } + .ind11 {margin-left: 11em; } + .ind12 {margin-left: 12em; } + .ind13 {margin-left: 13em; } + .ind14 {margin-left: 14em; } + .ind15 {margin-left: 15em; } + .ind16 {margin-left: 16em; } + .ind17 {margin-left: 17em; } + .ind18 {margin-left: 18em; } + .ind19 {margin-left: 19em; } + .ind20 {margin-left: 20em; } + .large {font-size: large; } + table { font-size: medium; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size: 85%; } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Cornwall's Wonderland, by Mabel Quiller-Couch</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Cornwall's Wonderland</p> +<p>Author: Mabel Quiller-Couch</p> +<p>Release Date: October 3, 2008 [eBook #26755]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CORNWALL'S WONDERLAND***</p> +<br><br><center><h3>E-text prepared by Lionel Sear</h3></center><br><br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2>CORNWALL'S WONDERLAND</h2> + +<h4>By</h4> + +<h2>MABEL QUILLER-COUCH.</h2> +<br><br><br> +<h5>1914</h5> +<h5> This etext prepared from a version published in 1914.</h5> +<br><br><br><br> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>With a vivid recollection of the keen enjoyment I myself found in the +strange and wonderful Romances and Legends of Old Cornwall, now so +rapidly being forgotten; with a remembrance too of the numerous long +and involved paragraphs—even pages—that I skipped, as being prosy +or unintelligible, written as they were in a dialect often +untranslatable even by a Cornish child, I have here tried to present +a few of these tales in simpler form, to suit not only Cornish children, +but those of all parts.</p> + +<p>M.Q.C.</p> + + +<br><br><br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER LINKS</h2> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tbody><tr><td> + +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0001"> +HOW CORINEUS FOUGHT THE CHIEF OF THE GIANTS. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0002"> +THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0003"> +THE LEGEND OF THE TAMAR, THE TAVY, AND THE TAW. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0004"> +THE STRANGE STORY OF CHERRY HONEY. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0005"> +THE FAIRIES ON THE GUMP. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0006"> +THE FAIRY OINTMENT. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0007"> +THE EXCITING ADVENTURE OF JOHN STURTRIDGE. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0008"> +THE TRUE STORY OF ANNE AND THE FAIRIES. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0009"> +BARKER AND THE BUCCAS. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0010"> +LUTEY AND THE MERMAID. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0011"> +THE WICKED SPECTRE. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0012"> +THE STORY OF THE LOVERS' COVE. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0013"> +THE SILVER TABLE. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0014"> +CRUEL COPPINGER, THE DANE. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0015"> +MADGE FIGGY, THE WRECKER. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0016"> +HOW MADGE FIGGY GOT HER PIG. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0017"> +THE STORY OF SIR TRISTRAM AND LA BELLE ISEULT. +</a></p></td></tr> +</tbody></table> +</center> + + + +<br><br> +<a name="2HCH0001"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>HOW CORINEUS FOUGHT THE CHIEF OF THE GIANTS.</h3> + + + +<p>Long, long ago, when Cornwall was almost a desert land, cold, bleak, and +poor, and inhabited only by giants, who had destroyed and eaten all the +smaller people, Brutus and Corineus came with a large Trojan army +intending to conquer England, or Albion as it was then called, and landed +at Plymouth for that purpose.</p> + +<p>These two valiant chiefs had heard strange tales of the enormous size of +the people in that part of the island, so, like wise generals, before +venturing inland themselves, they sent parties of their men to explore, +and find out what they could of the inhabitants. The soldiers, who had +never heard anything about the giants, went off very full of glee, and +courage, thinking, from the miserable look of the country, that they had +only some poor half-starved, ignorant savages to hunt out, and subdue.</p> + +<p>That was how they started out. They returned nearly scared to death, +rushing into camp like madmen, pursued by a troop of hideous monsters all +brandishing clubs as big as oak trees, and making the most awful noises +you can possibly imagine.</p> + +<p>When, though, Brutus and Corineus saw these great creatures they were not +in the least frightened, for, you see, they had already heard about them. +So they quietly and quickly collected their army, reassured the terrified +men, and, before the giants knew what was happening, they marched upon +them, and assailed them vigorously with spears and darts.</p> + +<p>The giants, who were really not at all brave men, were so frightened at +this attack, and at the pain caused by the arrows and spears,—weapons +they had never seen before,—that they very soon turned tail and ran for +their lives. They made direct for the Dartmoor hills, where they hoped to +find shelter and safe hiding-places, and indeed, all did manage to escape +except one, and that was the great Gogmagog, the captain, who was so badly +injured that he could not run.</p> + +<p>When Gogmagog saw his cowardly companions all running away, and leaving +him to do the best he could for himself, he bellowed and bellowed with +rage and fear until the birds nearly dropped down from the sky with +fright. After a while, though, he began to think he had better stop +drawing attention to himself, and look about for a means of escape, and +this was no slight task, for he could scarcely move a step, and his great +big body was not at all easy to conceal. Indeed, the only means he could +see open to him was to lie down in one of the great ditches which lay here +and there all over the land, and trust to the darkness concealing him +until the soldiers had returned to camp.</p> + +<p>Alas, though, for poor Gogmagog's plans, the moon was at the full, and +every place was almost as light as by day. The Trojan soldiers too were +so excited and pleased with their giant-hunting, that they could not bear +to give it up and return to camp until they had at least one giant to take +back as a trophy. So they prowled here, and prowled there, until at last +they caught sight of the great bulky body stretched out in the ditch.</p> + +<p>Gogmagog, of course, had no chance of escape, he was surrounded and +captured, and bound, and the Trojans, rejoicing greatly, dragged him back +a prisoner to their camp on Plymouth Hoe. Here, although he was carefully +guarded, he was treated with great kindness, fed bountifully, and nursed +until his wounds were healed.</p> + +<p>When at last he was quite recovered, Brutus, who was very anxious to come +to terms with the giants, discussed with him various ways of settling the +question they had come with their army to decide, namely, who should be +the possessor of the country. He proposed this plan, and that plan, and +the other, but none seemed to please Gogmagog, and while the general +talked and talked, and tried to come to terms, Gogmagog just sat stolidly +listening, and only opening his great mouth to disagree with the general's +proposal. The truth was, the giant had a great idea of his own cunning, +and he was trying to think of some way by which he could get the better of +the invaders, and yet avoid further battles and discharges of arrows. +"For," as he said, "you never knew where you were with they things. +They had done for you before you'd got time to turn round. Clubs or fists +he was equal to, but he didn't see no fun in they sharp little things that +stuck right into you, and wouldn't come out until they was cut out."</p> + +<p>Thinking of clubs and fists reminded him of wrestling, which was practised +a great deal in Cornwall, even in those days, and very little anywhere +else.</p> + +<p>"The very thing!" thought the wily giant, for it wasn't likely the Trojans +knew anything about it, and even if they did, they were only little bits +of chaps compared with himself and the other giants. So, after a time, he +proposed to Brutus that they should settle matters by "a scat to +wrastling," the best man, of course, to have the country.</p> + +<p>Rather to Gogmagog's surprise Brutus agreed at once, and it was quickly +settled that the giant himself and the best man in the Trojan army should +be the two to try their skill. This man was Corineus, who accepted the +challenge instantly.</p> + +<p>After this the day was soon fixed, and Gogmagog was allowed to send and +tell his friends, and bid them all come to Plymouth to witness the great +event. The giants, being assured that no arrows or spears would be used +against them, came with alacrity, and both they and the Trojans were in a +wild state of excitement which increased and increased as the great day +drew near.</p> + +<p>At last the longed-for time arrived. A ring was formed on the Hoe, the +giants all sitting on one side, and the Trojans on the other, and the +struggle began.</p> + +<p>Oh, it was a fine sight to see two such men pitted against each other, +the giant, the finest of his race, and the splendid, stalwart soldier, +the enormous strength of the one faced by the skill and coolness of the +other, to see them grapple each other and struggle for the mastery as +never men had struggled before in hand-to-hand warfare. Such a sight had +never been seen in Cornwall until that day, nor ever will be again. +It lasted long, and for long the result was doubtful.</p> + +<p>"Th' little un can't hold out much longer, mun," cried one of the giants. +"Cap'en's only playing with un yet." But just at that very moment +Corineus, who was playing a very clever game, dashed in unexpectedly, +caught the giant by the girdle, and grasping it like a vice, shook the +astonished and breathless monster with all his might and main. The giant, +bewildered and gasping, swayed backwards and forwards at his mercy, at +first slightly, then more and more, as he failed to regain his balance, +until, gathering all his strength for one last effort, Corineus gave him +one tremendous push backwards, and sent him clean over, so that he +measured his great length upon the ground, and the country for miles round +shook with the force of his fall.</p> + +<p>Gogmagog gave one awful groan, which sounded like thunder all over the +land, making the giantesses, who were left at home, exclaim nervously, +"Oh dear, oh dear, there must be an earthquake somewhere! How very +unsettled the country is!"</p> + +<p>Gogmagog was so stunned and breathless with his fall, that for some time +he could not collect his wits, or get up again, so he lay there moaning +and puffing until his hard breathing had lashed the sea into fury. +The other giants were too frightened to speak or move, for they were quite +certain there was magic being used against them, for strength alone could +never have overthrown their 'Cap'en' like that, certainly not the strength +of 'a little whipper-snapper like that there Corinoos.'</p> + +<p>While, though, they were staring open-mouthed, and the giant, never +expecting another attack, lay there still puffing and blowing, and trying +to think how he could get off facing his opponent again, Corineus had been +gathering up all his power to finish his task, and now, dashing in +suddenly on his foe, he seized him by the legs, and dragging him to the +edge of the cliff, he sent him, with one mighty push, rolling over and +over down the sides of the steep cliff into the sea below.</p> + +<p>The fearful roar which broke from the giant's throat as he disappeared, +the crashing and thudding of his body as it dashed from point to point of +the jagged rocks, made even those hardened savages sicken and turn pale, +but worst of all was the crash with which he came to the bottom, where his +body struck a rock with such violence that it was dashed into a thousand +pieces, and his spouting blood dyed the sea crimson for miles and miles +around.</p> + +<p>After that all turned away pale and sobered, the soldiers to their camp, +the giants to their homes, their cowardly hearts full of terror of these +new-comers, and the feasting they had promised themselves by way of +keeping up their victory was postponed indefinitely.</p> + +<p>So ended the fight between the giant and the Trojan. It was not playing +the game, but the giants were too cowardly to demand revenge, or to +attempt to punish Corineus, and so the land and all in it fell to the +Trojans.</p> + +<p>Later, when Brutus had conquered all Albion, and was dividing some of it +amongst his chiefs, Corineus begged that he might have the giant country, +for he loved hunting the great lumbering fellows, and turning them out of +their caves and hiding-places. So it was given to him, and he called it +Cornwall, because that was something like his own name, and in time he +cleared out all the giants, and in their stead there settled there an +honest, manly people, who worked and tilled the land, and dug up tin, and +did everything that was good, and honourable and industrious, and this is +the kind of people who live there still.</p> +<br><br> + +<a name="2HCH0002"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT.</h3> + + +<p>I am sure most of you have heard of St. Michael's Mount, the strange, +beautiful, mountain island, which rises up out of the sea down by +Penzance; a mountain island with a grand old castle crowning its summit, +and a picturesque group of cottages nestling at its base.</p> + +<p>If you have not, you must coax your parents to take you down there for +your next summer holiday, then you will be able to see the Mount, and +visit it too. And when you are on it you must think to yourself, "Now I +am standing where the Giant Cormoran once stood."</p> + +<p>You must look out over the sea, too, which surrounds the giant's Mount, +and try to picture to yourself a large forest in the place of it, and the +sea six long miles away, for that was how it was in Cormoran's time, until +one day the sea rose quite suddenly, a huge mountain of water, and rushing +over the six miles of land, covered it and the forests too, even above the +tops of the tallest trees. Everything for miles around was swallowed up, +except the Mount, which was saved by reason of its great height.</p> + +<p>From that day to this the sea has never receded, and St. Michael's Mount +has remained an island, completely cut off from the mainland, except at +low tide, when you can, if you are quick, just manage to walk across.</p> + +<p>Years before this, Cormoran had built up the Mount for a home for himself. +When first he came to the spot it was all forest, with one large white +rock in the midst of it. As he lay on this rock resting, he made up his +mind to build himself a hill here, all of white rocks, like the one on +which he reclined, where he could live in safety, and keep an eye on the +surrounding country.</p> + +<p>It was a big task he had set himself, for all the blocks of granite of +which it was to be made, had to be brought from a neighbouring hill, those +close by being of the pink, or green, or grey kinds, and he would have +none of these. Perhaps he would have changed his mind about it had he had +to carry all the stone himself, but he, the great lazy fellow, made his +wife Cornelian fetch all the heaviest blocks, while he lay idly by and +watched her.</p> + +<p>Cornelian, who thought the work was very hard indeed, did not see why the +green rocks would not do as well as the white, they would be even +prettier, in her opinion, so one day when her husband was asleep she +knocked off a great green rock, and picking it up in her apron, hurried +back as fast as she could to get it fixed in its place before he should +wake. She could not manage it though, poor soul, for just as she was +reaching her destination the giant opened his eyes, and as soon as he had +opened them he caught sight of the green rock she was carrying. +Then, oh, what a temper he was in at being disobeyed! He did not say +anything, but he got quietly up from his resting-place as soon as she had +passed, and followed her, but so softly that she did not notice anything +until he was close to her, when he gave her such a blow that she fell +staggering under it. Her apron-strings broke, down fell the green stone +to the ground, and there it has stayed from that day to this, for no human +power has been able to move it.</p> + +<p>Cormoran was an old giant, and a very ugly one. He had only one eye, and +that was in the middle of his forehead; he had lost nearly all his teeth, +too. It would have been better for his appearance had he lost them quite +all, for those that were left were broken, jagged, and discoloured, and +were anything but ornamental. He was a perfect monster to look at, and, +oh, he was such a dreadful thief! All the people who lived anywhere near +him went in terror of him, for when he was hungry he would just cross to +the mainland, steal the very best cow or sheep in the neighbourhood, +sling it across his shoulders and go home with it. And as he was very +often hungry, the poor farmer folks were nearly eaten out of house and +home by the bad old giant.</p> + +<p>On the Pengerswick estate near by, there were some particularly good +cattle, which Master Cormoran had taken a great fancy to, and to which he +helped himself pretty freely without ever being caught, or punished. +Of course, the more he stole the bolder he got, for having so often got +off scot-free, he grew to think he was always going to get off scot-free, +and that was where he made his mistake.</p> + +<p>One day he took it into his head that he would very much like another +of these fine, choice animals, so picking up a rope he started off, +and wading across to Pengerswick Cove, landed there as usual, thinking he +was going to help himself without any trouble and be home again by +dinner-time.</p> + +<p>It happened, though, that the Lord of Pengerswick had just returned from +the East, where he had been learning all sorts of magic and spells. +Cormoran, however, knew nothing of this, and if he had he would probably +only have laughed and sneered, and turned up his great nose in scorn, +for he believed in nothing but giants, and only in two of them,—himself, +and the Trecrobben Hill giant.</p> + +<p>As Master Cormoran approached, the Lord of Pengerswick, who knew by means +of magic all about his coming, and knowing his thieving ways, determined +to punish the old thief for all the mischief he had done during his +absence. So he began at once to work his spells, meaning to give the +giant a very unpleasant time.</p> + +<p>Cormoran, never dreaming of any trouble in store for him, landed as usual; +but, somehow, when he reached the Cove he did not feel very well, his head +felt muzzy and confused: he thought perhaps the sun had been too much for +him as he came along. Instead, too, of catching one of the cattle at +once, as usual, he had the works of the world to get one, the beasts +seemed as slippery as eels, and he was so dull in the head, he hardly knew +what he was about. However, after a great deal of trouble, and losing his +temper more than once, he managed to catch a fine calf, and tying its four +feet together, he slung it round his neck, and prepared to hurry back to +the Mount to have a good feast.</p> + +<p>He walked, and he walked, and he walked as fast as his feet could carry +him, but though he went very quickly, and it was really no distance back +to the Cove, he somehow could not get any nearer to the end of his +journey; the path seemed all strange to him, too, and for the life of him +he could not tell where he was.</p> + +<p>At last, when he was so tired that he was ready to drop, he came in sight +of a great black rock in Pengerswick Cove. It was a rock he did not +remember seeing before, and thinking he was once again on the wrong path +he turned to go back. But this, he found to his surprise, was what he +could not do. The rock, as if by magic, was drawing him nearer and +nearer. It was like a magnet, and struggle as he would, he could not keep +away from it. He tried to turn round, he tried to draw back, he even lay +down on the ground and dug his heels with all his strength into the sand. +But still he felt himself being drawn on and on until he actually touched +the rock, and the moment he touched it he found to his horror that he was +fastened to it as though by iron bands.</p> + +<p>Oh, how he struggled to get free, how he twisted and turned, and kicked! +All in vain, though. He might as well have lain still and gone to sleep +for all the good he did. By degrees, too, he felt himself growing more +and more helpless, he could not move hand or foot, he grew colder and +stiffer, and stiffer and colder, until at last he was as if turned to +stone, except that his senses were more acute than ever they had been +before. To add to his torments, too, the calf which he had slung across +his shoulders, struggled and kicked and bellowed until the old thief was +black and blue, and nearly deafened. He was nearly scared to death, too, +for fear someone would hear the creature's noise, and come in search of +it, to find out what was the matter.</p> + +<p>He tried and tried to throw off his burden, but nothing would loosen it, +and all the night long he had to bear the bleating and the bellowing in +his ear, and the incessant kicking and butting, for, for the whole of the +night the giant had to remain there; and probably he would have been there +for the rest of his life, had not the Lord of Pengerswick thought he would +like to have some more fun with him.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning the Enchanter mounted his horse and rode down to the +Cove to have a look at Master Cormoran, and to give him a piece of his +mind before he removed the spell and let him go, and a piece of something +else as well! Cormoran quaked when he saw the old lord coming, for he +looked every bit as angry as he really was, and first he lashed the giant +with his tongue, and then he lashed him with his whip, and he flogged him +and flogged him until in his agony Cormoran kicked and struggled so hard +that he broke away from the rock and leaped right into the sea.</p> + +<p>This was the way the Enchanter removed the spell!</p> + +<p>Once free from that terrible rock, Cormoran soon reached home, but the +lesson he had had was one that he never forgot, and he never troubled that +part of the country again, so the people all around had good cause to +thank the Lord of Pengerswick. Poor Cornelian, his wife, had a sad time +of it, though, for so sore was the giant from his beating, and so angry +and mortified, that his temper became something worse than ever. +Indeed, I cannot find words to describe it.</p> + +<p>Poor Cornelian herself was very kind and good-tempered, and a very +hard-working giantess, and she was very much to be pitied for having such +a disagreeable, grumpy old husband. Cornelian, though, had one great +fault, and that was that she was very, very inquisitive. I do not know +that she ever did any harm to anyone but herself by it. It brought about +her own death, though, in a very dreadful manner. And this was how it +was.</p> + +<p>Cormoran and the Trecrobben Hill giant were very friendly and neighbourly +one with the other, and they used to borrow and lend to each other any +little thing they happened to want, just as ordinary people do who are on +very good terms with one another.</p> + +<p>One day Cormoran was wanting the cobbling-hammer to mend his boots, +but the hammer was up at Trecrobben's,—they only had one between them. +So he went out and shouted, "Halloa, up there! Hi! Trecrobben, throw us +down the cobblen hammer, wust-a?" They always threw across to each other +what they wanted.</p> + +<p>"To be sure," called back Trecrobben; "here, look out and catch un!"</p> + +<p>Hearing a lot of noise and shouting, Cornelian must needs bustle out to +find out what it was all about, and running from the dark house to the +bright sunshine, her eyes were so dazzled, she did not see the great +hammer coming hurtling through the air, as it did at that very moment, and +whack! crack! it caught her a terrible blow right between the eyes, even +crashing in the mighty bone of her forehead.</p> + +<p>Down she fell with a groan right at her husband's feet, and when he turned +her over she was as dead as the fatal hammer itself! Then what a to-do +there was! The two giants wept and roared over the corpse, they wrung +their hands and tore their hair, but it was all of no use, they could not +bring poor Cornelian back to life again. Their sighs and groans only +wrecked a ship or two out at sea, and blew the roofs off some houses at +Market Jew. So they stopped, and set to work to bury poor Cornelian. +They thought it best to get her out of sight as quickly as possible, +it made them weep so to see her lying there dead.</p> + +<p>Where they laid her, though, no one knows. Some say it was in the court +of the castle, others that they lifted Chapel Rock and put her under; but +there are others who say that they only rolled her over the edge of the +cliffs and into the sea! You will always, though, find some people ready +to say unkind things about everyone.</p> + +<p>Cormoran himself met his death some years later at the hands of Jack the +Giant-Killer, but as you probably know that story, I will not repeat it +here.</p> + + +<a name="2HCH0003"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE LEGEND OF THE TAMAR, THE TAVY, AND THE TAW.</h3> + + +<p>In the days when fairies, giants, and witches, gnomes and piskies, and +dwarfs, and all the other Big People and Little People dwelt on the land +or under it, there lived in a huge cavern, deep, deep down in the heart of +the earth, two gnomes, husband and wife, busy, practical little people, +who spent their lives digging and delving in the very bowels of the earth.</p> + +<p>They had no cravings for a more beautiful life, no desire to see the +sunshine, the flowers, the green grass, or the wide blue sea. They wanted +nothing better, or beyond the life which had always been theirs.</p> + +<p>To them, though, there was sent a little daughter, whom they called +Tamara. She was a lovely, golden-haired sprite, as unlike her parents as +the sun the night, and they were filled with happiness and pride, and +wonder of her beauty.</p> + +<p>When Tamara was old enough, they would have set her to work with them, but +Tamara did not like the cold, dark cavern, or the silence and bareness of +her underground home. She was an earth-loving child, and had a passion +for the upper world, whither she would escape as often as she possibly +could, for the sun, the flowers, the birds, the happy life which +surrounded her up there, were a never-failing joy to her.</p> + +<p>Her parents scolded and scolded; they warned her that the earth was full +of giants, and if she were captured by one of them, nothing could save +her; but she paid no heed to them at all, for she did not know what fear +was, she could not believe that anyone could harm her. And they had +petted and humoured her, and allowed her her own way in so many things, +she did not see why she should not do as she liked in this.</p> + +<p>She hated the cold, gloomy underground, so why should she stay there, +she argued, and she ran away more and more to the upper world, and spent +her days in roaming over the moors chasing the birds and butterflies, or, +when she was tired, lying on a bank of moss and ferns, gazing up at the +glorious sun, and basking in its kindly warmth.</p> + +<p>At length one day, Tawridge and Tavy, sons of two Dartmoor giants, met +sweet Tamara as she was wandering amongst the furze and bracken, and +straightway fell in love with her. They had only seen giantesses up to +that time, who, though very fine and striking in appearance, are never +pretty, and these two young giants had never in their lives seen anything +so delicate and so lovely as Tamara, or dreamed that it was possible that +such beautiful maidens could exist.</p> + +<p>Straightway each of them lost his great big heart to the dainty maiden, +and could not bear to lose sight of her. So afraid were they that she +would vanish, and they would never see her again, that they followed her +far and wide over the moor, trying to coax her to come and talk with them. +But Tamara, like a laughing, mischievous sprite, ran from them laughing, +led them over moor and river, always evading them, never letting them +reach her. The more though that she tantalized and teased them, the more +the poor fellows loved her, and they sighed for her until their great +hearts were like to break.</p> + +<p>One morning, Tamara got away earlier than usual from her cavern home. +She awoke long before her parents, and after gazing for some time at the +darkness which filled the cave, and shivering in the chill, damp air, +she thought of the upper world where the morning sun would be shining on +the dewy grass, and the birds be singing their first glad song; and as she +pictured it all the longing to be up there grew stronger than she could +bear. She rose quietly, and without disturbing her parents, left her home +for the last time.</p> + +<p>In the upper world all was as she had pictured it, and lost in the joy and +beauty of it, Tamara wandered on and on until she came to a place called +Morwenstow, and a dainty little pool in the hollow of a rock. The sun was +so warm, and the pool so lovely, Tamara felt she must step into it; so, +laying aside her robe, she played and swam about in the fresh clear water +until she was quite tired out, when she dressed herself in her robe again, +and shaking her long golden locks to dry them, she lay down under the +shelter of a hawthorn-bush, and soon fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Ah me! how sweet she looked, with her delicate cheeks so rosy after her +bathe, her lovely lashes resting on them, her cloud of golden hair spread +all about her! and so thought Tavy and Tawridge when they came along and +found her! At the sight of her they stood speechless with admiration, but +the great stupid fellows were as quiet and careful not to waken her as +fairies would have been. They just sat down near her and gazed and gazed +at her with great faithful dog-like eyes.</p> + +<p>Presently a thrush began to sing hard by, and with a little stretch and a +sleepy sigh Tamara opened her big blue eyes. When she caught sight of her +guardians and captors, she broke into a little rippling laugh and sprang +to her feet, but this time she could not escape.</p> + +<p>"Do not leave us," they pleaded. "We will not hurt you, Tamara. We may +be big and ugly, but we have good hearts. Have pity on us, lovely one, +for you know how we worship you, and how our lives are spent in seeking +you. Such a love for you fills our hearts we know no rest away from you."</p> + +<p>They pleaded long and earnestly, those two love-stricken giants, they +called her by every sweet and endearing name that they could think of, +and Tamara listened, and made no further attempt to run away. +Their devotion pleased her, it was so new and strange, and she loved to +feel her power. So the morning sped away.</p> + +<p>Deep down in the dark earth, the industrious little gnomes paused in their +labours and wondered where Tamara was. "She does not often stay so long," +said the mother; "I trust no harm has befallen her."</p> + +<p>"What a trouble she is to us!" said the father, growing angry because he +was alarmed. "We should be glad we have no more children, or we should +have to spend all our time looking after them, to see they came to no +harm. We should never have time for our work, and never know peace of +mind."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said the mother impatiently, "but Tamara! Where can she be? +The earth is full of giants, and I am full of fears. I cannot rest, +I must go and seek her, and you must come too. She is so beautiful, and +so thoughtless and full of life."</p> + +<p>So they mounted to the upper world, and began their weary search for their +naughty little daughter; and by and by they found her seated on a couch of +sweet, soft heather, between the two giants. They were still telling her +of their love for her,—there was so much, it took long to tell,—and +beseeching her to choose one of them for her own faithful lover.</p> + +<p>The father gnome was very much alarmed at this sight, for what could he, +no taller than a tulip, do against two such monstrous creatures? +Their thumbs alone were as big as his whole body. All that was left to be +done was to appeal to Tamara, and each in turn, and both together, the +father and mother begged and commanded their runaway child to return to +her home.</p> + +<p>But Tamara was as obstinate as could be. "No, I want to stay here," +she said, "these good boys love me, and they will break their hearts when +I leave them. You would not have me make them so unhappy, would you? +I want, too, to hear all about their country and their people, for I love +it, and I love them, and I hate the cold, dark cavern, with its eternal +work, work, work!" Then she turned entreatingly to the giants, "You will +not let me be taken back, will you?" she cried, her beautiful eyes full of +appealing.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" they cried joyfully, "we will take care of you, little Tamara."</p> + +<p>Even, though, as they spoke, a deep sleep fell upon them. The gnome, +thoroughly angry, had cast a spell upon them, and poor Tamara saw herself +in an instant deprived of both her protectors. She was deeply mortified, +but more determined than ever not to go back to her dark, gloomy home. +No pleadings, or coaxings, or commands had any power to move her. +Her mother appealed to her, her father scolded, all in vain. Anger was +roused on both sides, until at length in ungovernable rage the father +cursed his daughter, and as his curse fell on her, the weeping girl was +changed into a crystal stream, which soon became a river; a beautiful, +rapid river, for ever winding its way with a low, sad murmur, in storm or +sunshine, through the land she loved so well, on and on to the great salt +ocean.</p> + +<p>The angry parents, heartbroken and desolate, had returned to their lonely +home, and Tamara, with low, sad sighs, was fleeing further and further +from her sleeping lovers, when Tavy at last awoke. He sat up and glared +around him, too dazed to realize at first all that had happened. +He looked at Tawridge, lying fast asleep, and recollection began to +return,—he looked for Tamara,—she was gone!</p> + +<p>In a frenzy of fear lest he should have lost his new-found love for ever, +he rushed hither and thither, wildly searching for her,—but, of course, +in vain.</p> + +<p>"Tamara! Tamara!" he called despairingly; no answer came. No sound +reached him but the sweet, sad voice of a stream hard by, a stream he did +not remember to have heard before. He was too full of his troubles, +though, to pay heed to such trifles now.</p> + +<p>Flying as fast as the wind to his father amongst the hills, he told him +his pitiful tale, but the giant already knew all that had happened, for he +had powers his son had not.</p> + +<p>"My boy," he said sadly, "your Tamara is gone. Cruelly taken from you. +I cannot bring her back to you, but I can send you to her. Grieved I +shall be to lose my son, but I cannot keep you here and see your life +filled with endless pain." Then the old giant kissed his son, and as he +kissed him he turned him into a stream, which, noisy and turbulent as poor +Tavy himself had been of old, rushed madly on over rock and moor, seeking +his lost love. Wildly he dashed ahead, seeking to overtake her, until at +last in a gentle valley where she loitered slowly, he came upon her, and, +happy that they had met at last, hand in hand they glided softly onwards +to the eternal sea.</p> + +<p>During all this time poor Tawridge slept on, dreaming of Tamara, that she +was his, and nothing could part them; but alas, alas for his waking! +He opened his eyes and found it was but a dream! Tamara was gone, +Tavy was gone, and he was left alone.</p> + +<p>"They have gone together!" was his first thought, but then he remembered +the arrival of the father and mother, and his second thought was that +Tamara had been taken back to her home by her parents, and that Tavy had +killed himself in despair. And Tawridge was filled with a double grief, +for he had really loved poor Tavy.</p> + +<p>In the hills there lived an Enchanter, and to him Tawridge ran for help, +and of him he learnt the truth,—that both were lost to him, and were +together. The knowledge drove him to frenzy. Without a thought for his +father or mother, or anyone else who loved him, he begged and implored the +Enchanter to turn him into a stream too, that he might follow the others +and overtake them, and once again be with his lost love, or near her.</p> + +<p>At last the old Enchanter consented, and Tawridge was turned into a +swiftly flowing river; and there his troubles might have ended, and the +three friends have been reunited, but, as he was going back, Tawridge +mistook the way, and, instead of flowing towards the sea with Tamara and +Tavy, he rushed on wildly seeking them in the wrong direction. Calling to +them with heartbroken cries and moans, he hurried faster and faster in his +longing to overtake them, but always in the wrong direction, ever and ever +flowing farther from them, never to meet his lost love again.</p> + +<p>To this day the Tamar and the Tavy run always side by side, and the Taw, +still sighing and moaning sadly, rushes in the opposite direction, and +never can the enchantment be removed from Tamara and her lovers, until we, +having grown better and wiser, become friends again with the Big People +and the Little People we have driven from us by our ignorance and narrow +minds.</p> + + +<a name="2HCH0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE STRANGE STORY OF CHERRY HONEY.</h3> + + + +<p>Cherry Honey, with her father and mother, and a half-score of brothers and +sisters, lived in a little hut at Trereen, in the parish of Zennor. +They were very poor people, terribly poor, for all they had to live on was +what they could get out of a few acres of ground that they owned,—ground +as barren as any you could find thereabouts, and that is saying a good +deal. For food they lived mostly on fish and potatoes, except on Sundays, +when they had pork, and the broth it was boiled in; and twice a year, at +Christmas and Feast-day, they had, as a great luxury, white bread.</p> + +<p>Whether fish and potatoes make people strong, or whether the air at +Trereen was specially good, I can't tell, but sure enough it is that all +Tom Honey's children grew up into fine, handsome men and women, and not +one weakly one amongst them.</p> + +<p>They were a lively crew too, as merry as grigs in spite of the cold and +the hunger that they felt pretty often, and the liveliest and merriest of +the lot was Cherry. She was full of pranks and mischief, and led the +others a pretty life. When the miller's boy came to know if they wanted +to send any corn to be ground, Cherry would slip out, mount his horse, +which he left fastened up close by, and off she would go, racing as hard +as she could go all along the very edge of the cliff, and away to the +Downs, the miller's boy racing and yelling after her, but he might as well +have tried to catch a will-o'-the-wisp.</p> + +<p>So Cherry went on very happily, working very hard and playing too, until +she reached the age of sixteen or so, when she began to feel a wish to see +more life than that lonely moor provided, and have a change from the tiny +hut which could not hold a half of them comfortably. She wanted a new +gown too, her mother had promised it to her ever since she was thirteen, +and she had looked forward to it even more than she did to Feasten-Sunday, +for she had never had a new frock in her life. She could not enjoy +Feasten-Sunday either, unless she was dressed as nicely as other girls.</p> + +<p>Year after year, though, she was disappointed, there was no money and no +new dress, and poor Cherry had to content herself with a clean apron over +her shabby old frock, which had been patched and mended until there was +only one piece of the original left, and no one but Cherry herself could +have told which that was.</p> + +<p>She was not fit to go to church or to fair, and she felt it very hard that +she could never enjoy herself. And then, to make matters worse, her great +friend Tamsin Bray, who was a year younger than Cherry, had a beautiful +frock all trimmed with ribbons, and she wore it to Nancledry to the +preaching there, and had a fine time there, full of adventures and new +experiences, as she took care to tell poor Cherry when she came back, +making Cherry feel more dissatisfied than ever. She knew she was a +prettier girl than Tamsin, and would get more admiration if she only had +the chance.</p> + +<p>After that Cherry could no longer go on bearing things as they were. +If her mother couldn't buy her a new frock, she would go to work, and earn +one for herself, she determined. So she told her parents she was going to +look for a situation, and nothing they could say could make her change her +mind, so they gave up trying to.</p> + +<p>"Why don't 'ee try and get a place down to Towednack?" asked her mother, +who wanted her not to go far from home.</p> + +<p>"Iss, fay, mother," answered Cherry sharply, "a likely tale I'm going to +live in a place where the cow ate the bell-rope, and where they've nothing +but fish and taties all the year round, except Sundays, when they have +conger-pie! Dear no, I'm going where I can get butcher's meat sometimes, +and a bit of saffern cake when I wants it!"</p> + +<p>So Cherry packed up her few garments, which made but a very small bundle, +and started off, after promising her father not to go too far, and to come +home soon. She had been so restless and uneasy, that the poor man thought +she was bewitched, or something. He feared, too, that she might get +carried off by pirates, for there were many of them about Cornwall in +those days, and Cherry was an attractive-looking girl, and rather flighty, +as her mother often said.</p> + +<p>When Cherry had said 'good-bye' and kissed them all, and got outside, she +had not the slightest notion which way to go, so she took the road to +Ludgvan and Gulval, and walked on briskly enough for a time; but when she +turned round for a last look at the old home, and found that it was no +longer in sight, she felt so miserable that she had a very good mind to +turn round and go back. It was the first time she had ever been away, +and she felt very home-sick and lonesome. Indeed, the outlook was enough +to damp her spirits and even frighten her, for she had no friends to go +to, nor a situation. She did not even know where she should find shelter +that night, and she had only one penny in her pocket. However, she +started on again, and trudged along the lonely road until she came to the +four cross-roads on the Lady Downs.</p> + +<p>Here she paused again, and rested while she tried to make up her mind +which of the four roads she should take. All around her the Downs +stretched, looking bleak and wild; and all the stories she had ever heard +of highwaymen and pirates, witches and fairies, came rushing +helter-skelter through her poor brain until she felt too terrified to walk +on or to turn back; and at last she sat down on a big stone by the side of +the road and burst out crying.</p> + +<p>She did cry too, most bitterly, and never stopped until she had made up +her mind to retrace her steps, and go home as fast as she could go. +Having settled that, she felt much happier, and drying her eyes she +started up, only too anxious to get out of that great wilderness. +She wondered if her brothers and sisters would laugh at her. Yes, she +felt sure that they would, but she did not care, she told herself. +She would soon play them some trick that would make them laugh the other +side of their faces. Her father and mother would welcome her back gladly, +she knew.</p> + +<p>So she turned her face towards home, and was trying not to feel ashamed of +her want of pluck,—when she saw a gentleman on the road just ahead of +her, and walking towards her. She was astonished, and just a little +alarmed, for a moment before there was not a soul to be seen. She was so +astonished that she quite forgot her manners, and stood staring and +staring at the gentleman until he had come quite close to her. Then he +stared hard at Cherry, but it was not a rude stare, and he took off his +hat so politely, and smiled so pleasantly, that Cherry was quite +impressed.</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me the way to Towednack?" he asked in a voice as pleasant as +his smile.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Cherry, curtseying. "If you'll please to walk a +little way with me, sir, I'll put you in the right road."</p> + +<p>The gentleman thanked her, and as he walked along beside her, he asked +which way she was going, and where she lived, and he was so kind and had +such a pleasant way with him, that Cherry had soon told him her history, +and how she had left home to go to look for a 'place,' and how she had +felt so lonesome on the Downs, and so home-sick, that she had changed her +mind and was going straight back again.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is strange!" exclaimed the gentleman. "Of all the good luck +this is the greatest! I have come out to-day to see if I can find a good +active girl in one of the villages, for I want a servant; and here I find +just what I am looking for, a handsome, sharp young woman, cleanly and +honest."</p> + +<p>He could judge for himself what sort of a girl Cherry was, by her +appearance, and her clean, well-mended frock.</p> + +<p>He went on to tell her that he was a widower with one little boy, for whom +he wanted a nurse, and would Cherry come and take the post?</p> + +<p>He talked for a long time very earnestly and winningly. Cherry did not +understand a half that he said, but she understood enough to make her feel +that this would be a better situation for her than she had ever dreamed of +getting, and before very long she consented to go.</p> + +<p>The gentleman seemed very pleased, and away they started together at once, +the stranger talking very fast all the time, and making himself so +entertaining that Cherry never noticed how far they were going, nor in +what direction.</p> + +<p>They walked through such beautiful lanes that it was quite a pleasure to +be in them, hung as they were with honeysuckles and roses, and many other +beautiful flowers, such as Cherry rarely saw anywhere near her bleak home.</p> + +<p>By and by the light began to fail, which rather surprised Cherry, who had +no idea the day was so far gone. She had no watch or means of telling the +time, so she supposed it was all right, and that she had sat crying longer +than she thought. Presently they came to a river, and Cherry wondered how +she should cross it, for it had grown so dark by that time she could not +see stepping-stones, or bridge, or anything.</p> + +<p>However, while she was wondering, the gentleman just picked her up in his +arms and carried her across, and then on they walked again. They went +down, down and down a very steep lane now, a lane which got narrower and +narrower, and was so steep and long, Cherry thought it would never end. +Not that she minded much, for she did not feel tired, and the gentleman +had given her his arm, that she might not stumble, and she felt so excited +and happy she could have walked on through the sweet-scented darkness for +ever.</p> + +<p>She had not much further to go, though, for presently they came to a gate +which the gentleman opened. "This is your new home, Cherry," he said +kindly, and Cherry found herself suddenly in the most beautiful garden you +can imagine. It was full of lovely flowers and luscious fruits, while +flitting about everywhere, or perching on the trees, were birds of all +sizes and colours, tiny blue birds, large scarlet birds, some that flashed +like silver, and gold, and beaten copper, in the sunlight. For oddly +enough the sun was shining brightly in the garden, though it had long been +dark outside.</p> + +<p>Cherry stood and stared about her in open-eyed amazement. "Dear, dear," +she thought to herself, "'tis just like the fairy-tales Gammer tells us +winter evenings!" and she began to wonder if she could have got into an +enchanted place, and if she should presently see fairies, or enchanted +people there. But no, it could not be any fairy-tale, for there was her +new master standing by her as big as Farmer Chenoweth, and down the path +came running a little boy, calling "Papa! papa!" just as any ordinary +mortal child would.</p> + +<p>Though, as Cherry said afterwards, there was something uncanny about the +child, for he had such an odd, old face and expression, and eyes as +cunning as might be, and so bright and piercing they seemed to look you +through and through; yet he appeared to be no more than four years old.</p> + +<p>Before the child could reach them, an old woman came running out after +him, and seizing him by the arm dragged him roughly back to the house. +She was a bony, ill-tempered looking old woman, and before she retired, +grumbling at the child and shaking him, she favoured Cherry with such an +evil glance that the poor girl felt more than half inclined to turn and +run right away.</p> + +<p>"That's my late wife's grandmother," explained the widower; "she is a +cross-grained old catamaran, and the reason she eyed you so unpleasantly +is that she knows I have brought you here to take her place. Make haste +and learn your work, Cherry, for I want to send the cross old dame about +her business," which was hardly a respectful way in which to speak of his +grandmother-in-law.</p> + +<p>He took Cherry into the house, which was even more beautiful than the +garden; brilliant light, like sunshine, lighted up every room, flowers +grew everywhere, mirrors and pictures lined the walls, and as for the +ornaments, the carpets, curtains and other beautiful things, you could +never believe what their beauty was unless you could see them.</p> + +<p>"It is all so grand," said Cherry to herself, "'tis too much to take in +all at once. It makes my head swim, and I'd like something to eat for a +change." She was really very, very hungry, for she had had nothing to eat +all day but a slice of bread and treacle.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the thought come into her head, when Aunt Prudence,—as the old +grandmother was called,—began to lay a table with all kinds of delicious +food, to which she bade Cherry sit down and eat.</p> + +<p>Cherry did not require a second bidding, you may be quite sure, nor did +she stop until she had made a very good meal indeed. After that she was +told her duties. She was to sleep in the room with the child, and in the +morning to take him and bathe him in a spring in the garden. After she +had bathed him she was to anoint his eyes with some ointment she would +find in a little box in a cleft in the rock. She was to be very careful +indeed to put the little box back where she took it from, and on no +account to touch her own eyes with it. After that was all done she was to +milk the cow, and give the child a basin of the last milk she drew.</p> + +<p>You can imagine how all this raised Cherry's curiosity, and how she longed +to get the little boy to tell her about everything, but, as he always +threatened to tell Aunt Prudence, directly she asked him a question, +she thought it better to hold her tongue, and try to find out things for +herself.</p> + +<p>When she had been told all her duties, she was conducted to her room by +the old lady, who bade her keep her eyes shut, whether she was asleep or +not, or she might wish too late that she had. She forbade her, too, to +talk to the child about anything. So Cherry was rather frightened by the +time she got to bed, and until she fell asleep she kept her eyes and her +mouth fast closed, but fortunately, thanks to her tiring day and her good +supper, she did not stay awake long.</p> + +<p>The next morning as soon as she was awake she got up and began her work, +but when she had bathed the boy in the stream to which he led her, and had +put the ointment on his eyes, she did not know how to set about her next +task, for there was not a cow to be seen anywhere.</p> + +<p>"Call her," said the boy, when she told him her trouble. So Cherry +called, "Coo-o, coo-o, coo-o-o," just as she did at home, and at once a +pretty sleek cow came from somewhere,—it might have been out of the +ground, as far as Cherry could tell. Anyhow, there she was, and Cherry +sat down and milked her, and gave the boy his breakfast, and when she had +done the cow walked away again and disappeared.</p> + +<p>After that Cherry went indoors, where the Grandmother provided her with a +big breakfast all to herself, after which she told her of some more of her +duties. Cherry was to keep in the kitchen, and clean the pots and pans +with water and sand, scald the milk, make the butter, and do anything else +she was told. Above all she was to avoid curiosity, to keep to the +kitchen, and never try to enter or look into a room that was locked.</p> + +<p>Cherry felt that this was very hard, for, as I said before, she was full +of curiosity, and wanted to find out all she could about these strange +people she had got amongst. She could scarcely endure old Aunt Prudence +with her scoldings and growlings, for the old woman never ceased grumbling +at both the girl and her grandson-in-law for bringing her there.</p> + +<p>"I knew Robin would bring some stupid thing from Zennor," she would say, +and she would scowl at Cherry until the girl grew quite nervous. +She tried to get as far away from the old woman as she could, but, as +Cherry said, the old soul seemed to have eyes all over her head, for she +always had one on Cherry, no matter where she was or what she was doing.</p> + +<p>The happiest time of Cherry's life here was when her housework was done, +and her master called to her to come and help him in the garden; for he +was always kind and gentle to her, and always rewarded her with a word of +praise.</p> + +<p>Aunt Prudence, though, was not always a cross old tyrant; she had her +kinder moods, and in one of them she told Cherry that if she was a good +girl, and did her work quickly, she would take her into those parts of the +house where she had been forbidden to go, and show her some of the +wonderful sights of the place!</p> + +<p>Oh, how delighted Cherry was, and how she did hurry through her work! +She felt that now she was going to be made happy for the rest of her life, +and would have nothing left to wish for. She got through her work so +quickly, that it was still quite early when they started off together on +their sight-seeing.</p> + +<p>First of all they came to a door opening out of a passage, and here Aunt +Prudence told Cherry to take off her shoes. This done, they opened the +door and entered, letting it fall silently behind them. The passage was +very low and very dark, and Cherry, who had to feel her way by the wall, +felt rather nervous, for she could not see where her next step would take +her. Before very long, though, they came to a room where the light was +bright, it was a beautiful room, with a floor like glass, but, oh, how +frightened Cherry was when she stepped into it! for ranged all round the +walls, on shelves or on the floor, were a lot of people turned to stone. +Some had no arms, others no legs, while of others there were only the head +and shoulders. Some heads had no ears, others had no noses, and some few +were without either.</p> + +<p>Oh, it was a horrid sight, and Cherry was terribly frightened lest they +should all come to life suddenly, and set on her and tear off her limbs +too. She told Aunt Prudence, "she was mortal fear't of 'em, for she'd +heard tell on 'em up to Zennor, and everybody said there was never no +knowing what they wouldn't be up to. She'd thought all along that she'd +got in with the Little People, only her master was such a fine upstanding +man, she'd never have took him for a fairy."</p> + +<p>Aunt Prudence only laughed at her, and seeing that she really was afraid, +took a greater pleasure in making her go further. There was a +curious-looking thing standing in the room, like a coffin on six legs, and +this Aunt Prudence insisted on Cherry's giving a good polishing to. +So Cherry had to set to and rub it with all her might and main, for she +dared not disobey the old lady; but the more she rubbed the more the old +lady scolded her to rub harder, and Cherry rubbed harder and harder and +harder, until at last she nearly upset the thing. She threw out her arms +and seized, but as it tottered it gave out the most soul-piercing, +unearthly yell it was possible for anyone ever to hear.</p> + +<p>"They'm coming to life! They'm coming to life!" shrieked out Cherry, and +from sheer fright she fell on the floor in a fit.</p> + +<p>All this noise and uproar reached the master's ears, and up he came, +to know what it was all about. And oh, he was angry when he found out. +First of all he ordered old Aunt Prudence out of the house then and there, +and then he picked up Cherry and carried her to the kitchen, where he soon +brought her to her senses again, but, strangely enough, she could not +remember what had happened, or why she was there. Her memory of what she +had seen had quite gone, and though she was always afraid, after that, to +go into that part of the house again, she could not remember in the least +why it was, or anything that had happened there.</p> + +<p>Cherry felt much happier now, and did not worry herself about it, for Aunt +Prudence and her terrifying eye were gone, and she was left sole mistress. +So time passed on, and Cherry's master was so kind to her that the days +flew by like hours, and very soon a whole year was gone.</p> + +<p>During all this time she had never once thought of her home, or her +parents, or her old life. She had everything she could wish, and you +would have thought she was bound to be happy; but no, nothing of the sort! +She soon grew accustomed to her happiness, and then she began to want the +things she had not got. Her curiosity increased every day. She longed to +know more about the mysterious part of the house, and a hundred other +things that she should never have troubled her head about.</p> + +<p>She was particularly anxious to find out all about her master, for his +movements were certainly very strange, and puzzled Cherry. He went off +every morning soon after his early breakfast, and when he came back he +shut himself into the room where the stone figures were, and Cherry was +certain, for she had crept up and listened at the door, that she could +hear him talking to them!</p> + +<p>What <i>could</i> she do to get to know more, she wondered. She thought and +thought, and then one day her thoughts flew to the ointment. She had +often noticed how very bright and peculiar the little boy's eyes became +after she had anointed them, and that he often seemed able to see things +that were hidden from her.</p> + +<p>Cherry grew very excited, she felt sure she had discovered the secret. +So the next morning, after she had bathed him and given him his breakfast, +she sent him away to play for a few minutes, and whisking out the ointment +pot again, she brushed the least bit of it over one of her eyes with the +tip of her finger.</p> + +<p>Oh, how it burned and smarted! and oh, how she did rub her eye and try to +get the nasty stuff out! But it would not come. She ran to the stream +and knelt down to bathe it,—and as she knelt and looked in the water she +saw, at the very bottom, dozens and dozens of little people, playing and +dancing, and enjoying themselves as though they were on dry land. +And there, too, as gay as any, and as small as any, was her master +himself. Bewildered and frightened, Cherry sprang to her feet, but as she +turned to run she saw everything was changed. There were Little People +everywhere, hanging on the trees overhead, swarming over the ground at her +feet, swinging on the flowers, some astride the stalks, others curled up +in the cups, all exquisitely dressed, and flashing with gold and jewels; +and all as merry as crickets.</p> + +<p>Cherry thought she was bewitched sure enough, and she was so frightened +she did not know what to do.</p> + +<p>At night back rode her master, as big and handsome as ever, and very +unlike the little piskyman she had seen at the bottom of the water. +He went straight up to the locked-up room where the stone figures were, +and very soon Cherry heard sounds of most lovely music issuing thence. +So things went on day after day, the widower rode off every morning +dressed as any ordinary gentleman would be to follow the hounds, and never +came back again until night, when he retired at once to his own rooms.</p> + +<p>All this was almost too much for poor Cherry's brain. She felt that if +she did not find out more, she should die of curiosity. Knowing so much +only made her long to know more.</p> + +<p>At last, one night after her master had gone to the enchanted room, Cherry +crept up to the door, and instead of only listening at it as usual, she +knelt down and peeped through the keyhole, which, for once, was not +covered.</p> + +<p>Inside the room she saw her master in the midst of a number of ladies, +some of whom were singing, and their voices sounded like silver bells; +others were walking about, but one, the most beautiful of all, was sitting +at the coffin on six legs, performing on it as though it were a piano. +She had long dark hair streaming right down to the floor, and a blue gown +all trimmed with sparkling silver, her shoes were blue with diamond stars +on the toes, and round her neck she had a string of turquoises set in +diamonds.</p> + +<p>Poor Cherry was very much hurt and mortified when she saw her beloved +master with all those lovely ladies, but oh, how miserable she felt when +she saw him kiss the lovely lady in blue and silver! She did not say +anything, though,—indeed, she had no one to speak to,—and she went about +her work as usual, but the next morning when her master came into the +garden and began to talk to her as usual she answered him quite shortly +and rudely, and when he asked her what was the matter with her, she told +him to leave her to herself. If he wanted to talk he could go and talk to +the Little People he was so fond of.</p> + +<p>Her master was very much surprised and annoyed when he heard this, for he +knew that she had been disobedient, and had used the Fairy Ointment. +He did not scold her, though, but he told her simply and mournfully, and +in a tone which gave her no hope, that they must part.</p> + +<p>"You will have to go home, Cherry; you have disobeyed my orders. I can +have no one spying and watching me. I must send you away, my child." +He spoke so sadly that Cherry's heart felt as though it must break. +"And I must have Aunt Prudence back," he added, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>Very, very unhappy was poor Cherry when she went to bed that night, and +she had only just cried herself to sleep when her master came and woke +her, telling her to get up and dress. Without a word, but choked with +sobs, she obeyed him, and when she was ready she found him waiting for +her, with a lantern and a large bundle of beautiful clothes that he had +tied up for her.</p> + +<p>As soon as they had had some food they started, and miles and miles and +miles they walked, for the way seemed ten times as long as when they came. +For one thing it was all uphill now, and for another, Cherry's heart was +heavy, and a heavy heart makes heavy feet.</p> + +<p>It was nearly daybreak when at last they reached the Lady Downs, and came +to a standstill. The sun was just rising over the great lonely moor.</p> + +<p>"We must part now, my poor child," said her master. "You are severely +punished for your curiosity, but it cannot be otherwise. Good-bye, +Cherry; do your duty, and try to get the better of your failing, and if +you are a good girl I will come to these Downs sometimes to see you."</p> + +<p>Then kissing her, he turned away and disappeared as suddenly as he had +first appeared.</p> + +<p>Dazed and stupefied, scarcely able to realize all the trouble that had +befallen her, Cherry sat for a long time where he had left her. In her +thoughts she went over and over her happy life for the past year, all that +she had had, and lost. By and by the sun came out in its full strength +and warmed her, and roused her sufficiently to look about her, and wonder +what she should do next, for, of course, she could not stay where she was.</p> + +<p>Presently she noticed that she was sitting on the very same stone at the +cross-roads where, on the day she left home, she had sat and cried, and +the strange gentleman had first appeared to her. The recollection brought +back to her more painfully than ever her own foolishness and wickedness, +and all that she had lost, and oh, how miserable she did feel, and how she +cried and cried, and how she longed and longed for her dear, good master +to come again and forgive her.</p> + +<p>He did not come, though, and by and by, as the day had worn far on, Cherry +felt that she had better seek her home before nightfall. Listlessly +enough she rose and trudged along the old familiar roads to her father's +house, with miserable eyes she recognized the old landmarks, but without +any pleasure, until at last she came to the poor little hut she called +'home.' It looked poorer, and meaner, and more comfortless than ever, +after the luxuries she had grown accustomed to. Her mother and all the +rest of them were sitting at dinner when Cherry opened the door. +At the sound of the latch Mrs. Honey looked up, and gave one big screech.</p> + +<p>"Why, 'tis Cherry!" she cried, "or her ghost! Cross her, father. Cross +her!" And when Cherry, taking no notice of her screams, advanced into the +kitchen, they all backed away from her, one on top of another, each trying +to get behind someone else, for they had long since made up their minds +that Cherry was dead, and never for a moment dreamed that this apparition +was Cherry herself, living flesh and blood.</p> + +<p>Not until she flopped into a chair, saying wearily, "Give me a dish of +tay, mother, for goodness sake, I'm so wisht I don't know how to bear with +myself."</p> + +<p>"Tisn't no ghost, mother," cried Tom Honey, his courage reviving; "no +ghost would want such poor trade as tay."</p> + +<p>Then the others plucked up their spirits, too, and crowded round her, +asking a dozen questions, and all at the same time; and for the sake of +peace and quiet Cherry told them her wonderful adventures from the day she +left them, and, as was to be expected, not one believed a word of it.</p> + +<p>"The maid's mazed," said her father, and the others agreed. But as time +went on Cherry repeated the tale so often, and always the same; and she +cried so bitterly for her master and his little boy, that they were +obliged to believe her, in spite of themselves. "There must be some truth +in it," they said, "it couldn't all be fancy."</p> + +<p>Poor Cherry! She was never happy again after her experience. Many people +said she was bewitched, others declared she was wrong in her mind, but +that was only because whenever there was a moonlight night, she wandered +on the Lady Downs hour after hour, longing and hoping to see her master. +For hours together, too, she would sit on the stone at the four +cross-roads, in sunshine or snow, wind or rain, with the tears coursing +down her cheeks, and such a pain at her heart, that she hardly knew how to +endure it.</p> + +<p>He never came, though. To all appearances he had entirely forgotten poor, +faulty Cherry, and by and by she died, unable to bear the loneliness any +longer.</p> + + + +<a name="2HCH0005"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE FAIRIES ON THE GUMP.</h3> + + +<p>Down by St. Just, not far from Cape Cornwall and the sea, is a small +hill,—or a very large mound would, perhaps, be the truer description,— +called 'The Gump,' where the Small People used to hold their revels, and +where our grandfathers and grandmothers used to be allowed to stand and +look on and listen.</p> + +<p>In those good old times fairies and ordinary people were all good friends +together, and it is because they were all such friends and trusted one +another so, that our grandfathers and grandmothers were able to tell their +grandchildren so many tales about fairies, and piskies, and buccas, and +all the rest of the Little People.</p> + +<p>People believed in the Fairies in those days, so the Fairies in return +often helped the people, and did them all sorts of kindnesses. Indeed, +they would do so now if folks had not grown so learned and disbelieving. +It seems strange that because they have got more knowledge of some +matters, they should have grown more ignorant of others, and declare that +there never were such things as Fairies, just because they have neither +the eyes nor the minds to see them!</p> + +<p>Of course, no one could expect the sensitive little creatures to appear +when they are sneered at and scoffed at. All the same, though, they are +as much about us as ever they were, and if you or I, who do believe in the +Little People, were to go to the Gump on the right nights at the right +hour, we should see them feasting and dancing and holding their revels +just as of old. If, though, you do go, you must be very careful to keep +at a distance, and not to trespass on their fairy ground, for that is a +great offence, and woe be to you if you offend them!</p> + +<p>There was, once upon a time, a grasping, mean old fellow who did so, and +pretty well he was punished for his daring. It is his story I am going to +tell you, but I will not tell you his name, for that would be unpleasant +for his descendants, but I will tell you this much,—he was a St. Just +man, and no credit to the place either, I am sure.</p> + +<p>Well, this old man used to listen to the tales the people told of the +Fairies and their riches, and their wonderful treasures, until he could +scarcely bear to hear any more, he longed so to have some of those riches +for himself; and at last his covetousness grew so great, he said to +himself he must and would have some, or he should die of vexation.</p> + +<p>So one night, when the Harvest Moon was at the full, he started off alone, +and very stealthily, to walk to the Gump, for he did not want his +neighbours to know anything at all about his plans. He was very nervous, +for it is a very desolate spot, but his greed was greater than his fear, +and he made himself go forward, though he longed all the time to turn tail +and hurry home to the safe shelter of his house and his bed.</p> + +<p>When he was still at some distance from the enchanted spot, strains of the +most exquisite music anyone could possibly imagine reached his ear, and as +he stood listening it seemed to come nearer and nearer until, at last, +it was close about him. The most wonderful part, though, of it all was +that there was nothing to be seen, no person, no bird, not an animal even. +The empty moor stretched away on every side, the Gump lay bare and +desolate before him. The only living being on it that night was himself.</p> + +<p>The music, indeed, seemed to come from under the ground, and such strange +music it was, too, so gentle, so touching, it made the old miser weep, in +spite of himself, and then, even while the tears were still running down +his cheeks, he was forced to laugh quite merrily, and even to dance, +though he certainly did not want to do either. After that it was not +surprising that he found himself marching along, step and step, keeping +time with the music as it played, first slowly and with stately tread, +then fast and lively.</p> + +<p>All the time, though, that he was laughing and weeping, marching or +dancing, his wicked mind was full of thoughts as to how he should get at +the fairy treasure.</p> + +<p>At last, when he got close to the Gump, the music ceased, and suddenly, +with a loud crashing noise which nearly scared the old man out of his +senses, the whole hill seemed to open as if by magic, and in one instant +every spot was lighted up. Thousands of little lights of all colours +gleamed everywhere, silver stars twinkled and sparkled on every +furze-bush, tiny lamps hung from every blade of grass. It was a more +lovely sight than one ever sees nowadays, more lovely than any pantomime +one has ever seen or ever will see. Then, out from the open hill marched +troops of little Spriggans.</p> + +<p>Spriggans, you must know, are the Small People who live in rocks and +stones, and cromlechs, the most mischievous, thievish little creatures +that ever lived, and woe betide anyone who meddles with their +dwelling-places.</p> + +<p>Well, first came all those Spriggans, then a large band of musicians +followed by troops of soldiers, each troop carrying a beautiful banner, +which waved and streamed out as though a brisk breeze were blowing, +whereas in reality there was not a breath of wind stirring.</p> + +<p>These hosts of Little People quickly took up their places in perfect order +all about the Gump, and, though they appeared quite unconscious of his +presence, a great number formed a ring all round the old man. He was +greatly amazed, but, "Never mind," he thought, "they are such little +whipper-snappers I can easily squash them with my foot if they try on any +May-games with me."</p> + +<p>As soon as the musicians, the Spriggans, and the soldiers had arranged +themselves, out came a lot of servants carrying most lovely gold and +silver vessels, goblets, too, cut out of single rubies, and diamonds, and +emeralds, and every kind of precious stone. Then came others bearing rich +meats and pastry, luscious fruits and preserves, everything, in fact, that +one could think of that was dainty and appetizing. Each servant placed +his burden on the tables in its proper place, then silently retired.</p> + +<p>Can you not imagine how the glorious scene dazzled the old man, and how +his eyes glistened, and his fingers itched to grab at some of the +wonderful things and carry them off? He knew that even one only of those +flashing goblets would make him rich for ever.</p> + +<p>He was just thinking that nowhere in the world could there be a more +beautiful sight, when, lo and behold! the illumination became twenty times +as brilliant, and out of the hill came thousands and thousands of +exquisitely dressed ladies and gentlemen, all in rows, each gentleman +leading a lady, and all marching in perfect time and order.</p> + +<p>They came in companies of a thousand each, and each company was +differently attired. In the first the gentlemen were all dressed in +yellow satin covered with copper-coloured spangles, on their heads they +wore copper-coloured helmets with waving, yellow plumes, and on their feet +yellow shoes with copper heels. The flashing of the copper in the +moonlight was almost blinding. Their companions all were dressed alike in +white satin gowns edged with large turquoises, and on their tiny feet pale +blue shoes with buckles formed of one large turquoise set in pearls.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen conducted the ladies to their places on the Gump, and with a +courtly bow left them, themselves retiring to a little distance. The next +troop then came up, in this the gentlemen were all attired in black, +trimmed with silver, silver helmets with black plumes, black stockings and +silver shoes. Their ladies were dressed in pink embroidered in gold, with +waving pink plumes in their hair, and golden buckles on their pink shoes. +In the next troop the men were dressed in blue and white, the ladies in +green, with diamonds all around the hem of the gown, diamonds flashing in +their hair, and hanging in long ropes from their necks; on their green +shoes single diamonds blazed and flashed.</p> + +<p>So they came, troop after troop, more than I can describe, or you could +remember, only I must tell you that the last of all were the most lovely. +The ladies, all of whom had dark hair, were clad in white velvet lined +with the palest violet silk, while round the hems of the skirts and on the +bodices were bands of soft white swansdown. Swansdown also edged the +little violet cloaks which hung from their shoulders. I cannot describe +to you how beautiful they looked, with their rosy, smiling faces, and long +black curls. On their heads they wore little silver crowns set with +amethysts, amethysts, too, sparkled on their necks and over their gowns. +In their hands they carried long trails of the lovely blossom of the +wistaria. Their companions were clad in white and green, and in their +left hands they carried silver rods with emerald stars at the top.</p> + +<p>It really seemed at one time as though the troops of Little People would +never cease pouring out of the hill. They did so at last, though, and as +soon as all were in their places the music suddenly changed, and became +more exquisite than ever.</p> + +<p>The old man by this time seemed able to see more clearly, and hear more +distinctly, and his sense of smell grew keener. Never were such flashing +gems as here, never had any flowers such scents as these that were here.</p> + +<p>There were now thousands of little ladies gathered on the Gump, and these +all broke out into song at the same instant, such beautiful singing, too, +so sweet and delicate. The words were in an unknown tongue, but the song +was evidently about some great personages who were about to emerge from +the amazing hill, for again it opened, and again poured forth a crowd of +Small People.</p> + +<p>First of all came a bevy of little girls in white gauze, scattering +flowers, which, as soon as they touched the ground, sprang up into full +life and threw out leaves and more flowers, full of exquisite scents; then +came a number of boys playing on shells as though they were harps, +and making ravishing music, while after them came hundreds and hundreds of +little men clad in green and gold, followed by a perfect forest of banners +spreading and waving on the air.</p> + +<p>Then last, but more beautiful than all that had gone before, was carried a +raised platform covered with silk embroidered with real gold, and edged +with crystals, and on the platform were seated a prince and princess of +such surpassing loveliness that no words can be found to describe them. +They were dressed in the richest velvet, and covered with precious stones +which blazed and sparkled in the myriad lights until the eye could scarce +bear to look at them.</p> + +<p>Over her lovely robe the princess's hair flowed down to the floor, where +it rested in great shining, golden waves. In her hand she held a golden +sceptre, on the top of which blazed a diamond as large as a walnut, while +the prince carried one with a sapphire of equal size. After a deal of +marching backwards and forwards, the platform was placed on the highest +point of the Gump, which was now a hill of flowers, and every fairy walked +up and bowed, said something to the prince and princess, and passed on to +a seat at the tables. And the marvel was that though there were so many +fairies present, there was not the slightest confusion amongst them, not +one person moved out of place at the wrong moment. All was as quiet and +well-arranged as could possibly be.</p> + +<p>At length all were seated, whereupon the prince gave a signal, on which a +number of footmen came forward carrying a table laden with dainty food in +solid gold dishes, and wines in goblets of precious stones which they +placed on the platform before the prince and princess. As soon as the +royal pair began to eat, all the hosts around them followed their example, +and such a merry, jovial meal they had. The viands disappeared as fast as +they could go, laughter and talk sounded on all sides, and never a sign +did any of them give that they knew that a human being was watching them. +If they knew it, they showed not the slightest concern.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" thought the old miser to himself. "I can't get all I'd like to, but +if I could reach up to the prince's table I could get enough at one grab +to set me up for life, and make me the richest man in St. Just parish!"</p> + +<p>Stooping down, he slowly and stealthily dragged himself nearer and nearer +to the table. He felt quite sure that no one could see him. What he +himself did not see was that hundreds of wicked little Spriggans had tied +ropes on to him, and were holding fast to the ends. He crawled and +crawled so slowly and carefully that it took him some time to get over the +ground, but he managed it at last, and got quite close up to the lovely +little pair. Once there he paused for a moment and looked back,—perhaps +to see if the way was clear for him to run when he had done what he meant +to do. He was rather startled to find that all was as dark as dark could +be, and that he could see nothing at all behind him. However, he tried to +cheer himself by thinking that it was only that his eyes were dazzled by +looking at the bright lights so long. He was even more startled, though, +when he turned round to the Gump again, to find that every eye of all +those hundreds and thousands of fairies on the hill was looking straight +into his eyes.</p> + +<p>At first he was really frightened, but as they did nothing but look, he +told himself that they could not really be gazing at him, and grew braver +with the thought. Then slowly bringing up his hat, as a boy does to catch +a butterfly, he was just going to bring it down on the silken platform and +capture prince and princess, table, gold dishes and all, when hark! +A shrill whistle sounded, the old man's hand, with the hat in it, was +paralysed in the air, so that he could not move it backwards or forwards, +and in an instant every light went out, and all was pitchy darkness.</p> + +<p>There were a whir-r-r and a buzz, and a whir-r-r, as if a swarm of bees +were flying by him, and the old man felt himself fastened so securely to +the ground that, do what he would, he could not move an inch, and all the +time he felt himself being pinched, and pricked, and tweaked from top to +toe, so that not an inch of him was free from torment. He was lying on +his back at the foot of the Gump, though how he got there he could never +tell. His arms were stretched out and fastened down, so that he could not +do anything to drive off his tormentors, his legs were so secured that he +could not even relieve himself by kicking, and his tongue was tied with +cords, so that he could not call out.</p> + +<p>There he lay, no one knows how long, for to him it seemed hours, and no +one else but the fairies knew anything about it. At last he felt a lot of +little feet running over him, but whose they were he had no idea until +something perched on his nose, and by the light of the moon he saw it was +a Spriggan. His wicked old heart sank when he realized that he had got +into their clutches, for all his life he had heard what wicked little +creatures they were.</p> + +<p>The little imp on his nose kicked and danced and stamped about in great +delight at finding himself perched up so high. We all know how painful it +is to have one's nose knocked, even ever so little, so you may imagine +that the old miser did not enjoy himself at all. Master Spriggan did, +though. He roared with laughter, as though he were having a huge joke, +until at last, rising suddenly to his feet and standing on the tips of his +tiny toes, he shouted sharply, "Away! away! I smell the day!" and to the +old man's great relief off he flew in a great hurry, followed by all his +mischievous little companions who had been playing games, and running +races all over their victim's body.</p> + +<p>Left at last to himself, the mortified old man lay for some time, thinking +over all that had happened, trying to collect his senses, and wondering +how he should manage to escape from his bonds, for he might lie there for +a week without any human being coming near the place.</p> + +<p>Till sunrise he lay there, trying to think of some plan, and then, what do +you think he saw? Why, that he had not been tied down by ropes at all, +but only by thousands of gossamer webs! And there they were now, all over +him, with the dew on them sparkling like the diamonds that the princess +had worn the night before. And those dewdrop diamonds were all the jewels +he got for his night's work.</p> + +<p>When he made this discovery he turned over and groaned and wept with rage +and shame, and never, to his dying day, could he bear to look at sparkling +gold or gems, for the mere sight of them made him feel quite ill.</p> + +<p>At last, afraid lest he should be missed, and searchers be sent out to +look for him, he got up, brushed off the dewy webs, and putting on his +battered old hat, crept slowly home. He was wet through with dew, cold, +full of rheumatism, and very ashamed of himself, and very good care he +took to keep that night's experiences to himself. No one must know his +shame.</p> + +<p>Years after, though, when he had become a changed man, and repented of his +former greediness, he let out the story bit by bit to be a lesson to +others, until his friends and neighbours, who loved to listen to anything +about fairies, had gathered it all as I have told it to you here. And you +may be quite sure it is all true, for the old man was not clever enough to +invent it.</p> + + + +<a name="2HCH0006"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE FAIRY OINTMENT.</h3> + + +<p>Now I will tell you a story of a very foolish woman, whose curiosity got +the better of her, and of how she was punished.</p> + +<p>The old woman's Christian name was Joan. I will not tell her surname, +for it does not make any difference to the story, and there may be +some of her descendants left who would not like it to be known. +Joan was housekeeper to Squire Lovell. The name of his house shall be +kept a secret too, but I will tell you this much, that he lived a few +miles out of Penzance.</p> + +<p>Now one Saturday afternoon it fell out that Joan wanted to go to Penzance +Market to get herself a pair of shoes, and to buy some groceries and +several Christmas things for the house, for it was Christmas Eve, and the +Squire had a lot of folks coming to supper that very night. So, the +weather being fine, Joan started off soon after her twelve o'clock dinner, +to walk into Penzance to market. Having, though, a great fancy for +company, and loving a little gossip, she thought she would step in on her +way to see if her friend Betty Trenance was going to market too. +It would be so nice to have each other's company on the way.</p> + +<p>Now many persons in those parts told some very queer stories about Betty +Trenance, and amongst themselves some called her a witch, and were afraid +of her. Joan, though, argued that if she was a witch, there was all the +more reason for keeping friendly with her. And if one did not offend +Betty, she was always ready to give one a cup of tea, or do anything to +oblige one.</p> + +<p>Betty lived down at Lamorna Cove, which was a little way out of Joan's +road, but she did not mind that if she could get Betty's company. +She walked quickly, though, for the days were short, and she had a long +way to go, and to be back in time to cook the Squire's supper. +On her way she met two of Betty's elder children carrying baskets of fish +on their backs, and down in the Cove she saw all the younger ones at play +with the limpets and crabs in the rock-pools, and paddling about in the +water. But she could not stay to watch them, for she had no time to +spare, so she hurried on to the cottage.</p> + +<p>When she got there, though, to her astonishment she found the front door +was closed and fastened, not only latched either, but bolted! This was +such an unusual thing in those parts, that Joan was quite startled. +At first she thought something must really have gone amiss, then she +comforted herself by deciding that Betty had already started for the +market, and had locked the children out to keep them from ransacking the +place. Just, though, as she had settled all this in her mind, and was +about to turn away, the sound of voices reached her, and voices talking +very earnestly, too.</p> + +<p>Joan looked round her nervously, the voices sounded quite near to her, but +there was no sight or sign of any living thing except some seagulls, +and Betty's old black cat.</p> + +<p>What did it all mean? Joan was frightened, but her curiosity made her +stay and try to get to the bottom of the mystery. She stood quite still +and listened very closely. Yes, there were the voices again, plainly +enough, but where? She tiptoed close up to the door and placed her ear +against the keyhole. This time she heard Tom Trenance's voice quite +distinctly,—Tom was Betty's husband. He was talking very earnestly to +someone too, more earnestly than she had ever heard him speak in her life +before, but, try as she would, she could not make out to whom he was +speaking, nor what he was saying.</p> + +<p>This was more than inquisitive Joan could endure. She must know what was +going on in that cottage, or she would know no peace day or night, for +thinking about it. So she made up her mind to knock and knock until those +inside were obliged to come to the door, but first of all she thought she +would have a peep in through the finger-hole by the latch. So she stooped +down and put her eye to the hole, and there she saw Tom sitting on the +settle, and after all it was only Betty that he was talking to.</p> + +<p>Betty was standing beside him with a little box in her hand, from which +she took something that looked like ointment, which she smeared over her +husband's eyes, and all the time she did it she seemed to be mumbling some +verses or something that sounded like a charm. There seemed to be other +voices as well, though, and to Joan's great annoyance she could not see +from whence they came.</p> + +<p>All this put old Joan in a fearful flutter. People had always told her +that Betty was a witch, and that Tom had the power of the evil eye, and +now she began to believe them. You would not have thought so to look at +him, for though they were very piercing, they were handsome hazel eyes, +clear and kind-looking,—unless he was angered, and <i>then</i>—</p> + +<p>Completely mystified, and more inquisitive than ever, Joan went round to +the window by the chimney, to see if from there she could hear what they +were saying; but it was of no use. The door of the cottage was on the +landward side, and the windows of the cottage were to seaward, and round +the kitchen window was a great bush of honeysuckle and 'Traveller's Joy,' +which prevented anyone's getting quite close, and what with the sound of +the sea, the singing of the birds, and the shouting of the children below, +one might as well have been a mile off, for all one could hear!</p> + +<p>Back tiptoed Joan again, and sat down on the bench outside the house to +think, but her curiosity would not let her keep still, so up she jumped +again, and peeped through the door once more. This time she saw that Tom +was standing up, preparing to come out; so not wanting to be caught +prying, she tapped at the door, and lifting the latch at the same time, +walked in as if she had but that moment arrived. She was so excited by +what she was doing that she did not notice that the door opened quite +easily now. She went in so quickly, too, that she was just in time to see +Betty push something under the dried ferns at the back of the chimney.</p> + +<p>After saying "good day," and hearing what she had come for, Tom went out, +leaving them to make their plans by themselves, but Betty, though she +seemed pleased to see her friend, could not be persuaded to go to market +with her. She was very sorry, she said, but she was very bad, she had not +been well for days, and she still had a good day's work to get through +making ready for Christmas. She was not too busy, though, to make a cup +of tea, and Joan must stay and have one with her, and away she bustled to +the talfat,[1] where she had a special case of tea put away. This was +Joan's opportunity, and she seized it. As soon as Betty's back was +turned, she whipped the pot of ointment out from under the ferns, stuck +her finger in it, and popped the pot back again, in no time. But no +sooner had she touched her eye with the ointment than, oh! such a pain +shot through it, she very nearly shrieked aloud. It was as though a +red-hot knitting needle had been run right through her eyeball! +And, oh, the smarting and the burning that followed! To prevent a sound +escaping her she had to hug and squeeze herself with all her might, she +dared not open her lips to speak, and the tears poured down her cheeks +like rain.</p> + +<p>It was lucky for her that Betty had some trouble in dragging the chest of +tea from under the bed, for if she had come back quickly she could not +have helped seeing what Joan had been doing. By the time she returned, +though, the worst of the pain was over, and keeping up her hand to that +side of her face, Joan managed to conceal the injured eye, and Betty was +too busy with her fire and her kettle to be very observant.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you came in to have a cup with me, and drink my health, it being +Christmas Eve and all," said Betty as they drew up to the table. +Then, having drunk each other's health, they had a third cup to drink the +health of the children, for, as Joan said, "there wasn't a healthier, +handsomer family in the whole parish." Then they drank the health of the +mermaids, for it is always wise to be civil to them, and after that Joan +rose to go.</p> + +<p>Before she could go, though, she felt she must manage to open her injured +eye, which still watered and smarted a good deal. So she rubbed it and +blinked and winked until at last she managed to part the lids,—when, lo +and behold! to her amazement and alarm she saw that the house, which she +had thought empty save for herself and Betty, was simply thronged with +Little People!</p> + +<p>There was not a spot that was free of them! They were climbing up the +dressers, hanging on to the beams, swinging on the fishing nets, hanging +across them, playing pranks on the clock, on the table, and the +mantelpiece, sliding down the saucepan handles, riding races on mice,— +they were everywhere, in fact, and up to every kind of game.</p> + +<p>They were all very beautifully dressed. Most of the little men wore green +velvet, trimmed with scarlet, and their long green caps, which most of +them were waving frantically, had long scarlet feathers in them. +They all wore little red boots, too, and large silver spurs,—at least, +large for fairies.</p> + +<p>The ladies were very consequential little people indeed, and swept about +in their long-trained gowns as though they were Court ladies at a +Drawing-room. On their little shoes they had diamond buckles, and their +great steeple-crowned hats were garlanded with beautiful flowers. +Such flowers as are seldom seen on Christmas Eve, but the Little People +have gardens under the sea where the flowers bloom in wonderful beauty all +the year round. Fishermen see them sometimes on moonlight nights, when +the water is clear and the wind calm, and if they listen closely they can +hear exquisite fairy music floating across the waters from bay to bay.</p> + +<p>Back in the corner by Betty's wood heap were a lot of Spriggans, poor +depressed little creatures, dirty and sullen-looking. They were not +lively like the others, for you know they have to guard the Fairy +treasures all the year round, and they get no fun at all, as other fairies +do. So they are naturally not very lively.</p> + +<p>While Joan was standing gazing, open-mouthed, bewildered by what she saw, +strains of the most beautiful music reached her ears, and gradually a +change began to come over the whole house. It was no wonder that she +thought her head was turned! The music came nearer and nearer, and +mingling with it was the tramp of hundreds of little feet; at last it came +quite close, and through the window marched a regiment of robins as +unconcernedly as a regiment of soldiers entering their barracks. +Quite gravely they stepped down from the window, marched across the room, +and flew up to the beam, where they perched themselves in perfect order, +and began to sing as hard as they possibly could. In a moment or two they +were followed through the window by a regiment of wrens, and then by a +regiment of Little People, all playing on every kind of musical instrument +ever invented, and on a number made out of reeds, and shells, such as had +never been seen before or since.</p> + +<p>Stepping down gracefully from the window to the floor, the band, followed +by numbers of little ladies and gentlemen, carrying branches of herbs and +flowers, marched with stately tread past old Betty Trenance, bowed to her +in a most respectful manner in passing, then arranged themselves in +perfect order behind her. Last of all came another troop of fairies, and +these took the herbs and flowers brought by the little ladies and +gentlemen and placed them in Betty's apron.</p> + +<p>"These are what she makes her salves and ointments of," thought Joan to +herself; "no wonder she is thought so clever."</p> + +<p>This done, all the other fairies who had been playing about the house came +down to the floor and joined the new-comers. Such a crowd never was seen! +No sooner had the flowers and herbs been heaped in Betty's lap than +another troop of fairies came forward with fox-glove bells full of dyes, +which they poured over Betty's dress, when in a moment her russet gown was +changed to the softest white velvet, her apron to the filmiest lace, +edged all round with a delicate fringe of harebells and snowdrops. +Other fairies outlined the quilted 'diamonds' of her petticoat with silver +cord.</p> + +<p>When her dress had been transformed in this way, all the troop of Little +People came forward with dainty bunches of flowers to complete her toilet, +sweet wild flowers they were, delicate speedwells and forget-me-nots with +their fresh green, and their innocent blue eyes; the warm scarlet +pimpernel, violets, snowdrops, heather bells, and ladies' white +petticoats. Some of each and every kind of flower we find in the lanes +and hedges. The little ladies stitched a small nosegay in each 'diamond' +of Betty's petticoat, and every nosegay was different. The tiniest +flowers of all they laid on sprays of feathery moss, others had background +of graceful ferns, or delicate grass. Around the hem of the skirt were +sprays of pink and white dog-roses, while the bodice was wreathed with +tiny pink and white convolvulus. Sparkling at Betty's throat were such +brilliant jewels that Joan had to look away, her eyes were so dazzled.</p> + +<p>The strangest part of all this was that Betty did not seem in the least +surprised at what was going on, and was apparently quite unaware that Joan +was watching her.</p> + +<p>As soon as the gown was completed, another group of the clever little +creatures clambered up to the top of the high-backed chair in which Betty +was seated, and began to arrange her hair. Some had quaint little pots in +their hands from which they poured delicate perfumes over Betty's head,— +Joan picked up one of the pots, which they threw aside when empty, and +found to her astonishment that it was only a poppy head. Then they +carefully arranged every curl and wave of Betty's hair, until she looked +as beautiful as a queen, and as dignified and stately, too; for Betty, +though a mischievous witch, was not at all like our ideas of one. +She was as clean as a new pin, and as neat and tidy as anyone could be. +Her features were unusually handsome, and her thick dark hair, which +reached the ground when she sat down, was full of the prettiest curls and +waves.</p> + +<p>As soon as the last curl was arranged, and her tire-maidens satisfied, +they placed a spray of jessamine amongst her tresses, and jumped down, +their task completed.</p> + +<p>All this time the music was playing the most bewitching melodies.</p> + +<p>Very soon after this Joan began to have a feeling that Betty wished her +gone. The Little People, too, were making signs that she could not fail +to understand, and such hideous grimaces at her, too, that made her long +to box their ears. Of course, neither Betty nor the fairies knew that she +had used the Fairy Ointment, and could see them, and to save herself from +being found out, she bade her friend 'goodbye' with all speed.</p> + +<p>When Joan got outside, though, she could not resist one more sly peep in, +just to make sure she had not been dreaming. So down went her eye to the +finger-hole again, but all she saw was the kitchen, with its sanded floor +and bright turf fire, the key-beam with the nets hanging across it, and +Betty stitching away as fast as her fingers could fly.</p> + +<p>"This is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard tell of," said Joan to +herself. "I'll have another look."</p> + +<p>Down went her eye again, but the right one this time, and, lo and behold! +there was the kitchen turned into a splendid banqueting hall, hung around +with tapestry representing everything that had ever happened in the world. +The talfat-rail was turned into a balcony hung with pale blue satin, where +sat a number of little ladies and gentlemen watching the dancing which was +going on below. The costumes of all were magnificent, the cottage was as +beautiful as a bit of Fairyland, and seated on a golden chair of state +under a velvet canopy was Betty Trenance looking as royal as a queen.</p> + +<p>Betty, though, seemed to be keeping a sharp eye on the door, and as she +had a crowd of wicked little piskies about her, Joan thought it wise to +get away to safer quarters. So off she hurried, but as she went she met +numbers of fairies all hurrying away to Betty's cottage, while from the +rocks below came the doleful wail of the mermaids, and all was so uncanny +Joan was glad to hurry along as fast as she knew how. She was really +scared by this time, and the light was growing dim, for it was already +past three o'clock.</p> + +<p>Once arrived at Penzance, Joan did her marketing quickly, but by the time +she had finished she was very tired and very hungry, for she had had +nothing to eat since twelve o'clock dinner, and had been trudging about +for hours. So, having a piece of saffron cake in her basket, she turned +into an inn in Market Jew Street, to get something to drink with it, and a +place to sit down for a while to rest.</p> + +<p>When she got there she found the house so crowded that she had to sit on a +bench outside, and here she met a lot of friends, and had a thorough good +gossip. They drank each other's health too, and passed the compliments of +the season, until Joan remembered all of a sudden that she ought to have +been on her way home by that time, for the Squire would be very angry if +she were not there to see to things for the supper-party.</p> + +<p>Up she jumped in a great flurry, and had said 'good-bye' all round when +she suddenly remembered that she had not yet bought several of the things +she had come to town on purpose to get. She was dreadfully vexed, +but there was no time to stay and think about it, she had just to hurry +back into the market and make her purchases as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>At last she had really bought everything, and was about to leave, when +unfortunately some wonderful bargains caught her eye, and it did seem to +her sinful to go away without taking a glance at them when she might never +have such a chance again. So she lingered by the stalls, and wandered up +and down having a good look at everything, when whom should she see doing +the very same thing but Tom Trenance!</p> + +<p>He did not see Joan, so she thought she would go up and speak to him, and +ask if he was going home soon, for it would be nice to have his company on +the way. He was so busy, though, darting about from stall to stall, that +Joan could never get up to him. But she could see what he was doing, and +the sight made Joan's blood boil with indignation! He was helping himself +to everything that took his fancy! Yarn, stockings, boots, spoons, +clothing, until the wonder was that he could manage to stow the things +away.</p> + +<p>The oddest part of all, though, was that nobody seemed to see him. +Joan looked again and again to make sure she was not dreaming, but no, he +was there right enough, and pocketing things as fast as he could, right +under the stall-keepers' very noses, and they paying no heed whatever to +him!</p> + +<p>Joan could bear it no longer! She could not stand by and see such +wickedness going on; it made her blood boil with indignation. So over she +bustled and touched him on the arm.</p> + +<p>"Tom Trenance," she cried, "I'm downright ashamed of 'ee! I wonder you +ain't above carrying on such dishonest ways, and you with children to set +an example to! I didn't think you capable of such wickedness."</p> + +<p>Tom for a minute looked, and was too much taken aback to speak. But he +quickly recovered himself. "Why, Joan," he said, taking no notice of her +accusations, "I take it very kind and neighbourly of 'ee to come up and +speak. What sharp eyes you've got! Now which of them did you 'appen to +catch sight of me with?"</p> + +<p>"Which? Why, both, of course," cried Joan, but she put up her hand first +over one and then over the other, and found she could only see Tom with +the right one. "Why, no, I can't see 'ee with both," she cried in +astonishment. "The left one don't seem to be a bit of good!"</p> + +<p>"The right one is it?" said Tom, and his look went through her like a +gimlet. Then, pointing his finger at it, he muttered:—</p> + + + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p class = "noindent"> "Thou wicked old spy—<br> +<span class = "ind3">Thou shalt no more see me,</span><br> + Nor peep nor pry<br> +<span class = "ind3">With that charméd eye."</span></p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>And at that very moment a sharp pain shot through her right eye. It was +so sharp that she screamed aloud, and from that moment she never could see +with it again.</p> + +<p>Yelling, and pressing her fist into her throbbing eyeball, she rushed +hither and thither, calling to people to come and help her, and to go and +catch Tom Trenance, all in one breath; but as they could not see Tom,—nor +could she, either, now,—they unkindly said the poor soul was crazy, +which, of course, was most unjust and cruel of them, and shows what +mistakes people can make.</p> + +<p>Of course, it was the Fairy Ointment on her eye which enabled her to see +so much, and it was that same ointment which rendered Tom Trenance +invisible to everyone but to her.</p> + +<p>How poor Joan ever found her way back to Market Jew Street again she never +could tell, but when she did arrive there she had, of course, to stay a +little while and tell her sad story, so that it was really quite late and +dark before she started for home; and then, what with the darkness and her +blindness she could only crawl along. She groped her way painfully down +Voundervoor and over the Green, stumbling over the ruts and sandy banks +until she was very nearly driven crazy. Through only being able to see +with her left eye, she kept bearing away to the left side of the road, and +I cannot tell you how many times she fell into the ditch, marketing and +all! And so afraid was she of falling into the sea, and so close did she +keep to the other side of the road away from it, that at last she went +right through the hedge and fell over into a place called +'Park-an-Shebbar!'</p> + +<p>Luckily one of the farm-boys was in the field, and helped her up and +picked up her parcels for her; then, seeing how bad she was, he took her +into the house to rest and recover, for she seemed quite dazed by that +time. There they gave her something to bring her round, and presently she +began to feel better and able to go on again.</p> + +<p>By this time she was very anxious to get home, so the lad helped her over +the stream and set her on the right road once more. This time Joan +stepped out briskly, for she was really very troubled about the Squire's +supper, and all the people who were expected to it. If she did not get +home soon, they would have arrived first, and, oh, how angry the Squire +would be!</p> + +<p>By the time, though, that she got to the top of Paul Hill, she was so +tired she felt she could not go another step without a rest, so, though +she could badly spare the time, she dropped with a sigh of relief on to a +soft green spot, when, oh! what a shriek she gave! for the soft green spot +was a duck-pond covered with duck-weed! How she got out of the pond she +could never tell, but she did and crept over to the other side of the +road, where she fell back on the hedge quite exhausted.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, oh dear!" she moaned, "I'm nearly dead. Oh, if only I'd got our +old Dumpling here to give me a lift; or any other quiet old horse I'd be +thankful for. I shall never reach home to-night on my two feet, I'm sure, +they are ready to drop off already!"</p> + +<p>Barely had she uttered her wish when there by the roadside stood an old +white horse, cropping quietly away at the brambles and dead ferns. +How he came there I can't tell you. Whether he had been there all the +time without her seeing him, or whether he came by magic, no one can say, +but there he was.</p> + +<p>Many persons in Dame Joan's place would have been afraid to mount him, +fearing witchcraft, or fairies' pranks, but Joan was too tired to have +many scruples. So up she got and untied his feet, for he was hobbled, put +the rope round his head, and then managed somehow to clamber up on his +back, basket and all. It was hard work, but she got settled after a bit, +then picking up the rope, called to him to start.</p> + +<p>"Gee wug! gee wo!" she called, "get up, you lazy old faggot!" and she +hammered away at his side with her heels with all her might—and her shoes +were none of the daintiest! but in spite of her coaxings and her threats, +her kicks and her thumps, the old horse did not move an inch.</p> + +<p>"Come up, can't you! Gee wug, come here!" She beat him and kicked him +again until she was really too tired to move hand or foot; then, when she +had given up in despair, the tiresome creature made a start. But such a +start! he went at a slow snail's pace, and try as Joan would she could not +make him go faster.</p> + +<p>At last, though, when she reached the top of a hill, there came from the +valley below the cry of hounds, devil's hounds they must have been, for no +others would be out at that time of night. As soon as the sounds reached +the old horse's ears, he pricked them up, whinnied loudly, and with a toss +of his head and a fling of his tail started away like any young colt.</p> + +<p>Away, away, uphill and downhill they tore as fast as the wind. Joan clung +to the horse's mane with both hands, and yelled and yelled to him to stop. +She might as well, though, have held her breath. All her marketing flew +out of her basket, her precious beaver hat was carried away, her shawl was +whisked off her back! On and on the old horse tore, jumping over +everything that came in his way, until Joan was nearly flung from his +back. Presently, too, to her horror she saw that the creature was +growing bigger and bigger, and higher and higher; soon he shot up above +the trees, then he was as high as the church tower. Poor Joan, perched on +his back, grew sick, giddy, and terrified. She was afraid now to slip off +lest she should be dashed to pieces, and was afraid to stay there lest she +should fall off.</p> + +<p>For miles and miles they travelled like this, until at last they came to +Toldave Moor, on the further side of which there was, Joan knew, a deep +black pool, and for this pool, to Joan's horror, the monster galloped +straight!</p> + +<p>"If I don't slip off now, I shall surely be drowned outright!" thought +poor Joan, for the pond was deep, she felt her powers were failing her; +her hands were numb, her limbs cramped. She knew she could not swim. +"Better a dry death than a wet one, it will save my clothes, anyway!" +So, letting go her hold of the creature's mane, she was about to let +herself slide down, when the wind caught her and carried her right off the +horse's back. They were going at a terrific rate, and the wind was very +keen on the moor; it lifted her right up in the air, high above the horse, +and then, just as she thought she was going to disappear through the +clouds, she was dropped plump into the rushes by the edge of the very pool +itself.</p> + +<p>At the same moment the air became filled with the most awful clamour, such +yells and cries, and terrible laughter as no living being had ever heard +before. Poor old Joan thought her last hour had really come, and gave +herself up for lost, for when she looked round she saw the fearful great +creature she had been riding, disappearing in the distance in flames of +fire, and tearing after it, helter-skelter, pell-mell, was a horrible crew +of men and dogs and horses. Two or three hundred of them there must have +been, and not one of the lot had a head on his shoulders.</p> + +<p>Joan would have screamed, too, if she had not been stricken dumb with +fright; so, very nearly scared to death, trembling with cold and fear, +there she lay until they had disappeared.</p> + +<p>How she scrambled out of her soft, damp resting-place she could never +tell, but she did, somehow, and got as far as Trove Bottom, though without +any shoes, for they had come off in the ditch. Her shawl was gone, too, +and all her marketing, and, worst of all, her precious broad-brimmed +beaver hat.</p> + +<p>There was a linhay down at the Bottom, where Squire Lovell kept a lot of +sheep, and into that Joan crept, and lay down, and from sheer exhaustion +fell asleep and slept till morning. How much longer she would have slept +no one knows, but on Sunday mornings it was the Squire's habit to go down +and look over his sheep, and on this Sunday, though it was Christmas Day, +he visited them as usual.</p> + +<p>His entrance with his boys and his dogs and his flashing lantern woke old +Joan with a start, and so certain was she that they were the horse, and +the huntsmen, and their hounds come again, that she sprang up in a frenzy +of terror. "Get out, get out!" she cried, "let a poor old woman be!" +But instead of the hollow laugh of the huntsmen, it was the Squire's voice +that answered her.</p> + +<p>"Why, here's our poor old lost Joan!" he cried, amazed, "and frightened +out of her wits, seemingly! Why, Joan," he said, "whatever have you been +spending the night out here for? We've been scouring the country for you, +for hours!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Master!" she cried, almost in tears as she dropped trembling at his +feet, "for the sake of all the years I've served 'ee from your cradle up, +do 'ee let me die in peace, and bury me decent!" and then, her tongue once +set going, she poured out all the long tale of the dreadful things that +had happened to her since she set out for Penzance Market.</p> + +<p>How long she would have talked no one knows, but the Squire sent for his +men, and between them they carried her home, and warmed and fed and +comforted her, for she was black and blue, wet to the skin, and half +frozen. However, with all their care she soon recovered, and when she was +dry, and warm, and rested she poured out all her adventures and disasters.</p> + +<p>To her astonishment, though, and anger and pain, they refused to believe a +word of it. They did not pity her a bit; they even laughed at her. +Indeed, they tried to make her believe that the enchanted steed was only +the miller's old white horse, that the demon huntsman and his hounds were +no more nor less than her own son John riding across the moor with the +dogs, in search of her, that her lost eye must have been scratched out by +a 'fuz'-bush; and so they went on pooh-poohing the whole of her story,— +which was very nearly the most aggravating thing of all she had had to +bear.</p> + +<p>One thing, though, Joan had not told them, and that was about her stealing +the Fairy Ointment, or they would have known that she had been pisky-led +that night, by order of the Fairies, as a punishment, and would one and +all have agreed that she richly deserved it.</p> + +<p>[1] A 'talfat' is a raised floor at one end of a cottage, on which a bed +is placed. Sometimes it is divided off by a wooden partition, but more +often there is only a bar, to prevent the sleeper falling out of bed.</p> + + + +<a name="2HCH0007"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE EXCITING ADVENTURE OF JOHN STURTRIDGE.</h3> + + + +<p>One of the greatest feast-days in Cornwall, and the most looked forward +to, is St. Picrons' Day, which falls just before Christmas. It is the +special day of the tinners and streamers, their greatest holiday in the +year, and on it they have a great merry-making. Picrons was the +discoverer of tin in Cornwall, so they say, so, of course, it is the +bounden duty of those who earn their living by it, to keep up his day with +rejoicings.</p> + +<p>It is not of St. Picrons, though, that I am going to tell you, but of John +Sturtridge, a streamer, and what befell him one year when he had been +keeping up St. Picrons' Day.</p> + +<p>He had been up to the 'Rising Sun' to the great supper that was always +held there, and to the merry-making after it, and had enjoyed himself +mightily. Enjoyed himself so much, in fact, that he did not greatly +relish having to turn out, when both were ended, and face a long walk +home.</p> + +<p>It was a bitterly cold night, and the road was a lonely one, all across +Tregarden Downs. However, it had to be faced, and nothing was gained by +putting it off, so John started, and at first he got along pretty well. +True, he found the roads very puzzling, and difficult to follow, but that +may have been the fault of the moonlight, or the will-o'-the-wisps. +Anyhow, if he did not get on very rapidly, he got on somehow, and +presently reached the Downs.</p> + +<p>Now Tregarden Downs is a horribly wild, uncanny stretch of country, +a place where no one chooses to walk alone after nightfall, and, though +John was in a cheerful mood, and did not feel at all frightened, he +quickened his steps, and pulled hot-foot for home and bed. He kept a +sharp eye on the cart-tracks, too, for he had no fancy for going astray +here as he had done in the lanes. Whether, though, he did go a little +astray or not, no one can say, but all of a sudden what should he come +upon right across his path, but a host of piskies playing all sorts of +games and high jinks under the shelter of a great granite boulder.</p> + +<p>Whatever John's feelings may have been at the sight of them, the piskies +were not troubled by the sight of John. They were not in the least +alarmed, the daring little imps. They only burst into roars of wicked +laughter, which pretty nearly scared the wits out of poor John, and made +him take to his heels and run for his life! If only he could get off the +Downs, he thought, he would be safe enough, but the Downs, of which he +knew every yard, seemed to-night to stretch for miles and miles, and, +try as he would, he could not find his way off them. He wandered round +and round, and up and down, and to and fro, until at last he was obliged +to admit to himself that he did not know in the least where he was, for he +could not find a single landmark to guide him.</p> + +<p>It is a very unpleasant thing to lose yourself on a big lonely Down, on a +bleak winter's night, but it is ten times more unpleasant when you are +pursued all the way by scores of mischievous little sprites, who shriek +with laughter at you all the time, and from sheer wickedness delight in +leading you into all the marshy places, the prickily 'fuz'-bushes, and +rough boulders they can find, and nearly die of laughter when you prick or +bump yourself, or get stuck in the mud.</p> + +<p>John was thoroughly frightened, and thoroughly out of temper, and was +meditating how he could punish his little tormentors, when suddenly from +all sides rose a shrill cry. "Ho and away for Par Beach! Ho and away for +Par Beach! Ho and away for Par Beach!"</p> + +<p>Hardly knowing what he was doing John shouted, too. "Ho and away for Par +Beach!" he yelled at the top of his voice, and almost before he had said +the words he was caught high up in the air, and in another minute found +himself on the great stretch of sands at Par. As soon as they had +recovered their breath the piskies all formed up in rings and began to +dance as fast as their little feet could move, and John with them.</p> + +<p>"Ho and away for Squire Tremaine's cellar!" The shrill cry rang out +again, even as they danced. John again repeated the cry, and in a flash +found himself in the cellars at Heligan,—Squire Tremaine's place,—with +his mischievous little companions swarming all over them. John felt no +fear of them now. He joined them in all their pranks, and had a good time +running from cask to cask, and bottle to bottle, opening everything and +tasting the contents of most.</p> + +<p>John at last became so confused he could not remember who he was or where +he was; in fact, he was so confused and so sleepy that when the piskies +called out, "Ho and away for Par Beach!" try as he would he could not +speak, so the piskies flew off, and John was left behind alone.</p> + +<p>John did not mind it in the least, at first, for it was much more pleasant +in the shelter of the cellar, with plenty of wine to warm him, than it +would be out on the desolate sands at Par, where the wind blows keenly +enough to take one's ears off. John did mind, though, the next morning, +when the butler came and discovered him. He was groping his way between +two rows of casks, trying to find his way to Luxulyan, he explained to the +butler, but the butler, instead of putting him in the right road, led him +at once to Squire Tremaine's study, where John told the wonderful story of +his adventures.</p> + +<p>Strangely enough, though, neither the Squire nor anyone else would believe +a word of them, and without any consideration for poor John's feelings, +they popped him into Bodmin Jail almost as quickly as the piskies and he +had popped into the cellar. And worse still, before much time had +elapsed, they tried him, convicted him, and sentenced him to be hanged.</p> + +<p>Poor John! Here was a dreadful state of affairs, and all brought on an +innocent man by those wicked piskies! There was no escape either, or hope +of reprieve, for people were not so tender-hearted in those days as in +these, and a man was not only sentenced to death for a trifle, but no one +ever took any trouble to get him off.</p> + +<p>Well, the fatal day came, and John was brought to the gallows, where a +large crowd was gathered to see the execution; and there stood John, with +the clergyman imploring him to confess, and free his mind of a load of +falsehood; and the hangman waiting with the noose in his hand, waiting to +slip it over poor John's head, when suddenly a beautiful little lady, +dressed in white and silver, appeared in the midst of the crowd gathered +at the gallows-foot.</p> + +<p>No one saw her come, no one knew how she got there; but without a word +from her, not knowing, indeed, why they did so, every man, woman, and +child stood back and left a clear pathway for her right up to the +scaffold.</p> + +<p>There she paused, and stood, with her eyes fixed on the prisoner, who, +however, did not see her, for he was too frightened to notice anything +that was going on around him—until, "Ho and away for France!" rang out a +sweet voice, which John recognized in a moment. With the sound of it his +poor dazed senses returned, and the spirit to seize the chance of escape +offered him.</p> + +<p>"Ho and away for France!" he yelled. There was no danger of his not being +able to shout this time! And then, before anyone there could collect his +senses, the officers of justice saw their prisoner whisked away from out +of their very grasp, and John was in France long before the executioner +and the chaplain, the jailers and the crowd, had ceased gaping stupidly at +each other.</p> + + +<a name="2HCH0008"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE TRUE STORY OF ANNE AND THE FAIRIES.</h3> + + +<p>More than two hundred years ago there lived in the parish of St. Teath, +a poor labouring man called Jefferies, and this man had one daughter, +called Anne. Anne was a sweetly pretty girl, and a very intelligent one, +too; but she was a terrible hoyden. She shocked all the old ladies in the +village, and all the prim people, dreadfully, and instead of being +ashamed, she seemed to glory in it.</p> + +<p>Everyone wondered how she came to have such a spirit, and whom she took +after, for her mother was as quiet and meek a little woman as ever was +born, and always had been; while her father was a stern, silent man, who +looked upon his flighty daughter as a thorn in his side, a cross laid upon +him for his good. But the fact remains that Anne was the most daring of +all the young people in the parish, doing things that even the boys were +afraid to do, for she had no fear, nothing awed her, and there was nothing +she would not attempt.</p> + +<p>In those days the fairies and piskies, witches and goblins of all sorts +were all over the land, and everyone knew it, and was more or less in awe +of them. The young people appealed to the fairies for everything, to be +helped in their work, to get love-draughts, to be made beautiful, and to +know their fortunes. At the same time they all, except Anne, would have +been scared to death if they had caught sight of one. Anne, indeed, often +boldly declared that she longed to see them, and would love to have a talk +with them; and she made up her mind that she would, too, and when once +Anne had got an idea into her head, she generally managed to carry it out.</p> + +<p>So, without saying anything to anyone, she went out every evening as soon +as the sun was gone down, and wandered about looking into the fox-glove +bells, and under the ferns, examining the Fairy Rings and every other +likely spot, singing:—</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p class = "noindent">Fairy fair and fairy bright,<br> + Come and be my chosen sprite!<br></p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>For though she had got a very good and true sweetheart, named Tom, she had +a great fancy for a fairy one. Perhaps she was thinking of the lovely +presents that people said the fairies gave, or perhaps she thought that +she would like to live in a palace, and be dressed in silks and velvet, +none of which things could poor Tom give her, of course.</p> + +<p>On moonlight nights Anne crept away by herself to the banks of the stream +which ran through the valley, and here, walking against the current, she +would sing:—</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p class = "noindent">Moon shines bright, water runs clear,<br> + I am here, but where's my fairy dear?<br></p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>She sang it wistfully enough to touch the heart of any fairy, but though +she went on for a long time repeating all the charms she knew, and trying, +by every means she could think of, to please the Little People, and though +she often nearly put her hand on one during her searches, the Little +People never showed themselves to her.</p> + +<p>They noticed her, though, and were only biding their time.</p> + +<p>One beautiful warm summer's day, Anne, having finished her housework +early, took her knitting and went and sat in an arbour at the foot of the +garden, for she never could bear to be cooped up indoors if she could +possibly get out. She had not been sitting there very long when she heard +a rustling amongst the bushes, but she took no notice of it, for she felt +it was sure to be her lover, coming to have a talk with her; and now that +she was so possessed with the thought of a fairy lover, she had ceased to +care for poor Tom, and was extremely cool and off-hand with him.</p> + +<p>So, at the sound of the rustling, even when it was repeated, she did not +even raise her eyes from her knitting, or turn her head.</p> + +<p>Presently, though, the bushes were rustled more violently, and then +someone gave a little laugh. Anne moved this time, for the laugh was +certainly not Tom's laugh.</p> + +<p>A lane ran along at the back of the arbour, a lane which one had to pass +down to get to the garden gate, and it was from here that the laugh came. +Anne peeped carefully out through the trellis-work and bushes to try to +see who it was who was laughing at her, but not a sign of any living being +could she see. She felt annoyed, for it is extremely unpleasant to feel +that someone is looking at you through a peep-hole, and making game of +you.</p> + +<p>Anne grew so vexed she could not keep her vexation to herself. +"Well," she said aloud, feeling sure it was Tom who was trying to tease +her, "you may stay there till the moss grows over you, before ever I'll +come out to you."</p> + +<p>A burst of laughter, peculiarly sweet and ringing, greeted her words. +"Oh," she thought to herself, "whoever can it be? I'm certain sure Tom +could never laugh like that. Who can it be, I wonder?"</p> + +<p>She felt really nervous now, for there was something unnatural about it +all, but she tried to reassure herself by thinking that nothing could +happen to her in broad daylight such as it was then. Besides which, she +did not know of anyone who wished to harm her, for she was a favourite +with everyone in the village. She waited anxiously, though, to see what +would happen next.</p> + +<p>She went on with her knitting, seemingly paying no heed to anything, but +her ears were strained to catch the least sound, and when, after a little +while, the garden gate was softly opened and closed again, she heard it +distinctly, and glancing up to see who was coming, she saw to her +astonishment, not Tom, or anyone else she knew, but six little pisky +gentlemen, handsome little creatures, with pleasant smiles and brilliantly +shining eyes.</p> + +<p>To her astonishment they did not seem at all disturbed at seeing her, but +came up and ranged themselves in a row before her and bowed to the ground. +They were all dressed alike in green knickerbockers and tunics, edged with +scarlet, and tiny green caps, and one, the handsomest of the lot, had a +beautiful red waving feather at one side of his. They stood and looked at +Anne and smiled, and Anne, not at all frightened now, but pleased, smiled +back at them. Then he with the red feather stepped in front of the +others, and bowing to her in the most courtly manner, addressed her with a +charming friendliness which set her at ease at once.</p> + +<p>Whether this strange little gentleman was really attracted by her charms, +or whether he acted in the same way to every pretty girl he met, one +cannot say, but he certainly looked at Anne very affectionately and +admiringly, and poor Anne's heart was captured at once. She was certain +there never had been such a charming little gentleman before, nor ever +could be again, nor one with such good taste.</p> + +<p>Stooping down she held out her hand, whereupon the little gentleman +stepped into it, and Anne lifted him to her lap. From her lap he soon +climbed to her shoulder, and then he kissed her, and not only kissed her +once, but many times, and Anne thought him more charming than ever. +Presently he called his companions, and they climbed up and kissed Anne, +too, and patted her rosy cheeks, and smoothed her hair. But while one of +them was patting her cheek, he ran his finger across her eyes, and Anne +gave a terrible scream, for with his touch she felt as though a needle had +been run through her eyeballs, and when she tried to open them again she +found she was blind.</p> + +<p>At the same moment she felt herself caught up in the air, and for what +seemed to her a very long time she was carried through it at a tremendous +rate. At last they came to a stop, whereupon one of the Little Men said +something which Anne could not understand, and, behold, her eyesight at +once came back!</p> + +<p>And now, indeed, she had something to use it on, for she found herself in +what seemed to be a perfectly gorgeous palace, or rather two or three +palaces joined together, all built of gold and silver, with arches and +pillars of crystal, large halls with walls of burnished copper, and +beautiful rooms inlaid with precious marbles. Outside was a perfect +paradise of a garden, filled with lovely flowers, and trees laden with +fruit or blossom. Birds were singing everywhere, such rare birds, too! +Some were all blue and gold, others a bright scarlet, then again others +shone like silver or steel. There were large lakes full of gold and +silver fish, and marble fountains throwing jets of water high into the +air. Here and there were dainty bowers covered with roses, and filled +within with soft moss carpets and luxurious couches. Walking about +everywhere in this lovely place were scores of little ladies and +gentlemen, dressed in rich silks and velvets, and with precious stones +sparkling and flashing from their fingers, their hair, their shoes, indeed +they seemed to sparkle all over, like flowers covered with dewdrops. +Some strolled along the walks, others reclined in the bowers, some floated +in little scarlet or ivory boats on the lakes, others sat under the +blossoming trees. There seemed, indeed, no end to them, and to Anne's +great astonishment, neither they nor her six companions seemed small now, +also, to her great delight, she was dressed as beautifully as any of them, +and wore as beautiful jewels. Though she did not know it, she had shrunk +to their size, and a very lovely little fairy she made.</p> + +<p>Her gown was of white silk, with a long train bordered all round with +trails of green ivy, and over her shoulders she wore a long green silk +cloak with a little scarlet hood. Her hair looked as though it had been +dressed by a Court hairdresser, and amidst the puffs and curls sparkled +emeralds and diamonds, like trembling stars. Her little green slippers +had silver heels, and diamond buckles on the toes, round her waist hung a +diamond girdle, on her neck, too, and fingers gems sparkled and flashed +with every movement.</p> + +<p>Oh, how proud and delighted Anne did feel, and how eagerly she hoped that +she might always live like this! Instead of having one cavalier as most +of the ladies had, she had six, but the one with the red feather was her +favourite, and hour by hour he and Anne grew more deeply in love with one +another.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, though, the other five began to grow very jealous, and they +kept such a watch on Anne and her friend, that the poor lovers had no +chance to get away and talk by themselves, or exchange even a look, or a +kiss, or a handclasp.</p> + +<p>However, when people are determined they usually succeed in the end, +and one day Anne and her handsome lover managed to slip away unobserved. +Hand in hand they ran to a garden which lay at some little distance from +the others, one that was seldom used, too, and where the flowers grew so +tall and in such profusion that they soon were completely hidden amongst +them.</p> + +<p>Here they made their home, and here they lived for a time as happily as +any two people could who loved each other more than all the world beside.</p> + +<p>Alas, though, their happiness was too great to last! They had not been in +their beautiful retreat very long, when one day they heard a great noise +and disturbance, and to Anne's dismay the five little men followed by a +crowd of fairies, equally angered, burst in on them. They had traced the +lovers to the garden, and even to the lily-bell in which they had made +their home. With drawn swords and faces full of anger, they surrounded +the lily and commanded the lovers to come down. Nearly mad with jealousy +as they were, they heaped the most cruel and insulting speeches on the +poor little pair.</p> + +<p>Furious with indignation Anne's lover sprang down, sword in hand, and +faced his attackers, but what could one do against such odds? His sword +was knocked out of his hand, he himself was overpowered by the numbers who +hurled themselves on him. For a while he fought desperately, his back to +the wall, his courage unfailing, but the blows fell on him so fast and +furious, that in a few minutes he lay bleeding and lifeless at poor Anne's +feet.</p> + +<p>What happened next Anne never knew. She remembered looking down on her +dead lover through eyes almost blind with tears, she remembered seeing his +blood staining her dainty green slippers, and splashing her gown, then +someone passed a hand over her eyes, and she could see nothing. She was +as blind as she had been once before.</p> + +<p>All about her she heard strange noises, like the whirring and buzzing of +numberless insects; she felt herself being carried through the air at a +terrific rate, until her breath was quite taken away,—then she was placed +on a seat, and in a moment her sight came back to her.</p> + +<p>She was back in the arbour where she had first seen the fairies, but, +instead of six little men, she now saw about six-and-twenty big men and +women all staring at her with frightened eyes and open mouths.</p> + +<p>"She's very bad," they were whispering, "poor maid, she do look ill! +'Tis a fit she's had, and no mistake!" Then seeing her open her eyes and +look about her, they crowded nearer. "Why, Anne, child, you've been in a +fit, haven't 'ee?"</p> + +<p>Anne lifted her arm and looked at it and her hand; there was not a +single jewel on either. She glanced down over her gown,—it was of +linsey-woolsey, not silk or velvet. She closed her eyes again that they +might not see the tears that sprang to them.</p> + +<p>"I don't know if I've been in a fit," she said wearily, but to herself she +added sadly, "I know, though, that I've been in love."</p> + + +<a name="2HCH0009"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>BARKER AND THE BUCCAS.</h3> + + + +<p>Perhaps some of you have never heard about the 'Buccas,' or 'Knockers,' +as some people call them, the busy little people about the same size as +piskies, who are said to be the souls of the Jews who used to work in the +tin mines in Cornwall.</p> + +<p>The Buccas live always in rocks, mines, or wells, and they work +incessantly pickaxing, digging, sifting, etc., from one year's end to the +other, except on Christmas Day, Easter Day, All Saints' Day, and the Jews' +Sabbath. On those days their little tools are laid aside, and all is +quiet, but on every other you can, if you listen, hear them hammer, +hammer, dig, dig, and their tongues chattering all the time.</p> + +<p>A lot of these little people lived and worked within the sides of a well +in one particular part of Cornwall, the name of which I will not tell you, +for in the first place you would not be able to pronounce it if I did; +and in the second, you might be tempted to go there and disturb them, +which would make them angry, and bring all kinds of ill-luck and trouble +upon yourself.</p> + +<p>The story I am going to tell you is of someone who did disturb them, and +pried upon them after laughing at them. The name of the youth was Barker, +a great, idle, hulking fellow, who lived in the neighbourhood of the well +where these little Buccas dwelt.</p> + +<p>Now this Barker often heard the neighbours talking about the Buccas, and +praising their industry, and, like most idle people, he disliked hearing +others praised for doing what he knew he ought to do but would not. +So, to annoy the neighbours, and the Buccas, too, he declared he "didn't +believe there wasn't no such things. Seeing was believing, and when they +showed him a Bucca 'twould be soon enough for him to b'lieve there was +such things." And he repeated this every time the little men were +mentioned.</p> + +<p>"'Tis nowt but dreams," he sneered, "there ba'nt no Buccas in Fairy Well, +no more nor I'm a Bucca."</p> + +<p>"You a Bucca!" cried the neighbours, "why, they wouldn't own such a lazy +good-for-nothing. They does more work in a morning than you'd get through +in a year, you who never does a hand's-turn for anybody and haven't sense +enough to earn your own bread!"</p> + +<p>"I've sense enough to find out if there's any such things as Buccas in +that there well, and I'll go there and watch and listen till I finds out +something, and if there's Buccas there I'll catch one!"</p> + +<p>So away he went to spend his time idly lying amidst the tall grass and +ferns which grew thickly around the well. This sort of job suited him to +a nicety, for the sun was warm and pleasant, and he did no work, for, said +he, if he was to work he wouldn't be able to hear any sounds that might +come from below. And for once he spoke the truth.</p> + +<p>Day after day Barker went and lay by the Fairy Well, and at first he heard +never a sound but the birds singing, and the bees humming, and his own +breathing. By and by, though, other sounds began to make themselves heard +by him, noises of digging and hammering, and numbers of little voices +talking and laughing merrily.</p> + +<p>Barker could not at first make out what they said, but he could understand +that they were always busy. Instead, though, of taking them as an +example, the lazy fellow only said to himself gleefully that if others +worked so hard, there was the less need for him to do so!</p> + +<p>Having discovered that his neighbours were right, and that there really +were such people as Buccas, you would have thought that he would have +hurried home to tell of his discoveries; but no, he liked the lazy life, +lying in the sun by the well, doing nothing. So he kept quiet about his +discovery, and every day started off for his favourite spot, making the +excuse that he was still watching for Buccas.</p> + +<p>As the days passed by he began to understand what the little workmen said, +and he gathered from their talk that they worked in sets, and that each +set worked for eight hours,—which was, of course, the origin of the Eight +Hours Day we hear so much about. He also found that when they had +finished they hid away their tools, and every day in a fresh place. +I cannot tell you why they hid them, or from whom, unless it was those +other 'little people,' the Fairies and Piskies, who love to be up to +mischief when they are not doing good. It could not have been from each +other that they hid the things, for they talked together about the +hiding-places.</p> + +<p>One evening, when the day's work was coming to an end, Barker heard the +usual discussion begin. "I shall hide mine in this cleft in the rock," +said one.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then I will hide mine under the ferns."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said a third, "I shall leave mine <i>on Barker's knee</i>."</p> + +<p>You may be sure it gave Barker quite a shock to hear his own name spoken +in those mysterious regions, it frightened him, too, but before he could +stir his big, lazy body and run away,—as he meant to do,—he felt three +hard blows, bang! whack! bang! and then a heavy weight fell crash upon his +knee.</p> + +<p>Barker roared and bellowed like a great calf, for the pain was very great, +and he was a big coward.</p> + +<p>"Take it away! take it away!" he cried, but the only answer was peal upon +peal of mocking laughter. "Oh my poor knee, oh my poor knee, I'm lame for +life! Take away them tools! Oh my, oh my!" but the more he screamed, +the more the Buccas laughed. They laughed and laughed until they were +tired, then they vanished, and Master Barker was left to make his way home +as best he could. He did not want to tell the neighbours how he got his +stiff knee, but pretended he had had a fall; the neighbours, though, +soon found out, and pretty well he was laughed at for a long time wherever +he went.</p> + +<p>Never again did Barker doubt the existence of the Buccas, never again did +he speak disrespectfully of them, nor could he forget the lesson he had +been taught, for to his dying day he had a stiff knee, and nothing would +cure it.</p> + +<p>Now, if ever you hear of anyone having 'Barker's knee' you will know that +he has spoken rudely of the Buccas, and that the Buccas have paid him out.</p> + + + +<a name="2HCH0010"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>LUTEY AND THE MERMAID.</h3> + + + +<p>One lovely summer evening many, many years ago, an old man named Lutey was +standing on the seashore not far from that beautiful bit of coast called +the Lizard.</p> + +<p>On the edge of the cliff above him stood a small farm, and here he lived, +spending his time between farming, fishing, and, we must admit it, +smuggling, too, whenever he got a chance. This summer evening he had +finished his day's work early, and while waiting for his supper he +strolled along the sands a little way, to see if there was any wreckage to +be seen, for it was long since he had had any luck in that way, and he was +very much put out about it.</p> + +<p>This evening, though, he was no luckier than he had been before, and he +was turning away, giving up his search as hopeless, when from somewhere +out seaward came a long, low, wailing cry. It was not the melancholy cry +of a gull, but of a woman or child in distress.</p> + +<p>Lutey stopped, and listened, and looked back, but, as far as he could see, +not a living creature was to be seen on the beach but himself. +Even though while he listened the sound came wailing over the sand again, +and this time left no doubt in his mind. It was a voice. Someone was in +trouble, evidently, and calling for help.</p> + +<p>Far out on the sands rose a group of rocks which, though covered at high +water, were bare now. It was about half ebb, and spring tide, too, so the +sea was further out than usual, so far, in fact, that a wide bar of sand +stretched between the rocks and the sea. It was from these rocks that the +cry seemed to come, and Lutey, feeling sure that someone was out there in +distress, turned and walked back quickly to see if he could give any help.</p> + +<p>As he drew near he saw that there was no one on the landward side, so he +hurried round to the seaward,—and there, to his amazement, his eyes met a +sight which left him almost speechless!</p> + +<p>Lying on a ledge at the base of the rock, partially covered by the long +seaweed which grew in profusion over its rough sides, and partially by her +own hair, which was the most glorious you can possibly imagine, was the +most beautiful woman his eyes had ever lighted upon. Her skin was a +delicate pink and white, even more beautiful than those exquisite little +shells one picks up sometimes on the seashore, her clear green eyes +sparkled and flashed like the waves with the sun on them, while her hair +was the colour of rich gold, like the sun in its glory, and with a ripple +in it such as one sees on the sea on a calm day.</p> + +<p>This wonderful creature was gazing mournfully out at the distant sea, +and uttering from time to time the pitiful cry which had first attracted +Lutey's attention. She was evidently in great distress, but how to offer +her help and yet not frighten her he knew not, for the roar of the sea had +deadened the sound of his footsteps on the soft sand, and she was quite +unconscious of his presence.</p> + +<p>Lutey coughed and hem'd, but it was of no use—she could not or did not +hear; he stamped, he kicked the rock, but all in vain, and at last he had +to go close to her and speak.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, missie?" he said. "What be doing all out here by +yourself?" He spoke as gently as possible, but, in spite of his +gentleness, the lovely creature shrieked with terror, and diving down into +the deep pool at the base of the rock, disappeared entirely.</p> + +<p>At first Lutey thought she had drowned herself, but when he looked closely +into the pool, and contrived to peer through the cloud of hair which +floated like fine seaweed all over the top of it, he managed to +distinguish a woman's head and shoulders underneath, and looking closer he +saw, he was sure, a fish's tail! His knees quaked under him, at that +sight, for he realized that the lovely lady was no other than a mermaid!</p> + +<p>She, though, seemed as frightened as he was, so he summoned up his courage +to speak to her again, for it is always wise to be kind to mermaids, and +to avoid offending them, for if they are angry there is no knowing what +harm they may do to you.</p> + +<p>"Don't be frightened, lady," he said coaxingly; "I wouldn't hurt 'ee for +the world, I wouldn't harm a living creature. I only wants to know what +your trouble is."</p> + +<p>While he was speaking, the maiden had raised her head slightly above the +water, and now was gazing at him with eyes the like of which he had never +seen before. "I 'opes she understands Carnish," he added to himself, +"for 'tis the only langwidge I'm fluent in."</p> + +<p>"Beautiful sir," she replied in answer to his thoughts, "we sea-folk can +understand all languages, for we visit the coast of every land, and all +the tribes of the world sail over our kingdom, and oft-times come down +through the waters to our home. The greatest kindness you can do me is to +go away. You are accustomed to women who walk, covered with silks and +laces. We could not wear such in our world, sporting in the waves, +swimming into caverns, clambering into sunken ships. You cannot realize +our free and untrammelled existence."</p> + +<p>"Now, my lovely lady," said old Lutey, who did not understand a half of +what she was saying, "don't 'ee think anything about such trifles, +but stop your tears and tell me what I can do for 'ee. For, for sure, +I can help 'ee somehow. Tell me how you come'd here, and where you wants +to get to."</p> + +<p>So the fair creature floated higher in the water, and, gradually growing +braver, she presently climbed up and perched herself on the rock where +Lutey had first seen her. Her long hair fell about her like a glorious +mantle, and she needed no other, for it quite covered her. Holding in her +hand her comb and mirror, and glancing from time to time at the latter, +she told the old man her story.</p> + +<p>"Only a few hours ago," she said sadly, "I was sporting about with my +husband and children, as happy as a mermaiden could be. At length, +growing weary, we all retired to rest in one of the caverns at Kynance, +and there on a soft couch of seaweed my husband laid himself down to +sleep. The children went off to play, and I was left alone. For some +time I watched the crabs playing in the water, or the tiny fish at the +bottom of the pools, but the sweet scent of flowers came to me from the +gardens of your world, borne on the light breeze, and I felt I must go and +see what these flowers were like whose breath was so beautiful, for we +have nothing like it in our dominions. Exquisite sea-plants we have, but +they have no sweet perfume.</p> + +<p>"Seeing that my husband was asleep, and the children quite happy and safe, +I swam off to this shore, but when here I found I could not get near the +flowers; I could see them on the tops of the cliffs far, far beyond my +reach, so I thought I would rest here for a time, and dress my hair, while +breathing in their sweetness.</p> + +<p>"I sat on, dreaming of your world and trying to picture to myself what it +was like, until I awoke with a start to find the tide far out, beyond the +bar. I was so frightened I screamed to my husband to come and help me, +but even if he heard me he could not get to me over that sandy ridge; and +if he wakes before I am back, and misses me, he will be so angry, for he +is very jealous. He will be hungry, too, and if he finds no supper +prepared he will eat some of the children!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear!" cried Lutey, quite horrified, "he surely wouldn't never do +such a dreadful thing!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, you do not know Mermen," she said sorrowfully. "They are such +gluttons, and will gobble up their children in a moment if their meals are +a little late. Scores of my children have been taken from me. That is +how it is," she explained, "that you do not oftener see us sea-folk. +Poor children, they never learn wisdom! Directly their father begins to +whistle or sing, they crowd about him, they are so fond of music, and he +gets them to come and kiss his cheek, or whisper in his ear, then he opens +wide his mouth, and in they go.—Oh dear, what shall I do! I have only +ten little ones left, and they will all be gone if I don't get home before +he wakes!"</p> + +<p>"Don't 'ee take on so, my dear. The tide will soon be in, and then you +can float off as quick as you like."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I cannot wait," she cried, tears running down her cheeks. +"Beautiful mortal, help me! Carry me out to sea, give me your aid for ten +minutes only, and I will make you rich and glorious for life. Ask of me +anything you want, and it shall be yours."</p> + +<p>Lutey was so enthralled by the loveliness of the mermaid, that he stood +gazing at her, lost in wonder. Her voice, which sounded like a gentle +murmuring stream, was to him the most lovely music he had ever heard. +He was so fascinated that he would have done anything she asked him. +He stooped to pick her up.</p> + +<p>"First of all, take this," she said, giving him her pearl comb, "take +this, to prove to you that you have not been dreaming, gentle stranger, +and that I will do for you what I have said. When you want me, comb the +sea three times with this, and call me by my name, 'Morwenna,' and I will +come to you. Now take me to the sea."</p> + +<p>Stooping again he picked her up in his arms. She clung tightly to him, +twining her long, cool arms around his neck, until he felt half +suffocated. "Tell me your wishes," she said sweetly, as they went along; +"you shall have three. Riches will, of course, be one."</p> + +<p>"No, lady," said Lutey thoughtfully, "I don't know that I'm so set on +getting gold, but I'll tell 'ee what I should like. I'd dearly love to be +able to remove the spells of the witches, to have power over the spirits +to make them tell me all I want to know, and I'd like to be able to cure +diseases."</p> + +<p>"You are the first unselfish man I have met," cried the mermaid +admiringly, "you shall have your wishes, and, in addition, I promise you +as a reward, that your family shall never come to want."</p> + +<p>In a state of great delight, Lutey trudged on with his lovely burthen, +while she chatted gaily to him of her home, of the marvels and the riches +of the sea, and the world that lay beneath it.</p> + +<p>"Come with me, noble youth," she cried, "come with me to our caves and +palaces; there are riches, beauty, and everything mortal can want. +Our homes are magnificent, the roofs are covered with diamonds and other +gems, so that it is ever light and sparkling, the walls are of amber and +coral. Your floors are of rough, ugly rocks, ours are of mother-of-pearl. +For statuary we have the bodies of earth's most beautiful sons and +daughters, who come to us in ships, sent by the King of the Storms. +We embalm them, so that they look more lovely even than in life, with +their eyes still sparkling, their lips of ruby-red, and the delicate pink +of the sea-shell in their cheeks. Come and see for yourself how well we +care for them, and how reposeful they look in their pearl and coral homes, +with sea-plants growing around them, and gold and silver heaped at their +feet. They crossed the world to get it, and their journeys have not been +failures. Will you come, noble stranger? Come to be one of us whose +lives are all love, and sunshine, and merriment?"</p> + +<p>"None of it's in my line, I'm thinking, my dear," said Lutey. "I'd rather +come across some of the things that have gone down in the wrecks, wines +and brandy, laces and silks; there's a pretty sight of it all gone to the +bottom, one time and another, I'm thinking."</p> + +<p>"Ah yes! We have vast cellars full of the choicest wines ever made, and +caves stored with laces and silks. Come, stranger, come, and take all you +want."</p> + +<p>"Well," answered the old smuggler, who was thinking what a fine trade he +could do, if only he could reach those caves and cellars, "I must say I'd +like to, 'tis very tempting, but I should never live to get there, +I'm thinking. I should be drownded or smothered before I'd got half-way."</p> + +<p>"No, oh no, I can manage that for you. I will make two slits under your +chin, your lovely countenance will not suffer, for your beard will hide +them. Such a pair of gills is all you want, so do not fear. Do not leave +me, generous-hearted youth. Come to the mermaid's home!" They were in +the sea by this time, and the breakers they wanted to reach were not far +off. Lutey felt strangely tempted to go with this Siren; her flashing +green eyes had utterly bewitched him by this time, and her promises had +turned his head. She saw that he was almost consenting, almost in her +power. She clasped her long, wet, finny fingers more closely round his +neck, and pressed her cool lips to his cheeks.</p> + +<p>Another instant, and Lutey would have gone to his doom, but at that moment +there came from the shore the sound of a dog barking as though in +distress. It was the barking of Lutey's own dog, a great favourite with +its master. Lutey turned to look. At the edge of the water the poor +creature stood; evidently frantic to follow its master, it dashed into the +sea and out again, struggling, panting. Beyond, on the cliff, stood his +home, the windows flaming against the sun, his garden, and the country +round looking green and beautiful; the smoke was rising from his chimney, +—ah, his supper! The thought of his nice hot meal broke the spell, and he +saw his danger.</p> + +<p>"Let me go, let me go!" he shrieked, trying to lower the mermaid to the +ground. She only clung the more tightly to him. He felt a sudden fear +and loathing of the creature with the scaly body, and fish's tail. Her +green eyes no longer fascinated him. He remembered all the tales he had +heard of the power of mermaids, and their wickedness, and grew more and +more terrified.</p> + +<p>"Let me go!" he yelled again, "unwind your gashly great tail from about my +legs, and your skinny fingers from off my throat, or I'll—I'll kill you!" +and with the same he whipped his big clasp-knife from his pocket.</p> + +<p>As the steel flashed before the mermaid's eyes she slipped from him and +swam slowly away, but as she went she sang, and the words floated back to +Lutey mournfully yet threateningly. "Farewell, farewell for nine long +years. Then, my love, I will come again. Mine, mine, for ever mine!"</p> + +<p>Poor Lutey, greatly relieved to see her disappear beneath the waves, +turned and waded slowly back to land, but so shaken and upset was he by +all that had happened, that it was almost more than he could accomplish. +On reaching the shore he just managed to scramble to the shed where he +kept many of the treasures he had smuggled from time to time, but having +reached it he dropped down in a deep, overpowering sleep.</p> + +<p>Poor old Ann Betty Lutey was in a dreadful state of mind when supper-time +came and went and her husband had not returned. He had never missed it +before. All through the night she watched anxiously for him, but when +breakfast-time came, and still there was no sign of him, she could not +rest at home another minute, and started right away in search of him.</p> + +<p>She did not have to search far, though. Outside the door of the shed she +found the dog lying sleeping, and as the dog was seldom seen far from his +master, she thought she would search the shed first,—and there, of +course, she found her husband.</p> + +<p>He was still sound asleep. Ann Betty, vexed at once at having been +frightened for nothing, shook him none too gently. "Here, Lutey, get up +to once, do you hear!" she cried crossly. "Why ever didn't 'ee come in to +supper,—such a beautiful bit of roast as I'd got, too! Where've 'ee +been? What 'ave 'ee been doing? What 'ave 'ee been sleeping here for?"</p> + +<p>Lutey raised himself into a sitting position. "Who are you?" he shouted. +"Are you the beautiful maiden come for me? Are you Morwenna?"</p> + +<p>"Whatever are you talking about? You haven't called me beautiful for the +last thirty years, and I ain't called Morwenna. I'm Ann Betty Lutey, your +own lawful wife, and if you don't know me, you must be gone clean out of +your mind."</p> + +<p>"Ann Betty Lutey," said the old man solemnly, "if you're my lawful wife +you've had a narrow escape this night of being left a widow woman, and you +may be thankful you've ever set eyes on me again."</p> + +<p>"Come in and have some breakfast," said Ann Betty Lutey sternly, "and if +you ain't better then I'll send for the doctor. It's my belief your brain +is turned."</p> + +<p>Lutey got up obediently and went in to his breakfast; indeed, he was glad +enough of it, for he was light-headed from want of food. His breakfast +did him good. Before he had finished it he was able to tell his wife +about his adventure the night before, and he told it so gravely and +sensibly that Ann Betty believed every word of it, and no longer thought +his brain was turned.</p> + +<p>Indeed, she was so much impressed by his story that before many hours had +passed she had gone round to every house in the parish spreading the news, +and to prove the truth of it she produced the pearl comb.</p> + +<p>Then, oh dear, the gossiping that went on! It really was dreadful! +The women neglected their homes, their children, and everything else for +the whole of that week; and for months after old Lutey was besieged by all +the sick and sorry for miles and miles around, who came to him to be +cured. He did such a big business in healing people, that not a doctor +for miles round could earn a living. Everyone went to old Lutey, and when +it was found that he had power over witchcraft, too, he became the most +important man in the whole country.</p> + +<p>Lutey had been so rude and rough to the mermaiden when he parted from her, +that no one would have been surprised if she had avenged herself on him +somehow, and punished him severely. But no, she was true to all her +promises. He got all his wishes, and neither he nor his descendants have +ever come to want. Better far, though, would it have been for him had it +been otherwise, for he paid dearly enough for his wishes in the end.</p> + +<p>Nine years from that very time, on a calm moonlight night, Lutey, +forgetting all about the mermaid and her threats, arranged to go out with +a friend to do a little fishing. There was not a breath of wind stirring, +and the sea was like glass, so that a sail was useless, and they had to +take to the oars. Suddenly, though, without any puff of wind, or anything +else to cause it, the sea rose round the boat in one huge wave, covered +with a thick crest of foam, and in the midst of the foam was Morwenna!</p> + +<p>Morwenna! as lovely as ever, her arms outstretched, her clear green eyes +fixed steadily, triumphantly on Lutey. She did not open her lips, or +make a sign, she only gazed and gazed at her victim.</p> + +<p>For a moment he looked at her as though bewildered, then like one bereft +of his senses by some spell, he rose in the boat, and turned his face +towards the open sea. "My time is come," he said solemnly and sadly, and +without another word to his frightened companion he sprang out of the boat +and joined the mermaid. For a yard or two they swam in silence side by +side, then disappeared beneath the waves, and the sea was as smooth again +as though nothing had happened.</p> + +<p>From that moment poor Lutey has never been seen, nor has his body been +found. Probably he now forms one of the pieces of statuary so prized by +the mermaiden, and stands decked with sea-blossoms, with gold heaped at +his feet. Or, maybe, with a pair of gills slit under his chin, he swims +about in their beautiful palaces, and revels in the cellars of shipwrecked +wines. The misfortunes to his family did not end, though, with Lutey's +disappearance, for, no matter how careful they are, how far they live from +the sea, or what precautions they take to protect themselves, every ninth +year one of old Lutey's descendants is claimed by the sea.</p> + + +<a name="2HCH0011"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE WICKED SPECTRE.</h3> + + +<p>There was once upon a time a good old Cornish family of the name of +Rosewarne. Well-born, well-to-do gentlepeople they were, who had always +lived in their own fine old house on their own estate, and never knew what +it was to want any comfort or luxury.</p> + +<p>The family in time, though, grew larger than their income, and their pride +and their dignity were greater than either, so that in trying to support +the large family according to their larger dignity, the poor little income +got quite swallowed up and the whole family of Rosewarne became involved +in poverty and great difficulties.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rosewarne, the father of the last of the family to live on the +property, employed for his lawyer and man of business an attorney called +Ezekiel Grosse, and, as so often happens, as fast as Mr. Rosewarne went +down in the world, his lawyer went up.</p> + +<p>Ezekiel grew rich, no one knew how, and prospered in every way; Mr. +Rosewarne grew poor, and lost in every way. Nothing on the property paid, +and at last, to his great grief and never-ceasing regret, Mr. Rosewarne +had to sell his beloved home and everything belonging to him. Then, who +should come forward to buy it, as soon as ever it was put up for sale, +but his own lawyer, Ezekiel Grosse!</p> + +<p>Everybody wondered, and most people declared that Ezekiel could not have +made such a large sum honestly by his business; that he must have other +and less straight methods of getting money. Anyhow, whether he made it +honestly, or dishonestly, he had enough to buy the estate he coveted, and +as soon as the old family could turn out, he himself took up his abode in +the fine old house, and a very proud man he was.</p> + +<p>If, though, he was a proud man as he sat in the spacious library, or +wandered through the lofty rooms and noble old hall, he could not have +been a very happy one, and very little enjoyment could he have got out of +his new possession, for, from the very hour he entered and took up his +abode there, such unearthly and mysterious noises, such fearful screams +and gruesome groans worried and haunted and dogged him, as made his hair +stand on end, and nearly scared him out of his wits. A ghost, too, +appeared in the park as soon as night fell.</p> + +<p>As Ezekiel crossed the park he would be suddenly confronted by a white, +worn face and a pair of great, ghastly, luminous eyes. It would rise up +from the ground in front of him, or pop round trees and bushes at him, or, +on raising his eyes, he would find it confronting him over a hedge. And +before very long the ghost, not content with making noises in the house, +and haunting the park, took it into his head to enter the house, and make +that his permanent home.</p> + +<p>When Ezekiel came face to face with him indoors, he thought he was not +such a terrible ghost after all, and much of his fear left him, for the +ghost to look at seemed only an infirm old man. Indeed the lawyer found +him less terrifying than the horrible uncanny sounds which seemed to come +from nowhere, and could not be accounted for.</p> + +<p>By and by, though, the ghost's visits were repeated so often, and he began +to make such mysterious signs and movements, that the surly lawyer soon +lost patience, and before long grew so seriously angry that he determined +to put an end to the annoyance and rid himself of his tormentor once and +for all.</p> + +<p>The very next night as Ezekiel sat alone in his office looking over some +papers, and making up his accounts, the ghost glided into the room as +usual, and taking up his position opposite, at once began to make the +usual mysterious and extraordinary signs. The lawyer was very irritable, +he had lost an important case, and was out of spirits, he was unusually +nervous, too. For a while he bore the presence of the ghost and his +extraordinary behaviour with a certain amount of patience, then suddenly +he lost his temper.</p> + +<p>"For pity's sake tell me what it is you want with me, and be done with it, +can't you?" he cried angrily.</p> + +<p>The ghost immediately stopped his gesticulations, and spoke. +"Ezekiel Grosse," said he, in a hollow, ghostly voice, "Ezekiel Grosse, +follow me. I can show you buried gold, the wealth for which thou +longest."</p> + +<p>Now no man in the world loved gold better than did the attorney, but he +was anything but a brave man, and even he himself knew that he was not a +good one, and the thought of going alone with this uncanny guide, to some +desolate spot where no one could see or hear him if he called for help, +made his teeth chatter and his knees tremble.</p> + +<p>He hesitated, and gazed searchingly at the little old ghost, but to save +his life he could not utter a word. He nearly suffocated with longing to +possess the secret and know where the treasure lay, but he dared not ask; +and all the time the spectre stood staring at him with unwinking scornful +eyes, as if the sight of the cowardly, trembling man gave him unfeigned +pleasure.</p> + +<p>At length, beckoning Ezekiel to follow him, he turned and walked towards +the door. Then Ezekiel, fearful of losing the secret and the wealth, +threw aside every feeling but greed, and sprang to follow—at least, he +tried to spring, but so firmly was he secured to his chair he could not +budge.</p> + +<p>"Come," said the ghost imperatively.</p> + +<p>Ezekiel tried again, but great as was his longing to find the gold, he +could not obey.</p> + +<p>"Gold," whispered the ghost in a whining, craven tone, "don't you hear me, +man? Gold!"</p> + +<p>"Where?" gasped the lawyer, making another desperate struggle.</p> + +<p>"Come with me, and you shall see," answered the spectre, moving further +through the doorway; and the lawyer struggled like a madman to get free +from the chair and to follow.</p> + +<p>"Come, man, come," shrieked the ghost in a perfectly awful voice. +"Ezekiel Grosse, I command thee." And with that Ezekiel, by a power +stronger than his own, was forced to rise and to follow the old man +wheresoever he led him.</p> + +<p>Out through the hall they went, down through the park, and on and on by +ways the attorney did not know, until at last they arrived at a little +dell. The night was pitchy dark, and nothing could Ezekiel see but the +ghostly figure gliding along ahead of him, all lit by a weird +phosphorescent light. In the dell was a small granite cairn, and here the +ghost stopped and looked around for the attorney.</p> + +<p>"Ezekiel Grosse," said he, when Ezekiel had come up and was standing on +the other side of the cairn. "Ezekiel Grosse, thou longest for gold. +So did I! I won the prize, but I found no pleasure in it. Beneath those +stones lies treasure enough to make thee richer than thou hast ever +dreamed of. Dig for it, it is yours. Obtain it and keep it all to +yourself, and be one of the rich men of the earth, and when thou art +happiest I will come and look upon you."</p> + +<p>With that the spectre disappeared, and Ezekiel, overcome with fright and +amazement, was left alone by the cairn.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said at last, recovering his courage, "I don't care if you are +ghost or devil, I will soon find out if you are telling me lies or not!" +A harsh laugh sounded through the darkness, as though in answer to his +brave words, and once again the attorney trembled with fear.</p> + +<p>He did not begin his search that night, but taking careful note of the +exact spot, he returned to his house to think over all that had happened; +and what he decided was that he was not going to let any squeamishness +stand in the way of a fortune.</p> + +<p>"I'll tip over that old cairn," he said, with a great show of coolness, +"and I'll search every foot of ground under it and around it, and it shall +not be my fault if the treasure is not found!"</p> + +<p>So, a night or two later, armed with a crowbar and other tools, away he +started secretly, and found his way again to the lonely dell, where he +soon dispersed the stones of the cairn and began his digging. The ground +was hard and flinty, and the work anything but easy, but he had not far to +dig before he came across something, something hard and round, which +increased his excitement until it nearly suffocated him.</p> + +<p>Feverishly he dug and dug, and cleared away the earth until at last he had +laid bare a large metallic urn sunk deep in the ground, an urn so large +and heavy that though he used his utmost strength, and his strength by +that time was almost that of a madman, he could not move it, much less +carry it home with him; and having brought no light he could not even +examine it. So all he could do that night was to cover it over again with +earth, and replace the stones on the top so that no one, coming upon it, +should guess that the cairn had been touched. Ezekiel scarcely knew how +to live through the next twenty-four hours, and as soon as it was dark on +the following evening he crept out of his house, with a dark lantern +concealed beneath his cloak.</p> + +<p>He knew his way to the dell so well now that he reached there very +quickly, and with very little trouble he threw down the cairn and laid +bare the urn again. By the light of the lantern he soon forced open the +lid, in spite of the trembling of his eager, covetous fingers. The lid +off he went to plunge his hand in boldly, when to his unspeakable delight +he found the thing full to the brim of gold coins of all sorts and sizes, +and from all countries, coins of the rarest and most valuable description!</p> + +<p>Glancing round every now and then to see that he was not followed, or that +no one had come upon him accidentally, he loaded every pocket in his +clothing with his treasure, then he buried the urn, rebuilt the cairn, and +hurried back to his house anxious to conceal his wealth in a place of +safety.</p> + +<p>From that time forward, whenever he could get out without arousing the +suspicions of his servants, he went night after night to the cairn, until +he had brought away every coin, and had them all carefully hidden in +Rosewarne House.</p> + +<p>And now, his treasure safe, himself the richest man in the county, +Ezekiel Grosse began to feel perfectly happy. He built new wings on to +the old house, he laid out the gardens, and made improvements everywhere; +even in his own clothing and his personal appearance.</p> + +<p>The people round could not help noticing the changes that were taking +place, the money that was being spent, and the improvements that were +being made. You may be quite sure, too, that the attorney took care to +parade his wealth, for, having money, a fine house, fine clothes, and +carriages and servants, indeed, everything but friends, he began to want +friends too, and people to whom to show off his grandeur.</p> + +<p>And before very long, though everyone knew his character, and what he had +been and what he had done, the neighbouring gentry began to seek his +acquaintance, and many of them declared themselves his friends.</p> + +<p>After that the attorney broke forth in quite a new way, he began to give +entertainments more lavish and splendid than anything of the kind ever +known in the county. Everyone flocked to him, people plotted and +struggled to get invitations from him. They quite ignored the fact that +but a little while before he had been a poor rogue of an attorney whom +they all despised, and that he had come by his wealth by means which no +one had been able to fathom. They all seemed to be bewitched, to be under +some spell.</p> + +<p>High revels were constantly held at Rosewarne House, now, and the gayest +and liveliest of all the people gathered there was the master himself. +He was as happy at this time as a man could be, and a great part of his +happiness was due to the fact that he had never set eyes on his ghostly +visitor since the night he conducted him to the treasure in the dell.</p> + +<p>Months went by, the feastings and gaieties grew more and more splendid, +the hospitality more and more profuse, those who had not his acquaintance, +craved it, and everyone bowed before the 'Lord of Rosewarne,' as in time +he came to be called.</p> + +<p>Indeed, he went about as though he were the lord of the whole county, and +everyone his inferior. He travelled always in a chaise and four, he kept +numberless carriages, horses, servants. He was elected to every high +position in the county, and he was never tired of preaching of the beauty +of honesty and uprightness, and our duty to our poorer brethren.</p> + +<p>So things went on until one Christmas Eve, when there was gathered at +Rosewarne a large company of the most beautiful and well-born of all the +families in Cornwall. Such a gathering had seldom been seen as was +gathered that night in the great hall for the ball Ezekiel Grosse was +giving; and in the kitchen was an equally large party engaged in the same +form of enjoyment.</p> + +<p>Food and wine were provided in lavish profusion, everything was on a most +sumptuous scale. Merriment ran high, everyone was in the gayest of +spirits, and gayest of all was Ezekiel. Now he felt the power of wealth, +now he was positive that all other things were as nothing to it; for had +it not made him the most popular, the most important, the most welcomed +and sought-after man in the county?</p> + +<p>All had just reached the very highest pitch of mirth and excitement that +could be reached, when a sudden chill, as though the hand of death were on +them, fell on the company! The dancing ceased, no one quite knew why, and +the dancers looked at each other uneasily, each frightened by the other's +pallor.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, whence, or how come, no one knew,—in the middle of the +hall they saw a little old man standing gazing at the host with eyes from +which darted a hatred which was perfectly venomous. Everyone wanted to +ask who he was, and how he had come, but no one dared. They looked at +Ezekiel Grosse, expecting him in his usually haughty way to demand what +right he had there;—but Ezekiel Grosse stood like a figure hewn out of +stone.</p> + +<p>It all took place in about a minute, and then the old man vanished in the +same mysterious way that he had come.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had gone, the host, who a moment before had been petrified +with terror, as quickly recovered himself, and burst into uproarious +laughter. It was forced laughter, though, unnatural mirth, as most of +those present could not help feeling.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha! my friends. What do you think of my little surprise? How do you +like my Father Christmas? Cleverly managed, was it not? But you all look +rather alarmed by his sudden movements. I hope my little joke has not +frightened you. Hand round the wine and punch there, then we will on with +the dancing again!"</p> + +<p>Try as he would, though, he could not put new life into the evening's +festivities, the mirth was dead, the pleasure overcast, for there was +still that strange deathlike chill in the air. The guests, frightened, +and convinced that something was wrong, made various excuses and one by +one took their departure.</p> + +<p>From that evening everything was changed. Ezekiel Grosse and his +entertainments were never the same again. He never acknowledged any +difference, and he gave more parties, and issued more invitations than +ever, but at every feast, every dance, every entertainment of any sort, +there was always one uninvited guest, a little wizened, weird old man, who +sat back in his chair and never spoke to anyone, but gazed all the time at +Ezekiel with stern, uncanny eyes which frightened all who caught sight of +them. Indeed, the effect he had on the guests was extraordinary; under +the chill of his presence they could not talk, or eat or drink, or keep up +any appearance of enjoyment.</p> + +<p>Ezekiel was the bravest of them. He tried to encourage them to talk and +laugh,—talking and laughing loudly himself all the time, but all was +unnatural. His apologies for his strange visitor were numerous. He was +an old friend who liked to come to him and see new faces and young life, +but was too old to do more than look on. He was deaf and dumb, that was +why his conduct was so strange. Sometimes the little old man sat unmoved +while these stories were told, at other times, though, he would spring up, +and with a burst of mocking laughter would disappear no one knew how.</p> + +<p>By and by, of course, Ezekiel Grosse's friends began to leave him. +They declined his invitations, and omitted to include him in theirs, so +that in a comparatively short time he had not a single friend remaining of +all those he had spent so much upon.</p> + +<p>Disappointed and miserable, he soon became the wreck of his old self. +Alone in his luxurious house now, save for his old clerk John Cull, he +could never be said to be quite alone, either, for wherever he went, +or whatever he did, the spectre haunted him persistently. Under this +persecution the attorney became a brokendown, miserable man, with every +feature stamped with terror. For a long time he bore with the merciless +ghost without complaining, but at last he came to an end of his endurance. +In heart-rending terms, with tears and piteous pleading, he begged the old +man to go away and leave him. He had been punished sufficiently, he said. +But his prayers were poured into deaf ears. The spectre absolutely +refused to go, and for some time stuck to his word. Then, at last he +consented, on one condition, and that was that Ezekiel should give up all +his wealth to someone the spectre should name.</p> + +<p>"Who am I to give it to?" gasped Ezekiel humbly.</p> + +<p>"To John Cull, the man you have overworked and underpaid for years. +John Cull, your clerk and dependent."</p> + +<p>Ezekiel Grosse had been given wealth, happiness, friends, only to be +deprived of all, to be lowered in the eyes of all men, with not one to +pity him. This was the punishment designed by the frightful spectre, +who was no more nor less than an ancestor of the family Ezekiel Grosse had +robbed, the Rosewarnes. He had planned to punish the lawyer by whose +wickedness his family had been robbed and made homeless, and he carried +through his plan.</p> + +<p>Poor Ezekiel Grosse did not live long in his disappointment and shame. +He was found dead one day, with strange marks upon him, and people who saw +it say that when he died the weird little spectre stood beside him with a +pleased smile on his face. As soon as it was dark, he disappeared, +and the story goes that he took Ezekiel's body with him, for from that day +to this it has never been seen.</p> + +<a name="2HCH0012"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE STORY OF THE LOVERS' COVE.</h3> + + +<p>This is a sad story,—at least, some will think it sad! It is not about +fairies, or giants, or witches, but about two lovers who loved each other +above and beyond everything else in the world;—which is uncommon, +for most people love themselves in that way first, and someone else next.</p> + +<p>These two lovers loved each other passionately and devotedly. They used +to meet in the Lovers' Cove, or Porthangwartha,—which means the same,— +and many a happy meeting they had, and well did everything go until they +told their friends. After that there was such a talk and such a stir, and +such hardness and misery, that the lovers never again knew what it was to +be happy. The parents said that they <i>should not</i> love each other,—which +was foolish, for they could not prevent it; that they should never meet +and never marry, which was cruel, for this they could prevent, and did. +So the poor lovers led a life of utter wretchedness, for they were +persecuted sadly, and were breaking their hearts for each other.</p> + +<p>At last their persecutors ended by driving the young man away. +He determined to go to the West Indies. Then the relations congratulated +themselves heartily that they had got their own way, and parted the lovers +for ever.</p> + +<p>In spite of all their precautions, though, those two poor heart-broken +lovers managed to meet once more; and as it was to be their very last +sight of each other for they did not know how long, perhaps for ever, +it was a very, very sad parting indeed.</p> + +<p>It was in the Lovers' Cove that they met, and there, under the frosty +light of the moon, they bade each other their sad good-byes, and while +they clung to each other for the last time, they made a solemn vow that, +living or dead, they would meet again in that same place at that same hour +of the same day three years hence.</p> + +<p>So the young man sailed away, and the girl lived with her parents, +going about her duties quietly and patiently, and, in spite of her +sadness, with a look of hope in her eyes that increased and increased as +the weeks and months slipped by. Her parents noticed it, and told +themselves that she had forgotten the banished lover, and would soon learn +to care for one of those they approved of. When, though, she had refused +to listen to any of the others who came wooing her, they began to fear +that they were mistaken, and were puzzled to know what it was that was +driving the wistfulness from her face, and the languor from her step.</p> + +<p>So the long years dragged to a close, and at last, as it was bound to do, +the end of the three years drew very near, and with each day the girl's +step grew lighter and more buoyant, her eyes glistened and her lips curved +in a smile that was new to them. Now and then even a snatch of song burst +from them. Her parents had no doubt now that she had quite forgotten the +lover whose name had not been mentioned in her presence since the day he +sailed.</p> + +<p>Then, at last, the three years were really past and gone, the last day +dawned and wore away to evening, and then night fell, moonlit, still, +beautiful, a fitting night for lovers who were to meet once more, whether +living or dead. In the Cove it was as light as day, one could count each +wave as it rose and fell, and see distinctly the white foam at its edge as +it broke on the beach. The sands gleamed like silver in the sad white +light save where the rocks threw dark shadows.</p> + +<p>All round the coast the witches and wizards were busy manufacturing their +spells. High up on a cliff overlooking the Lovers' Cove an old woman,— +not a witch,—was sitting preparing her herbs and simples,—which must +always be done by moonlight,—when suddenly she was startled to see down +in the Cove below her the figure of the maiden swiftly crossing the sands. +The old dame, who recognized the girl, was startled for it was nearly +twelve o'clock, and in that part most people are in bed by nine.</p> + +<p>Swiftly and unhesitatingly the girl made her way to a rock far out on the +sands, and close to the water. Up the rock she climbed, and sat herself +down as though it had been noon on a fine summer's day. Did not she know, +wondered the old woman nervously, that the tide was rapidly rising, and +the rock being fast surrounded? Apparently, though, the maiden did not +know, or care, for there she sat immovable, her face turned towards the +sea, gazing at it with bright intent eyes, as though searching its face +for something.</p> + +<p>At last the old woman grew so alarmed she could endure the suspense no +longer. The girl's danger increased every moment, and she felt it her +duty to go and warn her, and give her what help she could. So with +trembling limbs and fast-beating heart she hurried as fast as she was able +down the side of the cliff. The path, though, was rough and winding, and +she was old. At one point the end of the beach where the girl sat was cut +off from her view. It was only for a moment, certainly, yet when the old +dame caught sight of her again, she saw, to her amazement, that a fine +young sailor had also mounted the rock, and was seated close beside her!</p> + +<p>He too, sailor though he was, seemed quite unconscious of their danger. +They sat there on the water-surrounded rock, he with arm around the girl, +she with her head on his breast, oblivious of everything but each other.</p> + +<p>"Oh ho! my young woman!" said the old dame to herself, "so this is how you +pass your time while your lover is away! and after the way you pretended +to love him, too!" She felt quite cross, for she was very tired and very +frightened and in no mood to smile at lovers' foolishness. She sat +herself down on a rock by the path they would have to ascend, determined +to await their return, partly to give the maiden a good sound scolding for +her reckless behaviour, and partly to satisfy her curiosity by seeing who +the young man was who had won her heart away from the absent lover.</p> + +<p>The lovers, though, appeared in no hurry to move. There they sat clinging +together, with the moon shining down coldly on them, and the water +gleaming around them. The wind had died away until there seemed to be +scarcely a breath of air stirring, and the sea lay as calm as a lake. +The whole scene resembled Fairyland, with the lovers as two spirits +watching over the Cove. The tide rose higher and higher, and the only +sound to be heard in that lone, desolate spot was the lazy plash of the +waves on the shore, and around the cliffs.</p> + +<p>In a short time the water rose so high that the rock was almost covered; +to get off it now the lovers would have to swim; yet still they paid no +heed. They seemed lost to everything but each other.</p> + +<p>It was all so ghostly and uncanny that the poor old woman grew wild with +nervousness and excitement. She called and called to them at the top of +her voice, but she failed to make it reach them. The plash of the waves +and the sighing of the gently heaving sea seemed to swallow it up. +And when at last a wave came up and washed right over them, she shrieked +aloud, distracted by her own helplessness, and covered her eyes with her +apron. She could not bear to look and watch them being drowned.</p> + +<p>With her face hidden she waited, breathless, for their shrieks for help,— +but none came. She uncovered her eyes and looked at the rock,—it was +bare, save for the water which now covered it. She gazed frantically +around, first at the beach, then out to sea; the beach was empty, save for +herself, but out on the sea were the two lovers, floating out on the +scarcely moving waters, hand in hand, gazing into each other's eyes, +smiling happily and without sign of struggle. Further and further away +they drifted. Then across the still waters came the sound of sweet low +voices singing, and in the stillness which hung over everything the very +words sounded distinctly:—</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p class = "noindent">I am thine,<br> +<span class = "ind3">Thou art mine,</span><br> + Beyond control;<br> + In the wave<br> + Be the grave<br> +<span class = "ind3"> Of heart and soul.</span><br></p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>Slowly, slowly they passed out through the moonlit sea, sweetly chanting +their pathetic song; until at last they turned and faced the shore; and in +that moment the old woman recognized in the sailor the lonely maiden's +lover, who had been driven away by her parents so long before.</p> + +<p>One long look they took at the Lovers' Cove and the black rock on which +they had met, then turned their happy faces to each other, their lips +meeting in one long, long kiss, and while their lips were meeting they +sank quickly beneath the waves.</p> + +<p>A few days later the maiden's body was found not far from the Lovers' +Cove; and some time after news reached the village that on the very night +that she had been seen with him on the rock he had been killed in a +foreign land.</p> + +<a name="2HCH0013"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE SILVER TABLE.</h3> + + +<p>Off Cudden Point, in the parish of Perranuthnoe, there lies buried in the +sea, treasure enough to make anyone who finds it, one of the wealthiest +persons in the whole county.</p> + +<p>Now and then, during the spring-tides, when the water is very low, +small portions of it are found, just enough to keep up the excitement, +and cause dozens of children from all the neighbourhood round to gather +there in a swarm, to search among the seaweeds, and dig in the sands, +and venture out in the sea itself as far as they dare. It is only about +once in a blue moon that they do come upon treasure, but there is always +the hope that any hour or day may bring them a big find.</p> + +<p>Jewellery and coins, and silver goblets, are some of the treasures they +seek, but the greatest of all is no less a thing than a table, a large and +massive table, too, made of solid silver.</p> + +<p>I am sure you would like to know why they expect such a prize, so I will +tell you.</p> + +<p>Many, many years ago there lived in those parts a very wealthy man. +He was also a very wicked one, indeed it was said that he was no other +than the Lord of Pengerswick, of whom you will have read in another of +these stories. It was rather difficult to say for certain, for the wicked +old man being an enchanter could go about in all kinds of disguises, +so that only those who had the gift of 'second sight' could discover him.</p> + +<p>Anyhow, if this rich, bad man was not the Lord of Pengerswick he was +someone just as wicked, and just as rich. I believe, though, it was that +old enchanter, and, at any rate, we will call him so for the time.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman had plenty of money and he spent it freely too, for it +cost him no trouble to get. He ground it out of the poor, and in the most +cruel manner. As he got it so easily he did not mind wasting it, and he +kept 'open house' as they call it,—that is, he always had a houseful of +visitors, men and women who were nearly as bad as he was, and he provided +them with every kind of luxury, and pleasure, and amusement that he could +think of. They rode pell-mell over the country on fiery, unmanageable +horses, breaking down the farmers' hedges, trampling down the land, +hunting, shooting, dancing and gambling! They did anything and everything +that was wild, and foolish, and exciting, in order to make the days pass +pleasantly.</p> + +<p>One very, very hot summer's day, though, when the sun was pouring down +pitilessly, scorching up everything, and there was scarcely a breath of +air to be found, and it was too hot to dance, or to ride, or do anything +tiring, this gay crew thought they would like to spend some hours on the +sea, where it was cooler than on the land.</p> + +<p>So the Lord of Pengerswick, always glad to show off his possessions, +ordered his largest and most sumptuous barge to be set afloat, and stored +with every kind of luxury, and every sort of dainty thing he could think +of, and the gay party went on board. Seated on silken cushions under an +awning of cloth of gold, they began at once to feast on the marvellous +dainties spread for them on a large solid silver table, and all the time +they feasted and laughed and jested, delicate music and singing wafted +towards them from the far end of the boat, to charm their ears if they +cared to listen.</p> + +<p>While, though, the awning sheltered them from the sun, it also concealed +from them a little cloud which presently appeared in the sky; and the +music, talk and laughter drowned the sound of a little breeze that sighed +round the vessel.</p> + +<p>The little breeze sighed, and went away unnoticed, but presently returned, +not little now, but very big, and determined to be heard; but they were, +by this time, making such a noise on board, that even the louder breeze +went unheeded, until, grown quite angry, in a gust of fury it struck the +boat—and what happened next no one knows, for none were left to tell the +tale,—except the breeze, and he went scuffling off to another point.</p> + +<p>This only is known, that where the barge had floated nothing was to be +seen but a desolate expanse of water, but for years and years afterwards, +when the wind was in the right direction, the fishermen heard sounds of +laughter and talking coming up from the bottom of the sea, the rattle of +plates and the jingle of glasses, and through it all the strains of sweet +music, and deep voices singing. If the moon was in the right quarter and +the water very still, far down beneath the waves could be seen the +gleaming silver table, and the wicked old Lord of Pengerswick and his +guests still seated round it keeping up their revels.</p> + +<p>The feasting must all have ceased by this time, though, for no sound is +ever heard now, and it is long since anyone has caught sight of the +pleasure-loving crew. A part of the treasure has been cast up by the sea, +and seized by the descendants of the poor people the old lord robbed, and +it seems quite possible that if they only wait long enough, and the tide +goes out far enough, someone will be so fortunate as to find the silver +table.</p> + + +<a name="2HCH0014"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>CRUEL COPPINGER, THE DANE.</h3> + + + +<p>One of the most terrific storms ever known was raging on the north coast +of Cornwall. The gale, blowing up channel from the southwest, broke with +such fury on that bold, unsheltered piece of coast by Morwenstow, that the +wreckers, who were gathered on the shore and heights above, had more than +enough to do to keep their feet. The rain came down in driving sheets, +shutting off the sea from their eager eyes, so that they could see nothing +of the prey they were watching for.</p> + +<p>Beaten down, drenched, well-nigh frozen, even these hardy men were on the +point of giving way before the fury of the hurricane, when suddenly from +out the sheets of driving rain loomed a vessel, a foreigner. If she had +been a phantom ship, as at first they thought she must be, she could not +have appeared more strangely, suddenly, or unexpectedly. But it was no +phantom battling so bravely, yet so hopelessly with the fierce waves, +ploughing her way through them, defying their efforts to draw her down and +devour her. She rolled and lurched heavily, and was driven closer and +closer on to the jagged rocks of that cruel coast; her sails were in rags, +and she herself was utterly beyond control.</p> + +<p>As she drew nearer, the terror-stricken faces of those on board +could be plainly seen, clinging to each other or to the masts, +praying, gesticulating, or too frightened to do anything but gaze with +fixed and ghastly eyes at the awful fate awaiting them.</p> + +<p>Standing near the wheel was a man who, even at such a time, seemed to hold +himself apart from the rest. He was of gigantic size, towering above the +heads of the rest of them. He had stripped himself of his clothing, and +was evidently awaiting a suitable moment to plunge off the vessel into the +boiling ocean, and fight his hand-to-hand battle with death. At last the +right moment came. Without an instant's hesitation he plunged over the +side into the raging waters. Then rising again, in a moment or two, to +the surface, like a perfect Hercules, he fought his way through the +billows, his strong arm and massive chest defying their power. On, on he +went, now riding on the top of a huge boiling mountain of water, now down +in the hollow, with the raging sea rising above him, so that it seemed he +must be swallowed and crushed in their embrace.</p> + +<p>Long the struggle continued, and the excitement on shore grew intense, +for no one thought it possible that he could reach the land alive. +But, after a terrible fight which would have exhausted anyone not endowed +with supernatural powers, his bravery was rewarded, and with one +tremendous leap he landed safely on the shore, well beyond the deadly +clutch of the waves.</p> + +<p>All the people of the country-side seemed now to have gathered to witness +the marvellous combat, men and women, on horse and on foot, wreckers, +fishermen, and what not,—and into the midst of them all rushed the +dripping stranger. Apparently not in the least exhausted, he snatched the +scarlet cloak off the shoulders of an old woman, and wrapping it about +himself, as suddenly sprang up behind a young woman, who was sitting on +her horse watching the wreck, and urging the animal on to a furious +gallop, rode off in the direction of the young woman's home. The people +shouted and screamed, for they thought the poor girl was being carried +off, no one knew where, by the Evil One himself; but the strange cries, +which they took to be the language of the Lower Regions, were only a +foreign tongue, and the horse made for its own stable by instinct.</p> + +<p>When Miss Dinah Hamlyn and her reeking steed dashed into the courtyard of +her own home, closely clasped by a tall wicked-looking man wrapped in a +scarlet cloak, the outcry was doubled. There was nothing to be done, +though, but to give the stranger a suit of Mr. Hamlyn's clothes, and some +food, and very comely he looked in the long coat, the handsome waistcoat, +knee-breeches, and buckled shoes.</p> + +<p>He accepted the clothes, and the food, and indeed all their attention, +as a matter of course, and having informed them that his name was +Coppinger, and that he was a Dane, he seemed to think he had done all that +was required of him, and settled down in the family circle as though he +were one of them, and as welcome as though he were an old family friend.</p> + +<p>Of the distressed vessel, and the rest of the shipwrecked crew, nothing +more was seen from the moment the big man left her. How or where she +disappeared no one knew, all eyes had been fixed on the struggling swimmer +from the moment he leapt into the sea; and when they had looked again the +ship had gone, and no trace or sign of her or her crew was ever found on +that coast, or on any other.</p> + +<p>At first Coppinger made himself most agreeable to the people he had +appeared amongst, he was pleasant and kind beyond anything you can +imagine. Miss Dinah Hamlyn thought him a very attractive man, indeed, +and not only forgave him for his first treatment of her, but thought it +something to be proud of. Old Mr. Hamlyn liked the man, too, and was as +kind to him as could be, giving him the best he had, and even at last +consenting to his marriage with Miss Dinah herself, though against his own +feelings.</p> + +<p>Coppinger had given out that he was a Dane of noble birth and great +wealth, who had run away to escape marrying a lady he disliked. +Old Farmer Hamlyn did not like his daughter to marry a 'furriner,' and he +considered that people should marry in their own stations; but Dinah +herself loved the man all the better for what he had told them, and +between them they soon overcame the father's scruples, and the wedding-day +was fixed.</p> + +<p>The wedding-day had to be postponed, though, for Farmer Hamlyn fell ill, +grew rapidly worse, and in a very short time was dead and buried. As soon +as this was over a great change came over things. Master Coppinger began +to show himself in his true character, and a very black character indeed +his was! So black and so bad that for generations his mere name was a +terror to the people who lived in that part of the world, and is detested +to this day.</p> + +<p>As soon as poor Farmer Hamlyn had passed away, Coppinger made himself +master and controller of the house and all in it, even to the smallest +domestic affairs. Dinah he persuaded to marry him at once, and hardly had +she done so, when all the evil in his character made itself known, and as +though to make up for having so long suppressed his wicked passions, +he utterly threw off all appearance of goodness or respectability, and +poor respectable Farmer Hamlyn's quiet, happy home became a den of thieves +and vagabonds, and a meeting-place for all the lawless characters in the +county.</p> + +<p>Then it very soon came out that the whole country-side was infested with a +body of smugglers, wreckers, poachers, robbers, and murderers, over all of +whom 'Cruel Coppinger,' as he came to be called by the honest people in +the neighbourhood, was captain and ringleader.</p> + +<p>He and his gang worked their own wicked will, and the poor inhabitants of +the place were completely in their power, for there were no magistrates, +or rich men of power in that part, and no revenue officer dared show +himself. The clergyman was scared into silence, and Coppinger and his +band ruled the country-side.</p> + +<p>Very soon a regular system of smuggling was carried on. All sorts of +strange vessels appeared on that part of the coast, and were guided by +signals to a safe creek or cove, where they were unloaded, and the +valuable, illegal spoil brought in and hidden in the huge caves, which no +one but Coppinger and his crew dared to enter, for it would have meant +torture and death.</p> + +<p>By and by one particular vessel, the 'Black Prince,' Coppinger's own, +which he had had built for him in Denmark, became a perfect terror to all +the other vessels in the parts she frequented. Coppinger and his crew +sailed the seas as though they belonged to them, robbing, murdering, +and doing every evil thing they could think of.</p> + +<p>If a vessel chased them, they led her into such dangerous parts of the +coast that her whole crew invariably perished, while the 'Black Prince' +glided out by some intricate passage, and got safely off. If one of the +poor landsmen offended any of the gang, away he was dragged to Coppinger's +vessel, and there made to serve until he was ransomed, and as the people +were almost reduced to beggary by the rogues, there was very little chance +of the poor fellow's ever being free again.</p> + +<p>Wealth poured into their clutches, and Coppinger soon began to have +enormous quantities of gold, which he spent lavishly. Amongst other +things he bought a farm, which bordered on the sea, but the lawyer to whom +he was to pay the money was taken aback at receiving it in coins from +pretty nearly every country in the world, doubloons, ducats, dollars, +pistoles! At first he refused to accept them, but a look from Coppinger, +and a threat, made him change his mind. He accepted the coins without +another word, and handed over the papers.</p> + +<p>Of course, when Coppinger realized his power, and saw how everyone +feared him, he grew more and more daring. He closed up bridle-paths, to +which he had no possible right, and made new ones, where he had no right +to make them, and forbade anyone but his own friends to use them after a +certain hour in the evening, and no one dared disobey him. Their roads +were called 'Coppinger's Tracks,' and all met at a headland called +'Steeple Brink,' a huge hollow cliff which ran three hundred feet sheer up +from the beach, while the vast, roomy cave beneath it ran right back into +the land. Folks said it was as large as Kilkhampton Church, and they were +not far wrong.</p> + +<p>This was called 'Coppinger's Cave,' and here took place such scenes of +wickedness and cruelty as no one can imagine in these days. Here all the +stores were kept, wines, spirits, animals, silks, gold, tea, and +everything of value that they could lay hands on. No one but the crew +ever dared to show themselves there, for it was more than their lives were +worth, the crew being bound by a terrible oath to help their captain in +any wickedness he might choose to perpetrate. So it came to pass that +all, whether of his band or not, gave in to him, and were ruled by him as +though they were slaves and he their lord.</p> + +<p>His own house, too, was full of misery and noisy, disgraceful scenes. +When John Hamlyn died, Coppinger had obtained possession somehow of +everything belonging to him, with the exception of a large sum of money +which went to the widow. Coppinger meant to have this money too, though, +so he began by getting small sums from his mother-in-law from time to +time, until she at last refused to give him any more, and even his threats +and coaxings failed to move her.</p> + +<p>Cruel Coppinger was not a man to be baulked in any way, so he soon hit +upon a plan. Taking his wife to her room, he tied her to the post of the +great bedstead, then calling in her mother he told her that he was going +to flog Dinah with the cat-o'-nine-tails which he held in his hand, until +she handed over to him the money he had asked her for. They knew quite +well that he would be as good as his word, and that refusal meant death by +torture to Dinah; so the poor mother was compelled to give in, and finding +that this plan answered his purpose so well, he repeated the performance +until he had had nearly every penny poor old Mrs. Hamlyn was possessed of.</p> + +<p>Amongst the numerous animals he owned, there was one favourite mare, +—a vicious, uncontrollable creature,—on which he used to scour the +country at a terrible pace, spreading terror wherever he went. He never +cared in the least how many people or animals he knocked over and trampled +to death; the more weak and helpless they were the more he seemed to love +to hurt them.</p> + +<p>One evening, after spending a few festive hours at a neighbour's house, +he was just on the point of departing when he happened to notice seated by +the hearth a poor little half-witted tailor, who always went by the name +of 'Uncle Tom.'</p> + +<p>Uncle Tom was a very quiet, extremely nervous little man, well-known and +pitied by all. He went from house to house all over the countryside, +doing a day's work at one house, and half a day's at another, and in most +houses he was given a meal in addition to his trifling pay, for everyone +liked him, he was always willing and obliging, and had never harmed anyone +in his life.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa, Uncle Tom!" cried Coppinger boisterously, going up and laying +a heavy hand on the thin, shaking shoulder of the little tailor. +"We are both bound for the same direction. Come along with me, I'll give +you a lift on my mare."</p> + +<p>The old man shrank away nervously, mumbling all sorts of excuses, for he +above all people lived in deadly terror of Cruel Coppinger, also of his +vicious mare, and the idea of being at the mercy of them both nearly +scared away what few wits he had.</p> + +<p>The sight of his terror, though, only made Coppinger more determined to +frighten him. He loved to torment so helpless a victim, and the other +people present, partly from love of mischief, but chiefly to please +Coppinger, egged the tormentor on.</p> + +<p>In spite of his struggles and entreaties they hoisted the poor little +tailor on to the back of the prancing, restive beast, and held him there +while Coppinger sprang up.</p> + +<p>No sooner were they both mounted than up reared the mare, danced round on +her hind legs a time or two, and then sprang away along the road at a rate +which it made one gasp to witness. Tom clung in sheer terror to his big +tormentor, afraid of falling off, yet afraid to stay on. Coppinger, +guessing perhaps that the little man in his terror might spring off, undid +his belt, and passed it round the little tailor's body, buckling it +securely around them both. Then, having fastened his victim to him, +beyond all hope of escape, he urged the mare on to a more furious pace +than ever. They tore through the air at lightning speed. Tom shrieked +and prayed to be put down,—to be told whither he was to be taken,—what +Coppinger meant to do with him; and pleaded to be killed at once, +rather than tortured. They dashed on past his own little cottage, and his +wife at the door, catching sight of the pair, nearly fainted to see her +poor husband in the grasp of the tyrant. On they went and on, without sign +of stopping. They leapt ditches and hedges, animals, waggons, people, +anything that came in their way, until, coming at last to a steep hill, +they slackened their pace a little, and Coppinger condescended to speak.</p> + +<p>"I promised the Devil I would bring him a tailor," he said, "for his +clothes sadly need mending, and I am going to carry you to him to-night. +It will not be very hard work, and he won't harm you as long as you do +what he bids you."</p> + +<p>So terrified was poor little Uncle Tom on hearing this awful fate, that he +had a fit then and there from fright, and the violence of his struggles +was such that the belt gave way, and he was flung from the racing mare, +right into the ditch by the roadside.</p> + +<p>There he lay all night, and there he was found in the morning, not only +battered and bruised and half frozen, but with his poor weak mind quite +gone.</p> + +<p>"He would never sew for the Devil," he kept repeating over and over and +over again, "he would never sew for the Devil, nor for Coppinger either. +He believed Coppinger was the Devil, and he might do his work himself, +Uncle Tom would never work for such as he!"</p> + +<p>Never again did poor Uncle Tom get back his reason, or do another stroke +of work to support himself and his wife,—but Coppinger had had his joke, +and thought it a very fine one.</p> + +<p>Countless were the cruel pranks he played on the poor, the helpless, +and defenceless, until at last people became afraid to go outside their +houses, and were afraid to stay in them, for every day brought some new +wickedness done by him, and every fresh one was worse than the last.</p> + +<p>Coppinger had one child, a boy; he was deaf and dumb, and as uncanny a +child as his father was a man. He was a beautiful boy to look at, with +soft fair skin and golden hair, but he had his father's cruel eyes, and +his father's cruel nature. From his babyhood his mischievousness and +wickedness knew no bounds; any bird, or animal, or even child that came +within his reach he would torment almost to death, and the more his victim +writhed and screamed, the greater was his delight.</p> + +<p>When he was but six he was found one day on the headland, dancing in +frantic joy, and pointing with gestures of delight to the beach below. +Hurrying down they found the mangled and bleeding corpse of a little +child, his companion, whom he had enticed to the edge of the cliff, and, +by an unexpected push, sent headlong on to the rocks beneath. From that +day he was always to be found on the tragic spot, and when a stranger +passed he would make unearthly sounds of delight, and pointing down to the +beach, dance and throw himself about in ecstasy.</p> + +<p>All this time Coppinger and his gang grew more and more reckless and +daring, until they were the scourge of the country-side. To what lengths +they might have gone, no earthly powers can tell, but money became scarce, +and times grew bad for them. Armed King's cutters came, not singly, +but in great numbers, and tidings of danger were brought to Cruel +Coppinger by strangely dressed foreigners.</p> + +<p>And so, at last, things came to a climax, and deliverance was at hand for +the poor suffering people.</p> + +<p>Just such another time as preceded Coppinger's arrival, burst again on +that coast; the rain and hail came down in sheets, the gale blew furiously +all day. At sunset a vessel appeared off the coast—full-rigged.</p> + +<p>Presently a rocket went up from the Gull Rock,—a little rock island with +a creek on the landside, a spot where many smugglings had taken place. +A gun answered from the ship, again both signals were sent up. Then, on +the topmost peak of the rock, appeared the huge form of Coppinger. +He waved his sword, and a boat immediately put off from the ship, with two +men at each oar, for the tide is terribly strong just there. They neared +the rock, rode boldly through the surf, and were steered into the Gull +Creek by someone who evidently knew the coast well.</p> + +<p>Then Coppinger, who was standing impatiently awaiting them, leapt on board +and took the command.</p> + +<p>Their efforts to get back to the vessel were enormous. Like giants they +laboured at their oars to force a path through the boiling, seething +waters. Once, as they drew off-shore, one of the rowers, either from loss +of strength or of courage, relaxed his hold for a moment; in an instant a +cutlass waved above his head, and one swift cruel stroke cut him down. +It was the last brutal deed that Cruel Coppinger was ever seen to do.</p> + +<p>He and his men reached the ship and got on board. What happened +afterwards no one knows, for at the same moment she disappeared like some +ghostly, phantom ship, nobody knows where or how.</p> + +<p>Then, in even more fearful violence than before, the storm raged and beat +on that coast. Hail, thunder, lightning, hurricanes of wind blinded, +deafened, or killed all who were exposed to it.</p> + +<p>Round Coppinger's home it expended the very utmost of its fury; +trees were torn up by the roots, the thatch was blown off the outhouses, +chimneys fell, windows were blown in, and, as Dinah, terrified by the +uproar and destruction racing round her, stood holding her uncanny child +in her arms, through the roof and ceiling came crashing a monstrous +thunderbolt, surrounded by flames, and fell hissing at the very foot of +Cruel Coppinger's chair.</p> + + + +<a name="2HCH0015"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>MADGE FIGGY, THE WRECKER.</h3> + + + +<p>Those of you who know Land's End, and that part of it called +Tol-pedn-penwith, cannot fail to have been struck by a huge cliff there, +in shape like a ladder, or flight of steps, formed of massive blocks of +granite, piled one upon another, and on the top of which there is perched +what looks like, and is, a monstrous granite chair.</p> + +<p>'Madge Figgy's Chair' is its name, for in it Madge Figgy, who was a +wrecker by trade, used to sit and call up the storms, and here, while the +rough, cruel Atlantic boiled and lashed in impotent fury over the face of +the ladder, Madge sat cool and unconcerned, keeping a sharp look out for +any vessels coming in on that terrible coast.</p> + +<p>As well as being a wrecker, Madge Figgy was one of the most cruel and +wicked witches in the county; and hour after hour she would sit in her +chair plotting mischief, or hurling curses at any unfortunate person or +thing who had happened to offend her. The poor country-folk were afraid +of their very lives of her, and whatever wicked things she told them to +do, they had to do them, for they knew her power and lived in terror of +offending her.</p> + +<p>Amongst the witches she was the leader in all their frolics and revels and +wickedness. Getting astride her broomstick she would fly right away +across the sea to some foreign land, a band of her friends and cronies +after her, and right well did they enjoy themselves,—which was more than +anyone else did who came across them while on their wicked revels.</p> + +<p>Madge Figgy's home was in a little cottage in a cove not far from her +ladder and chair, and this cove was a nest of a gang of the worst wreckers +in Cornwall, gathered together by old Madge to help her in her cruel work. +No one can count how many noble vessels they lured on to the rocks of that +dangerous coast, how many bodies they stripped and cast back into the sea +again; while as for the treasure they had divided amongst themselves!— +they had quite enough to live on for the rest of their lives, even if they +never did another stroke of mischief. That, though, was not what they +cared about. They loved wrecking and robbing, and all their evil ways, +and would have been quite miserable if they had had to live quiet, +respectable stay-at-home lives.</p> + +<p>Where all were so wicked there were none to shame them into being any +better, and they flaunted their stolen riches as shamelessly as though +they had come by everything honestly. It was quite a common sight to see +the great, clumsy country-women and girls going about their work dressed +in costly silks and velvets, all of the richest character and most +beautiful colouring, digging and ploughing, cooking and scrubbing with +valuable jewellery on their great arms and their coarse red hands, +sparkling gems in their ears, and very likely a tiara that would have made +a queen envious, fastened round their untidy, unbrushed hair.</p> + +<p>Of all the crew, though, Madge and her husband were the very worst. +Most of them did abide by the old saying, 'Honour amongst wreckers,' but +not those two. If they could cheat or trick even their friends they would +do so; and did, too, very often.</p> + +<p>One particularly stormy day, Madge Figgy sat in her great chair in high +glee. A tempest such as was seldom known, even on that coast, was raging +round her, and close on to the rocks below her was drifting a Portuguese +Indiaman which she had lured in to be dashed to fragments on the terrible +rocks by the boiling, maddened breakers which towered up like mountains, +then broke and fell with all their force on the helpless vessel.</p> + +<p>Madge Figgy kicked her heels and clapped her hands with joy as she +watched, for the huge vessel laden with valuables of the costliest kind +was a prize such as they did not often get, and Madge in her mind was +already reckoning up her gains. Far better for the Indiaman had she +dropped her treasure overboard and sent it to the bottom of the sea, where +she would be ere long; for Madge could tell at any distance what a ship's +cargo was worth, and if it was a small one she let the vessel sail on in +peace.</p> + +<p>Up aloft was the old witch dancing and singing, and down below struggled +the perishing crew, captain, sailors, passengers, men, women and children, +shrieking aloud for help, but seeing never a living creature coming to +give them a hand. Their cries might have melted hearts of iron, but not +the hearts of those who were hiding behind the rocks watching with greedy +interest for the moment when they might go down and seize their prey. +One by one the cries ceased as the sea swallowed up the poor struggling +creatures, then presently the vessel broke up, and in on the waves came +floating cases, casks, chests, broken spars, mingled with the dead bodies +of men and women and little babies.</p> + +<p>As fast as they appeared they were seized on, and quickly stripped of +everything that was of value, the ladies were robbed of their jewels and +dresses, and even of their long hair, and even the babies were robbed of +the necklaces which still hung around their chubby necks.</p> + +<p>When the bodies were stripped they were not thrown into the sea again, +but were carried away and buried in a great green hollow near Perloe Cove, +with a stone at the head of each to mark the spot. Though the graves +cannot be distinguished now, the hollow may yet be seen.</p> + +<p>For weeks after the wreck of the Portuguese Indiaman, the wreckers were +continually finding gold and jewels washed in to the sand, and now and +again more bodies were washed ashore, all richly dressed. Oh, it was a +fine haul the wreckers had after that black storm, but one very curious +thing happened such as had never happened before.</p> + +<p>Amongst the bodies washed in was that of a beautiful lady, dressed in the +richest of robes, and wearing more magnificent jewellery than any of the +other poor creatures. In addition to her jewellery, too, she had, +fastened about her, a very large amount of money and treasure, as though, +poor lady, she had thought that she could not only save herself, but a +great deal else as well.</p> + +<p>When Madge Figgy, who had claimed this body, had finished stripping it, +she stood gazing at it very attentively for a long time. She appeared to +be troubled about something, almost frightened, in fact, and turning to +the rest of the gang she forbade them to divide any of the spoil, or even +to touch a single thing.</p> + +<p>There was a fine row at that, of course, for they had all been counting on +a rich share, and they vowed they would have it, too! They quarrelled, +and fought, and a good deal of blood was spilt, but Madge took care of +herself and got the better of them all, too, for it would have taken more +than a gang of wreckers to outwit that wicked old woman.</p> + +<p>She declared that there was a mark on the body which she understood, +though no one else could, and that if they divided any of the things +belonging to it, ill-luck would befall them all, and no one knew where it +would end.</p> + +<p>"Trust a witch to know a witch!" she cried. She got her way, as she +generally did, for they were all afraid of her, and everything belonging +to the poor lady was put into a chest which stood in Madge's kitchen, +while the body was carried to the hollow and buried with the others.</p> + +<p>The very night, though, after they had laid her in her grave, a very +curious thing happened. Out from the grave there came, as soon as +darkness fell, a little blue light. For a moment it flickered and gleamed +on the newly made mound, then glided swiftly away up over the cliffs until +it reached Madge Figgy's great granite chair. Up into the chair it +glided, and there it stayed for a long time, a weird, mysterious gleam, +looking most uncanny in the darkness. Then out of the chair it glided and +made its way to Madge Figgy's cottage, where it floated across the +threshold and straight to the chest where the dead lady's belongings lay.</p> + +<p>All the wreckers were watching it, and all, except old Madge, were very +nearly terrified out of their senses. They felt sure that at last their +wickedness was to meet with its punishment, that the Evil One had come to +carry them away, and their hours on earth were numbered.</p> + +<p>Madge Figgy tried hard to laugh away their fears and cheer them up. +She wanted no 'chicken-hearts' about her, men who would refuse to take +part in her wicked work, or even carry tales where she did not want them +carried.</p> + +<p>"Get along, you great stupids, you!" cried Madge, trying to put some +spirit into them, "it will all come right in time. I know all about it!"</p> + +<p>It took a long time, though, and the people began to lose faith in Madge's +cleverness; for three long months the little blue flame crept out of the +dead lady's grave at nightfall, glided to Madge Figgy's chair, and then to +the chest in the cottage, and nothing could stop it.</p> + +<p>At the end of three months, when the people of the Cove were feeling they +could not bear this thing any longer, there came to Madge's cottage one +day a curiously dressed stranger. From his appearance all who saw him +concluded that he was a foreigner, but from what part of the world he came +no one could tell, for never a word escaped his lips.</p> + +<p>Madge Figgy's old husband, who was home alone when the stranger arrived, +was very nearly scared to death. Firstly because the sight of a stranger +always frightened any of that wicked crew, and secondly because of the +man's signs and curious gesticulations. Old Figgy thought that he was a +madman, sure enough.</p> + +<p>After some time, though, and a good many signs and misunderstandings, +the old man gathered that the stranger wished to see the graves of the +poor souls who went down in the wreck of the Portuguese Indiaman. +Old Figgy put on his cap readily enough to show him the way, only too +thankful to get him out of the house; but as soon as ever they had started +on the right road, the stranger did not need any further guidance, +he walked on by himself straight to the hollow, and making his way direct +to the grave of the Portuguese lady he threw himself on it passionately, +and broke into the most violent outburst of grief imaginable.</p> + +<p>For some time old Figgy stood watching him in astonishment, until the +foreigner, looking up, caught sight of him, and signed to him to go away; +then returning to the grave, again, he threw himself on it once more and +stayed there weeping and moaning until nightfall.</p> + +<p>When darkness crept on up rose the little blue flame from the grave as +before, but, instead of going to Madge Figgy's chair it made its way to +the cottage, and gliding on to the chest, gleamed there with twice its +usual brilliancy.</p> + +<p>The foreigner, who had followed the flame closely, went, without let +or hindrance from the old witch or anyone, straight to the chest, +and clearing away with one sweep all the rubbish and lumber which were +piled on it, opened it as if he had known it all his life, picked out +everything in it that had belonged to the lady, then, without touching +anything else that the chest contained, closed it again, and, after giving +liberal gifts to every wrecker in the place, departed as mysteriously as +he had come.</p> + +<p>Anything of his history, or whence he came, was never discovered, but from +the moment he left Madge Figgy's cottage neither he nor the little blue +flame was ever seen again by any of them.</p> + + +<a name="2HCH0016"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>HOW MADGE FIGGY GOT HER PIG.</h3> + + +<p>Madge Figgy, as you already know, spent most of her life in injuring +someone. After she had left her cottage by the sea, where she spent so +much of her time in robbing the dead, she went to live in St. Buryan, +and there she spent her time in robbing the living, and doing any other +mischief that came into her head to do.</p> + +<p>One of her victims here was her near neighbour, Tom Trenoweth, +a hard-working, struggling man who spent all his days trying to make both +ends meet, and mostly failing, poor fellow. Now Tom had a sow, a fine +great creature, on which he set great store, for when she was fattened up +enough he meant to take her to Penzance Market, where he hoped to sell her +for at least twenty shillings, for she was worth that and more of any +man's money.</p> + +<p>As ill-luck would have it, though, Madge Figgy caught sight of the sow one +day, and from that moment she could not rest until she had got it for +herself.</p> + +<p>Over she bustled to Tom's house in a great hurry. "Tom," she said, +"I've taken a fancy to that sow of yours, and I'll give 'ee five shillings +for her, now this very minute, if you'll sell her. Four would be a good +price, but I've set my mind on having her, and I don't mind stretching a +point for a friend."</p> + +<p>"I ain't going to sell her now," said Tom, "I'm fattening her up for +market, and it's a long sight more than five shillings I'm thinking I'll +get for her. So keep your money, Madge, you may want it yet," he added +meaningly.</p> + +<p>"Very well," replied the witch, shaking her finger at Tom, and wagging her +head; "I won't press 'ee to sell the pig, but mark my words, before very +long you will wish you had!" and away she went without another word.</p> + +<p>Poor Tom! He did mark her words, and many a time he remembered them with +sorrow, for from the moment they were uttered his sow began to fail. +She ate and drank as much as ever he chose to give her, and seemed to +enjoy her food, too, but instead of growing fatter she grew leaner and +leaner, and from being a fine great beast, nearly fit for a Christmas +market, she became a poor, spare-looking thing that no one would say +'thank you' for.</p> + +<p>"Are you willing to sell her now, Tom?" cried cruel old Madge, popping her +head round the door of the pig-sty one day, when Tom was feeding the +animal.</p> + +<p>"No, and I wouldn't sell her to you for her weight in gold," cried Tom, +too desperate now to care whether he offended the woman or not. +"So get home to your own house, you ill-wishing cross-grained old witch!"</p> + +<p>Madge Figgy only smiled. "Don't lose your temper, Tom, my dear," she said +sweetly, "'tis for me to do that. Just wait a bit, and I'll be bound that +before another week is out you'll be glad to get rid of her, even to me!" +and away trotted the mischievous old creature, cackling to herself, and +rubbing her hands with glee.</p> + +<p>"I'll fatten the pig up somehow," cried Tom desperately, and he began +giving her more than double her usual quantity of food at each meal. +He gave her enough, indeed, to fatten two pigs, and nearly ruined himself +to do it; but the more she ate the thinner she grew, and before the week +was out she was merely skin and bone. "I can't afford to spend no more on +'ee," said Tom sorrowfully, and he made up his mind to take her to market +the very next day before she got any worse.</p> + +<p>So, early the following morning they started off to walk to the market. +Tom tied a string around the sow's leg to prevent her running away, but +there was little enough fear of her doing that, for the poor thing could +scarcely stand for weakness. In fact, she kept on falling down from sheer +inability to support herself, and Tom had to pick her up and put her on +her feet again, for she had not got the strength to get up by herself.</p> + +<p>After a long time, for they only went at a snail's pace, they came to the +high road. "I believe I'll have to take and carry her on my back," said +Tom dolefully, "or we shan't get to market till night." But hardly had he +spoken the words when the sow took to her heels, and ran as if she had +been a stag with the hounds after her!</p> + +<p>Poor Tom was nearly shaken to bits, and his arms were pretty nearly +dragged from his body, for over hedges and ditches she went, and over +everything else that came in her way, dragging Tom after her, until at +last he had to drop the rope and let her take her chance, for his strength +was all gone, and he had no breath left.</p> + +<p>As soon, though, as Tom let go his hold of the rope, the creature stopped +her mad race, and walked along as quietly and soberly as the best-behaved +pig that ever breathed. She went, though, every way but the right one, +and this she did for mile upon mile, taking Tom after her, until at last +they came to Tregenebris Downs.</p> + +<p>Here, where the two roads branch off, the one to Sancreed and the other to +Penzance, Tom caught hold of the rope again, and tried once more to lead +her to market, but the moment she came to the cross-roads, the sow started +off at full speed again, jerking the rope out of Tom's hand, and careering +away by herself until she got under Tregenebris Bridge. Here, though, she +was forced to stop, for she stuck fast, and could not move backwards or +forwards, for Tregenebris Bridge was a queer, old-fashioned construction, +more like a big drain-pipe than anything, except that it was smaller in +the middle than at the ends. Consequently, as she could not go through it +and come out the other side, and she would not come back, she had to stay +where she was.</p> + +<p>Tom did not know what to do. He could not reach her to pull her out, and +all his holloaing and shouting was so much waste of breath. He pelted her +with stones and lumps of turf, first her head and then her tail, until he +was tired, but he might just as well have left her, for all the good it +did. She only grunted, and planted her feet more obstinately.</p> + +<p>At last Tom, being quite worn out, sat down to rest, and waited to see +what she would do if left to herself, but though he waited and waited till +evening, the pig never budged. Tom, though, grew so hungry that he hardly +knew how to bear with himself. He had had nothing to eat or drink since +five in the morning, and he had tramped miles upon miles since that time.</p> + +<p>"There don't seem much chance of the contrairy old thing's coming out, so +I may as well go home to get some supper," he said at last. "If anybody +finds her they'll know she's mine, for there isn't such another poor +miserable creature in the parish. So here goes." But no sooner had he +made a start than whom should he see coming towards him but Madge Figgy.</p> + +<p>Madge was smiling to herself as she walked along, as though she were very +well pleased about something. "Hulloa, Tom Trenoweth!" she cried, +pretending to be surprised. "What are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tom, "that's more than I can tell you, but I ain't here for +my own pleasure, I can assure you of that, and if you want to know more +you can look under the bridge and find out for yourself."</p> + +<p>"What's that grunting in there? Surely never your old sow! Well, she +can't have fattened much if she's got in there! Are you in the mind to +part with her now, Tom? What will you let me have her for now?"</p> + +<p>"If you've got a bit of something to eat in your basket, for pity's sake +let me have it, for I'm famished; and if you can get the old thing out of +that there pipe you're welcome to her for your trouble," said Tom +sullenly, for he felt small at giving in to his enemy after all.</p> + +<p>"I've got a beautiful new kettle loaf in my basket, Tom; take it and +welcome, do."</p> + +<p>Tom seized the loaf and began to eat ravenously. "Thank 'ee," said he, +pretending to smile. "I think I've got the best of that bargain, +for anyway I've got a good loaf, and it'll take more than you to get out +my old pig!"</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha!" laughed Madge Figgy, "I'm glad you are pleased, Tom, ha, ha! +refused five shillings, and took a twopenny loaf! I'm pleased with my +share of the bargain, and I'm glad you are." Then turning towards the pig +she called softly, "Chug! chug! chug! Come on, chug! chug! chug!"</p> + +<p>Out walked the old sow at once, and going up to the witch, she trotted +away down the road after her as tamely as a dog.</p> + + + + + +<a name="2HCH0017"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br><br> +<h3>THE STORY OF SIR TRISTRAM AND LA BELLE ISEULT.</h3> + + + +<p>Long, long ago, when Arthur was King of England, and King Mark was King of +Cornwall,—for there were many petty kings, who held their lands under +King Arthur,—there was born in Lyonesse a little boy, a king's son.</p> + +<p>Instead, though, of there being great joy and rejoicing at the birth of +the little heir, sorrow reigned throughout Lyonesse, for his father, King +Melodias, had been stolen away by enchantment, no one knew where. +Nor could anyone tell how to release him, and the heartbroken queen was +dying of grief, for she loved her husband very dearly.</p> + +<p>When she saw her little son her tears fell fast on his baby face. +"Call him Tristram," she said, "for he was born in sorrow," and as she +spoke she fell back dead.</p> + +<p>Little Tristram wailed right lustily, as though he fully realized his +orphan state, and wept with pity for his own sad fate; and good cause he +had to wail, too, poor little man, had he but known it, for already the +greedy barons had cast their eyes on his land, longing to possess it and +rule it. With only a baby boy standing between them and it, their way was +easy enough. His death could easily be accomplished.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, though, for him, and everyone else in the land, King Melodias +was just then released from enchantment by Merlin the wizard, and came +hurrying joyfully to his home, to embrace his beloved wife. Great was his +grief when he found that she was dead, great was the moan he made in his +sorrow. With great pomp and splendour he buried her, and for seven years +lived a lonely life, mourning her.</p> + +<p>At the end of that time he married again, but the stepmother hated little +Tristram, the heir, and longed to destroy him, that her own child might be +king. So one day she placed some poison in a cup for him to drink, but +her own child, being thirsty, drank the poison and died.</p> + +<p>The queen, broken-hearted at the loss of her boy, and horror-stricken at +what she had done, hated her stepson more than ever after this, and once +again she tried to kill him in the same manner. This time, though, +King Melodias, spying the tempting-looking drink, took it up and was about +to drink it, when the queen, seeing what he was about to do, rushed in and +snatched it from him. Then he discovered her guilt, and his anger knew no +bounds.</p> + +<p>"Thou traitress!" he cried, "confess what manner of drink this is, or here +and now I will run this sword through thy heart!"</p> + +<p>So she confessed, and was tried before the barons, and by their judgment +was given over to be burnt to death. The faggots were prepared, the queen +was bound to the stake, and they were beginning to light the fire when +little Tristram, flinging himself on his knees, besought his father with +such entreaties to pardon her, that the king could not refuse. So the +queen was released, and in time the king forgave her.</p> + +<p>But, though he forgave her, he could never trust her again, and to protect +little Tristram from her, he was sent to France, where he continued for +some time, learning to joust and hunt, and do all things that were right +and brave and noble; and seven years passed before he returned to his home +in Lyonesse.</p> + +<p>Lyonesse was the furthest point of Cornwall; it joined what we now call +'Land's End,' and stretched out through the sea until it reached the +Scilly Islands, a wild, rugged, beautiful spot, washed on either side by +the glorious Atlantic sea. One day, though, that glorious Atlantic rose +like a mountain above Lyonesse, and where in the morning had been a +beautiful city with churches and houses, and fertile lands, in the evening +there was only a raging, boiling sea, bearing on its bosom fragments of +the lost world it had devoured. This, though, was long after the time of +which I am writing now.</p> + +<p>For two years after his return from France, Tristram lived in Lyonesse, +and then it happened that King Anguish of Ireland sent to King Mark of +Cornwall to demand seven years' truage that was due to him. But when the +demand reached King Mark, he and his knights absolutely refused to pay the +money, and sent the messenger back, with none too polite a message, to say +so. If he wanted the debt settled, they said, he could send the noblest +knight of his court to fight for it, otherwise the king might whistle for +his money.</p> + +<p>King Anguish was furiously enraged when this message reached him, and +calling to him at once Sir Marhaus, his biggest and trustiest knight, sent +him without delay to Cornwall to fight this battle.</p> + +<p>So Sir Marhaus set sail, and King Mark was troubled when he heard who was +coming against him, for he knew well he had no knight to match him.</p> + +<p>At last Sir Marhaus arrived, but he did not land at once; for seven days +he abode in his ship, and each day he sent to King Mark a stern demand for +the money.</p> + +<p>The king had no intention of paying the money, but he sorely wanted a +knight to fight for him. One worthy by birth and skill to meet this great +champion; and in great ado he sent all over the country in search of such +a one. At last, when none was to be found at home, someone counselled the +king to send to King Arthur at Camelot for one of the Knights of the Round +Table; but that could not be, for Sir Marhaus himself was a Round Table +knight, and they, of course, never fought each other, unless it was in +private quarrel.</p> + +<p>When at last the news of all this reached young Tristram's ears, he felt +very greatly mortified that there could not be found in Cornwall a knight +to fight for their rights, and his heart burned within him to go and save +the honour of the West Country. He went to his father, King Melodias. +"It seems to me," he cried impetuously, "a shame to us all, that Sir +Marhaus, who is brother to the Queen of Ireland, should go back and say we +Cornishmen have no one worthy to fight him."</p> + +<p>"Alas," answered the king, "know ye not that Sir Marhaus is one of the +noblest of Arthur's knights, the best knights of the world? Beyond those +of the Table Round I know none fit to match him."</p> + +<p>"Then," cried Tristram, "I would I were a knight, for if Sir Marhaus +departs to Ireland unscathed, I will never more hold up my head for very +shame. Sir, give me leave to go to my uncle, King Mark, that I may by him +be made a knight."</p> + +<p>King Melodias could deny his son nothing, so, "Do as your courage bids +you," he said, and Tristram, filled with joy, rode away at once to his +uncle's court, and as soon as he arrived there he heard nothing but great +dole made that no one could be found to fight the Irish knight.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked the king, when Tristram presented himself before him, +"and whence come you?" he added, looking admiringly at the handsome +stranger.</p> + +<p>"Sir, I am Tristram of Lyonesse; I come from King Melodias, whose son I +am; my mother was your sister."</p> + +<p>Then King Mark rejoiced greatly, for he saw in this stalwart nephew a +champion for Cornwall, and, having knighted him, he sent word to Sir +Marhaus to say he had found a champion to do battle with him.</p> + +<p>"I shall fight with none but of the blood-royal," Sir Marhaus sent back +word; "your champion must be either a king's son or a queen's."</p> + +<p>Whereupon King Mark sent word to say that his champion was better born +than ever Sir Marhaus was, and that his name was Tristram of Lyonesse, +whose father was a king, and his mother a queen, and a king's sister.</p> + +<p>So it was arranged that the fight should take place on an island near, and +thither Sir Tristram went in a ship with his horse, and his man +Gouvernail, and all that he could need. And so noble he looked, and so +brave, and of so good heart, that not one who saw him depart could refrain +from weeping, for they never thought to see him return alive.</p> + +<p>So, on the island those two noble knights met, and Sir Marhaus was sad to +see one so young and well-favoured come against him. "I sore repent," +said he, "of your courage, for hear me that against all the noblest and +trustiest knights of the world have I been matched and never yet been +beaten. So take my counsel, and return again to your ship while you are +able."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Sir Tristram, throwing up his head proudly, "I have been made +a knight that I might come against you, and I have sworn never to leave +you until you are conquered or I am dead, for I will fight to the death to +rescue Cornwall from the old truage."</p> + +<p>So they lowered their spears, and without more ado the fight began, and +such a fight as that was never seen or known before in Cornwall. At the +very first charge they met with such force that Sir Marhaus's spear +wounded Sir Tristram in the side, and horses and riders were sent rolling +on the ground; but soon they were on their feet again, and freeing +themselves of their horses and spears, they pulled out their shields and +fought with swords. With their swords they slashed and smote each other +until the blood poured from them in streams, and so courageous were they, +and determined not to give in, that they fought on and on until it seemed +as though that struggle would last for ever. They hurled at each other +with such fury that the blood ran down them in streams, dyeing the ground +all round, yet neither prevailed in the least degree.</p> + +<p>By and by, though, Sir Tristram, being the younger and the better-winded, +proved the fresher, and drawing up all his strength for one last effort, +he smote Sir Marhaus on the helm with such force that Sir Marhaus fell on +his knees, and the sword cleaving through helmet and skull stuck so fast in +the bone that Sir Tristram had to pull three times at it with all his +might before he could get it free, and when it did come, a piece of the +edge of the sword was left behind in the skull.</p> + +<p>Overcome with pain and shame at his defeat, Sir Marhaus with a mighty +effort raised himself to his feet, and without speaking one word, flung +from him his sword and his shield, and staggered away to his ship.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" mocked Sir Tristram, "why do you, a knight of the Table Round, flee +from a knight so young and untried as I?" But Sir Marhaus made as though +he did not hear the taunts, but hurrying on board his ship, set sail with +all possible speed.</p> + +<p>"Well, Sir Knight," laughed Tristram, "I thank you for your sword and +shield; I will keep them wherever I go, and the shield I will carry to the +day of my death." So Sir Marhaus returned to Ireland, and there, in spite +of all that physicians could do, he soon died of his disgrace and his +wounds; and after he was dead, the piece of sword-blade, which could not +be extracted before, was found embedded in his brainpan.</p> + +<p>When the queen, his sister, saw the piece of sword-blade which was taken +from her brother's skull, she asked that she might have it; and putting it +away in a secret spot she vowed a solemn vow that when she had found out +who had done this thing, she would never rest until she had had revenge.</p> + +<p>But about that time Sir Tristram, who had been severely wounded himself, +was also lying at the point of death, neither knowing nor caring to know +of the blessings and praises showered upon him; and great was the grief +that filled the hearts of all the leeches and surgeons for whom King Mark +had sent, for not one was of any avail, and the gallant young knight who +had saved the honour of Cornwall was more than like to die.</p> + +<p>At last, when hope was well-nigh dead, there came a lady to the court who +told King Mark that his nephew would never recover from his wounds unless +he went to the land whence the poisoned spear came, for there only could +he be healed.</p> + +<p>So, with all speed was a vessel prepared, and on board it Sir Tristram was +carried, and with his man Gouvernail, his dogs, his horses, and his harp, +he sailed until he came to Ireland. Here they all landed, and Sir +Tristram was borne carefully on shore, to a castle prepared for him, where +he was laid on a bed, and there on his bed he lay day after day, playing +on his harp so exquisitely that all the people crowded to listen to him, +for such music had never been heard in that country before.</p> + +<p>By and by the news of the presence of this wonderful player was carried to +the king and queen, who were dwelling not very far away: and the king and +queen sent for him to come to them; but when they found that he was a +wounded knight, they had him brought to the castle, and there his wound +was dressed and every care taken of him, for now they all grew to have a +great admiration and liking for him. But who he was, or where he came +from, they had no idea, for he had not told anyone his real name, or the +story of the joust in which he got his wound.</p> + +<p>Now in all that land there was no better surgeon than the king's own +daughter, the lady Iseult,—who, because of her loveliness, was known as +La Belle Iseult.—So presently the king, who came to feel a greater and +greater liking for Sir Tristram, and was anxious to see him well again, +gave him over to the charge of his daughter, in whose skill he had great +faith; for none other seemed able to heal him.</p> + +<p>So La Belle Iseult nursed him, and attended to his wound, and soon, at the +bottom of it, she found the poison, which she removed, and quickly healed +him. Before this end was reached, though, Sir Tristram had grown to love +his beautiful nurse, and she her patient; for La Belle Iseult with her +flower-like face and large grey eyes, her broad, low brow, round which her +gleaming golden hair waved softly, and fell in heavy waves to her knees, +was wondrously lovable. And Sir Tristram was more than passing noble, +and his manners were gentle and courteous. When he grew stronger he +taught Iseult to play the harp, and they sang songs together, so that they +saw much of one another.</p> + +<p>Someone else loved Iseult also, and this was Sir Palamides the Saracen, +and many fair gifts he brought the lady to win her love. But ladies are +not to be won thus, and Iseult did not love the Saracen knight. +Indeed, she besought Sir Tristram to joust with him and conquer him, that +she might be rid of him, both of which Sir Tristram did, though Sir +Palamides had put to the worse many brave knights before, and most men +were afraid of him. Sir Tristram, whom Iseult had arrayed in white +harness, rode against him on a white horse and threw him, and Sir +Palamides was sore ashamed and would have crept secretly from the field, +and from the crowds of knights and ladies watching the jousts, had not Sir +Tristram gone after him and bid him return and finish the joust. +So Palamides returned and fought again, but once more Sir Tristram +overthrew him, and this time wounded him so sore that he was at his mercy.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Sir Tristram, "swear to me that you will do as I command, or I +will slay you outright." Sir Palamides seeing his stern face, and +remembering his strength, promised. "Then," said Sir Tristram, +"promise never more to come near the lady La Belle Iseult, also that for a +twelvemonth and a day you will bear no armour, nor wear any harness of +war."</p> + +<p>"Alas," cried Sir Palamides, "I shall be for ever ashamed and disgraced," +but he had to promise, and in fierce vexation he cut to pieces the harness +he then wore, and threw the pieces from him. No one but La Belle Iseult +knew who the knight was who had jousted with the Saracen, until some time +after; and when it was known, Sir Tristram was loved more than ever by the +king and queen, as he was already by their daughter.</p> + +<p>So month after month Sir Tristram lingered on in Ireland, and did many a +noble deed during that time, and there he might have gone on living to the +end of the chapter, if it had not been for a sore mischance which befell +thus.</p> + +<p>One day, while Sir Tristram was absent, the queen and the lady Iseult were +wandering up and down his room, when the queen suddenly espied Sir +Tristram's sword lying on a couch, and seeing it to be of fine workmanship +and delicately wrought, she lifted it the better to examine it, and she +and Iseult stood admiring it together. Then presently the queen drew the +sword slowly from out its scabbard, and there, within an inch and a half +of the point, she espied the broken edge of the blade.</p> + +<p>Thrusting the weapon into Iseult's hands she ran to her chamber, where she +had, safely locked away, the piece of steel which had been taken from her +brother's skull; and bringing it back fitted it to the broken blade +exactly.</p> + +<p>At that her anger knew no bounds, nor her mortification that they should +have treated so well, and grown to love, the slayer of her brother. +Sir Tristram happening to return at that moment, her anger so overmastered +her that, seizing the sword, she rushed on him and would have slain him +there and then, had not Gouvernail caught her and wrested the weapon from +her.</p> + +<p>Being frustrated she ran in a frenzy of hate to her husband. "My lord," +she cried, "we have here, in our very home, the destroyer and slayer of my +brother, your most noble and trusty knight."</p> + +<p>"Who is he?" cried King Anguish, springing to his feet, "and where?"</p> + +<p>"Sir, it is this same knight whom your daughter has healed, and whom we +have loved and treated well. I beseech you have no mercy on him, for he +deserves none."</p> + +<p>"Alas, alas," cried the king, "I am right sorry, for he is as noble a +knight as ever I saw. Do him no violence. Leave him to me, and I will +deal with him according to my best judgment."</p> + +<p>So the king, who loved Sir Tristram, and could not bring himself to have +him slain, went to Tristram's chamber, and there he saw him dressed, and +ready to mount his horse. Then and there the king told him all that he +had learnt, and said, "I love you too well to do you harm, therefore I +give you leave to quit this court on one condition, that you tell me your +real name, and if you really slew my brother-in-law, Sir Marhaus."</p> + +<p>So Tristram told him all his story, and then took leave of the king and +all the court; and great was the grief at his departure, but by far the +saddest leave-taking was that between him and La Belle Iseult, for they +loved each other very dearly. And when they parted Sir Tristram swore to +be ever her true and faithful knight, and she, that for seven years she +would marry no one else, unless by his consent or desire. Then each gave +the other a ring, and with a last long kiss they parted.</p> + +<p>So Sir Tristram returned at last to Cornwall, and there stayed with his +uncle Mark, at Tintagel, and great were the rejoicings that he had +returned recovered of his wound, and stronger and more noble-looking than +ever.</p> + +<p>When, though, he had been back a little time, a great quarrel arose +between King Mark and his nephew, and their feelings grew very hot and +angry towards one another. It was about a beautiful lady that they +quarrelled, a lady whom King Mark loved more than passing well. +He thought that Sir Tristram loved her too, and she him, and he was so +jealous of Sir Tristram that one day he and his knights, disguised, rode +after him to see if he had gone to meet her. And as Tristram came riding +back King Mark bore down on him, and they fought until the king was so +wounded that he lay on the ground as though dead, and Sir Tristram rode on +his way. He never knew that it was his uncle with whom he had fought, but +from that day to the day of his death, though they were fair-spoken to +each other, the king never forgave his nephew or loved him again.</p> + +<p>Indeed, he hated him so much that he ever plotted to injure him, and at +last one day he thought of a plan by which he could ruin Tristram's +happiness, and probably get him killed as well.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that when Sir Tristram had first returned from Ireland he +had told his uncle of La Belle Iseult, of her beauty, and grace, and +skill; for his heart was ever filled with love and admiration for her, +and to him she was the very fairest woman in the world. So to wound Sir +Tristram, and to take a sore and cruel revenge upon him, King Mark +determined to ask her in marriage for himself, and to make his cruelty the +greater, he determined that Sir Tristram should be the knight who should +go to Ireland as his ambassador to ask her hand of King Anguish, her +father.</p> + +<p>Sending for Sir Tristram he laid his commands upon him, rejoicing in the +heavy task he was laying upon him, watching him closely to note how he +would bear it. But Sir Tristram, though sad at heart and deeply troubled, +bore himself bravely, and accepted the task; for to have refused it would +have been a cowardice and a shame, and not the conduct of a true knight.</p> + +<p>Without delay he set about preparing for his sad journey. He had made +ready a large vessel, fitted in the most sumptuous manner possible, +and taking with him some chosen knights dressed in the most goodly style, +he set sail from Tintagel for Ireland. Before they had got far, though, +a fierce storm burst over them, and beat their vessel about until she was +driven back to England, to the coast of Camelot, where King Arthur dwelt, +and right glad they were to take to the land.</p> + +<p>There, when they were landed, Sir Tristram set up his tent, and hanging +his shield without it, lay down to rest. Hardly, though, was he lain +down, before two knights of the Round Table, Sir Ector de Maris and Sir +Morganor, came and rapped on the shield, bidding him come forth and joust.</p> + +<p>"Wait awhile," called back Sir Tristram, "and I will bring you my answer." +Then he hastily dressed himself, and came out to the two impatient +knights, and without much ado he first smote down Sir Ector and then Sir +Morganor, with the same spear.</p> + +<p>"Whence come you, and whose knight are you?" they asked as they lay on the +ground, unable to rise because of their bruises.</p> + +<p>"My lords," answered Sir Tristram, "I am from Cornwall."</p> + +<p>"Alas, alas, I am sore ashamed that any Cornish knight should have +overcome me," cried Sir Ector. And so ashamed was he that he put off his +armour and went away on foot, for he would not ride.</p> + +<p>Now it happened about this time that King Anguish of Ireland was sent for +to appear at King Arthur's court at Camelot, to answer a charge of treason +brought against him by Sir Blamor de Ganis, and Sir Bleoberis, his +brother; which was that he had slain at his court a cousin of theirs and +of Sir Launcelot.</p> + +<p>The king, who had not known for why he was sent, was sore abashed when he +heard the charge, for he knew there were only two ways to settle the +matter, either he must fight the accuser himself, or he must get a knight +to do so for him, and very heavy-hearted he was, for Sir Blamor was a +powerful knight, and one of the trustiest of the Table Round, and King +Anguish knew that now Sir Marhaus was dead he had no knight in Ireland to +match him.</p> + +<p>Three days he had in which to decide upon his answer, and great was his +perplexity as to what it should be.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Gouvernail went unto his master and told him that King Anguish +was arraigned for murder, and was in great distress. Whereupon Sir +Tristram replied, "This is the best news I have heard these seven years, +that the King of Ireland hath need of my help. I dare be sworn there is +no knight in England, save of Arthur's court, that dare do battle with Sir +Blamor de Ganis. Bring me to the king then, Gouvernail, for to win his +love I will take this battle on myself."</p> + +<p>So Gouvernail went to King Anguish, and told him that a knight wished to +do him service. "What knight?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Sir Tristram of Lyonesse," answered Gouvernail, "who, for your goodness +to him in your own land, would fain assist you in this."</p> + +<p>Then was the king right overjoyed, and went unto Sir Tristram's pavilion, +and when Sir Tristram saw him he would have knelt and held his stirrup for +him to dismount, but the king leapt lightly to the ground, and they +embraced each other with great gladness, and the king told his tale.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Sir Tristram, "for your good grace to me, and for the sake of +your daughter, Belle Iseult, I will fight this battle, but you must grant +me two requests. The first is, you must give me your own word that you +were not consenting unto this knight's death; the second, that if I win +this battle you shall give me as reward whatsoever reasonable thing I +ask." Whereupon the king swore to both of them, and then went to tell his +accusers that he had a knight ready to fight Sir Blamor. Then King Arthur +commanded Sir Tristram and Sir Blamor to appear before the judges, and +when they came many kings and knights who were present recognized Sir +Tristram as the young unknown knight who had fought and conquered Sir +Marhaus of Ireland, and the excitement grew intense, for two lustier +knights than Sir Tristram and Sir Blamor could not have been found.</p> + +<p>So the time was fixed, and the combatants retired to their tents to +prepare for battle.</p> + +<p>"Dear brother," said Bleoberis to Blamor, "remember of what kin you are, +and how Sir Launcelot is our cousin, and suffer death rather than shame, +for none of our blood was yet shamed in battle."</p> + +<p>"Fear not," answered Sir Blamor stoutly, "that I will ever disgrace our +kin. Yonder knight is a goodly man, but I swear I will never yield, +nor say the loth word. He may smite me down by his chivalry, but he shall +slay me before I say the loth word."</p> + +<p>So the two champions rode to meet each other from opposite sides of the +lists, and they feutred their spears and charged each other with so great +force that it sounded as though the heavens were sending forth loud +thunders, and then Sir Tristram by his great strength bore Sir Blamor to +the ground, and his horse under him.</p> + +<p>He was quickly clear of his horse, though, and on his feet again. +"Alight, Sir Tristram," he cried, pulling out his sword, "my horse has +failed me, but the earth shall not."</p> + +<p>So together they rushed, and lashed at each other in fury, slashing and +tearing, foining, and making such fearful strokes that the kings and +knights held their breath in horror and amazement that two men could use +each other so, and neither give in. But so fierce were they that their +stabs and cuts might have been falling on men of wood, so little heed did +they pay. So fast and furiously they fought, that the wonder was they had +breath to keep on; but Sir Blamor was the more furious, and therefore the +less wary, so that by and by Sir Tristram saw an opportunity and smote him +such a crushing blow on the head that he fell over on his side, and Sir +Tristram stood over him.</p> + +<p>Then was Sir Blamor's shame piteous. "Kill me, Sir Tristram," he cried, +"as you are a noble knight, for I would not live. Not to be lord of the +whole universe would I endure with shame; and I will never say the loth +word, so the victory is not yours unless you slay me."</p> + +<p>Sir Tristram was sore perplexed what to do. He could not bring himself to +kill this noble knight; but for his party's sake he must, unless Sir +Blamor would say the loth word. So he went to the assembled kings, and +kneeling before them he besought them that they would take the matter into +their hands. "For," said he, "it is a cruel pity that such a noble knight +should be slain, and I pray God he may not be slain or shamed by me. I +beseech the king, whose champion I am, that he will have mercy upon this +good knight."</p> + +<p>Sir Bleoberis, though, as hotly demanded that his brother should be slain +outright, until the judges gave him stern reproof.</p> + +<p>"It shall not be," they said, "both King Anguish and his champion knight +have more mercy than thou," and they went to King Anguish, and he, good +man, gave up his claim, and resigned the loth word, as each champion was +proved of good faith. And so it was settled, and so rejoiced were Sir +Bleoberis and his brother, and right grateful for their goodness, that +they swore eternal friendship to King Anguish and Sir Tristram, and each +kissed the other, and swore a vow that neither would come against the +other in combat.</p> + +<p>Then King Anguish and Sir Tristram set sail for Ireland, with great +splendour and gladness, and right welcome was Sir Tristram when the people +heard what he had done for their king and for them. Great were the +rejoicings, and great the joy, but the joy of Iseult was greater than all +the rest together, for she still loved Sir Tristram with all her heart and +soul. Then as the days came and went, much did King Anguish marvel that +Sir Tristram had not made his second request, but Sir Tristram was fain to +postpone doing so, for he was heavy-hearted at his task. At last King +Anguish asked him, saying, "Sir Knight, you have not yet asked of me your +reward."</p> + +<p>"Alas," said Sir Tristram sadly, "the time is come. I would ask you for +your daughter Iseult to take back with me to Cornwall,—not for myself, +but to wed the king, my uncle Mark; for full well he knows how she +surpasseth all in beauty, and wisdom, and charm, for I myself have told +him of her, until he desireth her greatly for his queen and lady."</p> + +<p>"Ah me!" cried King Anguish in amazement, and, "Ah me!" he sighed, +"I would you had asked her for yourself, Sir Tristram. Right glad would I +have been to have called you 'son!'"</p> + +<p>"That can never be now," said Sir Tristram gently; "I should be false to +my trust, and for ever shamed. My uncle commanded me to come, and I have +promised."</p> + +<p>So a great feasting and merry-making began, and all things were made +ready for La Belle Iseult to sail to another land to be made a queen. +Now whether the queen, Iseult's mother, saw that Sir Tristram and her +daughter loved each other, or whether she feared that her daughter might +not love King Mark, no one will ever know, but she set to work to concoct +a love-drink, brewing it from delicate herbs and simples, which when ready +she enclosed in a golden flask. This she handed to Dame Bragwaine, +La Belle Iseult's waiting-woman, bidding her guard it with all care, +and not let it out of her sight until La Belle Iseult and King Mark were +wedded, when she was to give it to them that they might each drink of it, +so that a great and holy love should rise and grow between them, never to +die until their lives ended.</p> + +<p>So, on a certain day a dainty vessel, all painted white and silver, and +furnished with the utmost richness and beauty, set sail from Ireland. +At the prow glittered a golden swallow, all set with gems, and on board +were Tristram and Iseult.</p> + +<p>Silently, swiftly they glided through the waters, the sun shone softly, +the breeze lightly caressed the dainty, bird-like vessel and the white +fluttering canvas, as though afraid to breathe on anything so lovely as +the lady lying amidst her silken cushions and cloth of gold. Then it +stole modestly away, only to return again, full fain to touch her golden +hair, or her delicate cheek. The scent of the land-flowers filled the +air, for the vessel was gaily bedecked with all the fairest and most +delicate.</p> + +<p>In this little nest of luxury sat Tristram and Iseult, he so stalwart, +noble, bronzed, she so surpassingly beautiful, gentle and lovable. +All through the long, warm days they sat listening each to the other's +talk, and when the sun went down and left them to the fair white light of +the moon, they still sat and talked, or looked at each other, for the mere +sight of each filled the other's heart with joy.</p> + +<p>Oh the pity of it all! the pity of it! Such a nobly-matched pair was +never seen before nor since.</p> + +<p>Iseult made Sir Tristram tell her of the battles he had fought, of the +countries he had seen, and of the people of this new land towards which +she was hastening; for all was strange to her, and a great heaviness +filled her heart at the thought of King Mark and his court.</p> + +<p>That her mind might not dwell on it, she asked him of Queen Guinevere, +the fame of whose beauty had spread to all lands.</p> + +<p>"Alas, alas for her beauty!" cried Sir Tristram. "It has been the undoing +of many good men and true, who have died for love of her. Her beauty has +been a sore curse to her, poor lady."</p> + +<p>"Then," answered Iseult, looking up at him with serious, innocent eyes, +"right thankful I am that my face will never bring ill-fortune to any +man!" And Sir Tristram had to turn from her to hide his pain, for his +love for her was greater than ever.</p> + +<p>On and on they sailed, full fain that their voyage might last as long as +might be, for perfect was their happiness to be together thus, and +everything was fair and peaceful. But at last one day the sun was hid by +the clouds which gathered in the sky above them, the wind howled +threateningly around the vessel, increasing in violence as the hours +dragged by, until the danger of the dainty craft was great.</p> + +<p>Ill indeed would it have been with them but for the might of Sir +Tristram's arm, for the vessel was not one built to battle with tempests +and mighty seas. With all his strength and skill he guided her through +the troubled waters, and Iseult sat and watched him at his task, +marvelling at his power. "Ah," she thought, "had I been a man I would +have been just like to him." And, without fear of danger, so perfectly +did she trust in him, she lay and gazed at him with admiring, wistful +eyes. From time to time he came to her to encourage and reassure her, +but although she felt no fear, she did not tell him so, so dearly did she +love to hear his voice, and feel his care for her.</p> + +<p>At last when the danger was over he came to her again, dropping beside her +almost exhausted. "Iseult, my throat is parched and burning, my tongue +cleaves to my mouth. Give me some drink," he pleaded.</p> + +<p>Pleased to do his bidding, glad to be able to help him, Iseult rose and +ran below. But in the confusion caused by the storm nowhere could she +find aught wherewith to quench his thirst. Dame Bragwaine, half dead with +terror of the storm, fatigue, and sickness, lay in a sort of stupor on her +couch, and Iseult, ever kind and thoughtful for others, would not disturb +her to help her in her search. Here and there she sought, and high and +low, but nowhere could she find wine or aught else to drink.</p> + +<p>Right vexed and disappointed, she was returning empty-handed to the deck +where Sir Tristram impatiently awaited her, when, close by the couch of +Dame Bragwaine, she spied a beautiful golden flask full of a rich +sparkling liquid. With a cry of relief she snatched it up, and running up +on deck, "Drink, drink," she cried, unloosing the fastening, "the perfume +is intoxicating. Such wine I never before beheld."</p> + +<p>"Nay, sweet Lady Iseult," cried Sir Tristram, pressing it back into her +hands; "deign first to put your lips to it; do me that honour, or I will +never taste it." So to her sweet parted lips she raised the flask, and +drank, and then, smiling and glad, she handed it to him.</p> + +<p>Alas, alas, unhappy pair, who might have been so happy! No sooner had +they tasted of that fatal drink than through their hearts and brains +poured a love so great, so deep, so surpassing, that never a greater could +exist in this world. And in their hearts it dwelt for evermore, never +leaving them through weal or woe.</p> + +<p>At last, alas, after many adventures and many dangers, the happy voyage +ended, the coast of Cornwall was reached, and Sir Tristram had to lead La +Belle Iseult to the king. And King Mark when he saw her was so amazed at +her beauty that he loved her there and then, and with great pomp and +rejoicing the marriage took place at once.</p> + +<p>But La Belle Iseult loved none but Sir Tristram, and he her.</p> + +<p>For a while all went well, but only for a little while, for King Mark, +told by his knights of the love Queen Iseult and Sir Tristram bore each +other, grew sore jealous of Sir Tristram, and hating him more and more, +longed for a chance to do him harm.</p> + +<p>But Tristram gave him no chance, for he was the noblest and trustiest +knight of all the court, and though he fought and jousted continually no +harm came to him until one unhappy day, when he was lying sleeping in a +wood, there came along, a man whose brother Sir Tristram had killed; when +the man saw Sir Tristram lying there asleep he shot an arrow at him, and +the arrow went through Tristram's shoulder.</p> + +<p>Sir Tristram was on his feet in a moment, and killed the man; but his own +hurt was a grievous one, for the arrow had been a poisoned one, so, what +with his poisoned wound and what with his sorrow that Iseult was so kept a +prisoner by King Mark, that he could neither see her nor hear from her, +he was very ill for a long time, and like to die. And no one had the +skill to cure him but La Belle Iseult, and she might not do so.</p> + +<p>Hearing, though, by some means, of his sad condition she sent to him a +message by Dame Bragwaine's cousin, bidding him to go to Brittany, for +King Howell's daughter, Iseult la Blanche Mains,—or Iseult of the White +Hands,—could cure him, and no one else. So he took a ship and went, and +this other Iseult healed his wounds, and restored him to perfect health. +But she grew to love him, too, for he was a man to whom all women's hearts +softened.</p> + +<p>She was but a child, this White-handed Iseult. She had barely reached her +sixteenth year. And though she thought of her unasked love with shame, +and though she ever strove to hide it, it shone in her soft brown eyes, +and pale face, and filled Sir Tristram's heart with pain for her. So he +left the court and sailed the seas again, hoping that she would forget +him, and learn to love someone else.</p> + +<p>Now, though Sir Tristram could not tear the love of La Belle Iseult from +his heart, he did not spend his life in moans and sad regrets. He gave +his life to helping the oppressed, and destroying the oppressors; to +helping to right wrongs, and in all ways living a good and noble life +worthy of the lady who loved him.</p> + +<p>His liking for the sea was great, too, so that he spent many days and +nights on board his own good ship, and often he thought of the time when +La Belle Iseult crossed the sea with him, of the sunny days and starry +nights, the peace, the joy, and the happiness of that sweet time. +And his heart ached cruelly, and he was full of sadness, for he was a very +lonely man now, with no hope of happiness before him.</p> + +<p>Then one day in his loneliness came the thought of that other lonely +heart,—kind little Iseult of the White Hands, and of her love for him. +"She suffers as I do," he said. "Why should two women suffer so for my +sake? I cannot love her as she deserves, but I will try to make her +happy." So, turning the vessel's head, he made once more for Brittany, +and there he found that an earl called Grip was making great war upon King +Howell, and was getting the mastery. So Sir Tristram joyfully went to the +king's aid, and after mowing down Grip's knights right and left, he killed +the earl himself, and so won the battle.</p> + +<p>Right royally was Sir Tristram received after that, and King Howell in his +joy would have given him his whole kingdom had he so desired. But Sir +Tristram would accept no reward. What he had done, was done for Iseult's +sake, he said. And a love grew up in Tristram's heart for the gentle +maiden, for who could help loving one kind and beautiful!</p> + +<p>So they were married with great rejoicings, and all the kingdom was glad, +and so was Sir Tristram, for now, he thought, he could quench that fatal +love for Iseult of Cornwall, and could spend the rest of his days in this +sunny land, happy with his sweet child-wife.</p> + +<p>Alas! alas! Once more the deadly love-drink did its work! No sooner had +he placed the ring on his bride's finger, than the love for the other +Iseult returned stronger than ever.</p> + +<p>"I have been false to my lady!" he cried to himself remorsefully, +"for I swore ever to be her true knight, loyal to her alone." +And such sorrow and repentance filled his heart that his love for his +bride was killed. He concealed his pain so well, though, that little +Iseult was happy, never doubting that her husband loved her,—but all the +days and nights that passed were full for Tristram of yearning for his +love, and a great longing to be again in Cornwall.</p> + +<p>At last one day there arrived at the castle a knight from King Arthur's +court at Camelot; and of him Sir Tristram asked, "Say they aught of me at +court?"</p> + +<p>"Truly," answered the knight, "they speak of you with shame, for Sir +Launcelot says you are a false knight to your lady, and his love for you +is dead, so that he longs to meet with you that he may joust with you."</p> + +<p>Sore troubled indeed was Sir Tristram at this, for he loved Sir Launcelot, +and coveted his respect, and to be deemed traitor to the lady for whom he +would have laid down his life, hurt him most of all.</p> + +<p>From that time his longing to return to Tintagel and his love for La Belle +Iseult grew daily more and more unconquerable, until at last he could no +longer bear it, and one day set sail from Brittany, leaving his poor +little lonely wife behind to mourn his absence, and yearn for his return; +for as yet she had not found out that there was no love at all in his +heart for her.</p> + +<p>But on a day soon after he had left her there was brought to her the story +of his love for that other Iseult, and of hers for him. Then was the +young wife filled with shame that ever she had showed her love for him, +and jealousy raged in her, turning her love to bitter hate, and her heart +hardened so that night and day she longed to be revenged.</p> + +<p>Thus a whole year passed away, and Tristram and Queen Iseult loved each +other as dearly as ever; but King Mark in his jealous anger kept them so +watched that they could never see or speak one to the other, and they had +no peace or joy in life, until at last they could bear the pain no longer, +and one day they managed to escape together and to reach the Castle of +Joyous Gard, where the king had no power to reach them, even had he known +where they were hid. Of their love and happiness there no tongue can +tell, and of the peace and joy of their life, for they loved each other +above all else, and when they were together nothing had power to pain +them.</p> + +<p>But at last, on a sad, sad day, the trusty Gouvernail came to Sir Tristram +with word that a summons had been sent him from King Arthur, to go to the +aid of Sir Triamour of Wales, for he was sore beset by a monster named +Urgan, and needed help.</p> + +<p>Sir Tristram could in no wise, of course, neglect this summons, for that +would have been the direst disgrace to him, and never more in all his life +would he have been able to show himself anywhere but as a treacherous and +loathly knight, and, though it broke his heart to send her from him, La +Belle Iseult loved him too well to have him so disgrace himself.</p> + +<p>So they parted; and a sadder parting never had been in this world, for +they knew with a sure and certain knowledge that never again would they be +allowed to meet; and their hearts were full of a love and sorrow almost +too great to be borne. With tears and kisses they said farewell, vowing +each to be true to the other till death, and after.</p> + +<p>So Sir Tristram rode away into Wales, and Queen Iseult being discovered by +King Mark, was made to return to him, only to be made a prisoner in the +great grim castle at Tintagel, where all day long she sat sad and lonely, +looking out over the sea, and musing sadly on all the bitterness life had +held for her and for her lover. And her husband, jealous, wrathful, never +slackened his watch over her, night or day.</p> + +<p>A harder lot was Iseult's than her lover's, for he had change and action +to distract his thoughts, and all the excitement of battle; but she had +nothing to do but sit and think on all that might have been, until her +heart was near to breaking.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Sir Tristram arrived in Wales and met the monster Urgan, a +huge, hideous creature with no notion of fighting, or chivalry, for the +moment he beheld Sir Tristram, he rushed upon him, and would have dashed +him to the ground, but that Sir Tristram by good hap saw what was coming, +and swerved aside so that the blow fell harmless. And while the giant +roared with rage and mortification, and tried to recover his balance, +Sir Tristram swiftly drew his sword, and swinging it lightly round his +head, cut the monster's right hand clean off at the wrist with one sharp +stroke.</p> + +<p>Maddened by the pain, Urgan fumbled with his left hand until he drew from +his belt a short steel dagger which had been tempered with sorcery, and +springing on Sir Tristram they closed together, and long and fiercely they +fought until the cliffs trembled with the struggle, and the ground was +sodden with blood.</p> + +<p>Great ado had Sir Tristram to avoid the huge bulk of the giant, and +greater and greater grew the strain upon his strength, until a blow from +him sent the giant rolling over in the gory mud. He was soon on his feet +again, but the moment had given Sir Tristram time to get his breath. +Then they closed again, and the blows fell faster and more furiously than +ever. The giant's groans of rage and excitement might have been heard for +miles around, while the earth flew about them until they could scarce be +seen. Between every joint of their corslets the blood ran down in +streams, but the sight only infuriated them the more.</p> + +<p>At last, with a fierce roar between bitter laughter and pain, Urgan smote +Sir Tristram with such fury that he cracked his shield in half, and then +before Sir Tristram could recover himself he smote him again so that he +would have killed him had not the blow by great good chance turned aside. +But, turning aside as it did, it gave Sir Tristram the chance he coveted, +and rushing in on the giant before he had recovered his foothold, he smote +him with such force and skill that he cleft him clean through; and in his +agony Urgan leapt so high in the air that he fell back over the edge of +the cliff, and dropped heavily into the sea.</p> + +<p>His task accomplished, Sir Tristram got into his ship again and sailed +away, and as he passed Tintagel, where his unhappy love lay a prisoner in +the castle, his heart felt like to break; and his yearning for her was so +great, it seemed as though it must bring her to him in spite of her +jailers.</p> + +<p>But they were parted, those two, by a fate as strong as death. And she +lay immured in her castle home, while he sailed on and on, not heeding nor +caring whither he went, for all that he loved dwelt on that bleak +iron-bound coast, as far from him as though the whole wide world lay +between them.</p> + +<p>And so at last, not heeding whither he sailed, he came to that sunny land +where his wife Iseult dwelt, praying always for revenge because she had +been scorned by him. On the coast at Brittany he landed, close by his own +castle, but no sooner had he stepped ashore than he was met by a knight +who knelt before him and besought his aid.</p> + +<p>"Noble sir," cried he, "I am in sore distress. Some robbers, who infest +this land like a scourge, met me as I was riding along with my new-made +bride, and I being alone and single-handed, they quickly mastered me, and +binding me, carried my bride away. And how to rescue her I know not. +Come to my aid, sir, I beseech you, for you look a noble and trusty +knight."</p> + +<p>Sir Tristram, glad to have some distraction from his sorrow, was only too +ready to help others who suffered for love's sake. So to Iseult he sent a +message to say he had arrived, and would have been with her but for the +quest, which he was bound to accomplish for his honour's sake, and for the +sake of his knighthood. Then he departed, and he and the knight rode +along the seashore in search of the robbers.</p> + +<p>All night they slept in the wood by the sea, but as soon as morning broke +there sounded close at hand a great trampling of horses and clanking of +arms, and soon came along the robber band, with the pale-faced, terrified +lady in their midst, fastened to one of the robbers.</p> + +<p>At this sight the hapless young husband could no longer restrain himself. +With a fierce cry he flew at the man to whom his bride was bound, +while Sir Tristram, cool and strong, closed with the band and slew three +before they had tried to defend themselves. And so the unequal battle +began, and so it raged; but with so much courage and fierceness did the +two knights fight for their just cause, that soon nearly all the robber +band lay lifeless on the ground.</p> + +<p>The young knight, though, was himself by that time wounded by the last +remaining of the band, and ill would it have gone with him, for the +reeking sword was raised high to give him the final blow, when Sir +Tristram with a cry of triumph rushed in and clove the man so that he +never breathed again.</p> + +<p>Thus was all accomplished, and gladly was Sir Tristram returning on his +homeward way, when one of the robbers who had made his escape and lay +concealed, shot at Sir Tristram from his hiding-place, and the arrow +pierced Sir Tristram in that same wound whereof he had nearly died before +he went to Ireland, and La Belle Iseult cured him. And now he felt like +to die again.</p> + +<p>Scarcely could he stagger home through the long miles of that rugged +forest by the sea; his eyes were faint and blinded, his legs shook under +him. Parched, trembling, well-nigh dead, he reached at last his castle +gates, but there his strength failed him, and with a terrible cry he fell +prostrate on the ground.</p> + +<p>At the sound forth came soldiers and servants, and strong men lifted him +in kindly arms and laid him gently on a bed, calling aloud for someone to +come and dress his wound.</p> + +<p>Over by the window of the big hall sat Iseult la Blanche Mains, gazing +with stony, unseeing eyes out over the golden sea, paying no heed to the +noise and bustle going on about her. She had recognized that cry of pain +at the gate, and knew her husband had returned sore stricken, but never, +never once did she turn her head to look at him, nor move to give him +comfort or assistance. And Tristram, ill though he was, felt the change +in her manner to him, and grieved in his heart that all was not as it +should have been, for he could not bear to cause pain to any woman.</p> + +<p>As soon as he could speak he called to her, humbly, "Iseult, my wife!" +At that she rose and went to him, but sullenly, and stood looking at him +as though he were a stranger.</p> + +<p>"Kiss me," he whispered, and at his bidding she stooped and kissed him, +but it was as though an icicle had brushed his cheek, and a black cloud of +misery settled down upon him, and despairing longing for her who would +have been so gentle and kind to him; and towards his wife his heart +hardened.</p> + +<p>And she, poor little Iseult, her heart aching sorely with love and +jealousy and bitter pain, returned to her seat, and no movement did she +make to heal her lord of his wound, though she alone could do so. But in +her heart she had vowed that she would not give him health and life only +that he might leave her again to go to that other Iseult. So, stern and +cold she sat by the window looking out upon the sea, and never spake one +gentle word, or tried to win his love.</p> + +<p>And thus three days and nights passed by, and ever the husband and wife +drifted more and more apart. Sir Tristram's wound refused to heal, +his strength failed him more and more, but still his wife made no attempt +to save him.</p> + +<p>At last there came a day when Sir Tristram could no longer endure his +lonely, loveless life, or his pain of mind and body, with never a kindly +word or deed to comfort him. This hard, reproachful woman tortured him +hour by hour with her sullen face and hard eyes, her cruel, cold +indifference. And his love for that other Iseult, so tender, and true, +and loving, burnt like fire in his veins and consumed him. So calling to +him Ganhardine, his wife's brother, who loved him greatly, he bade him, by +the love they bore each other, to take his ship 'The Swan,' and with all +speed sail in her to England; and there to land at Tintagel, and by fair +means or foul to convey to Queen Iseult the ring which he there gave him. +To tell her, too, how that he, Sir Tristram, was like to die, but could +not die in peace till he had seen her face once more.</p> + +<p>"Then if it be that she comes, hoist a white sail that I may know my love +still loves me, and is on her way. If not, then let the sail be black, +that I may know, and die."</p> + +<p>And Iseult of the White Hands heard each word he spake, and never a word +she said; but her rage and jealousy well-nigh consumed her.</p> + +<p>So Sir Ganhardine left upon his errand, and sailed for Tintagel in +'The Swan,' and the journey did not take him long, for the ship flew +through the waters like a real bird, as though she knew she was bound on +her master's errand, and that his life depended on her swiftness.</p> + +<p>Dark it was when Ganhardine arrived, for it was winter-time, when storms +rage full violent on that bleak coast. And at once he landed, and was +made welcome by King Mark, for a stranger, and a noble one, was ever +welcome in that lone country; and the king's heart never misgave him that +this was a messenger from Sir Tristram.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that Dame Bragwaine knew Sir Ganhardine, for they had been +lovers in days gone by, and more than glad they were to see each other +again. So with Bragwaine's gladly given help, Ganhardine conveyed Sir +Tristram's ring to Queen Iseult in a cup of wine, so that when the queen +drank, there at the bottom of the cup lay Sir Tristram's ring, one that +she had given him long ago. And there she saw it, and her pale sad face +lit up with such a wondrous joy that she had some ado to conceal her +emotion from the king and those around her who were ever keeping her +watched.</p> + +<p>Deftly, though, she slipped the ring out of her mouth, and deftly she +presently managed to slip it into her bosom, marvelling much the while +whence and how it came, and why. And her anxiety and longing nigh drove +her beside herself. For until all the inmates of the castle had retired +to rest, naught could she learn of the mystery, or of the stranger who had +come to the castle. But once within her own apartments, where she was no +longer watched and guarded as of yore, she quickly, at Dame Bragwaine's +bidding, muffled herself to the eyes, and creeping softly down a flight of +secret stairs, she got out of the castle by a private passage-way and +reached the spot where 'The Swan' lay moored, and where Sir Ganhardine +awaited her with his message and his sad story.</p> + +<p>When she heard tell of Sir Tristram's sad plight, and how that he was like +to die, but could not die in peace till he had once more beheld her, there +was no need to plead with her to leave all and go to him. Almost before +the tale was told her she had stepped on board the ship, and without one +glance behind her or one regret she set sail upon the stormy wintry sea to +go to her true love, as fast as the faithful 'Swan' could carry her. +And in her joy that once again she should be with him, once again she +should see him, she almost forgot his sore plight, for hard it was for her +to believe that Sir Tristram could be like to die.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile death was drawing nearer and nearer to Sir Tristram. +His restlessness aggravated his wound, his anxious, tortured mind +increased his fever, so that truly he was like to die at any moment. +And all the time, a little way from him sat White-handed Iseult, pale and +cold without, the better to bide the burning rage within.</p> + +<p>"Iseult! Iseult!" cried the sick man in his sleep.</p> + +<p>"I am here. What would you?" she answered coldly, and he opened his eyes +with a half-doubting joy in them; but his heart sank like lead, and all +the joy died out of him, for the voice was not the voice of his love, nor +the face her face, and sore wearily he sighed, and turned his face away.</p> + +<p>"I wronged you past all forgiveness when I married you," he said, "for my +heart had long been given to La Belle Iseult, whose sworn knight I was; +but I did love you, I thought I could make you happy. Have you no pity? +Can you feel no mercy for me now?" he cried piteously.</p> + +<p>"I feel nothing," she answered bitterly; "between you, you have killed my +heart, and all that was good in me."</p> + +<p>So his heart yearned all the more for the gentler, more tender Iseult. +Wearily he moved in his bed and watched for the first gleam of daylight. +Slowly the hours dragged by, relieved only by the plash, plash of the +waves against the castle walls, or the sighs of the sick man.</p> + +<p>Then within a while he spoke again. "My wife," he said, "when morning +comes, look across the sea, and tell me if you see a ship coming, and if +its sails be black or white, that I may the sooner be out of this +miserable uncertainty."</p> + +<p>Obediently she rose, and sat watching until the first ray of dawn, when, +skimming over the sea through the morning mist, she saw the dainty 'Swan,' +with her white sails like wings gleaming through the dimness. Over the +wide waters she flew, until she drew close to the castle, and the anchor +was cast. Then from out her sprang Ganhardine, and following quickly +after him came La Belle Iseult. Too impatient to wait for help she sprang +lightly on the shore, and stood there breathless, eager, glad.</p> + +<p>And so for the first time Iseult la Blanche Mains saw that other Iseult, +and as she stood on the shore in her white gown, with her golden hair +falling out under her hood like a mantle over her shoulders, the unhappy +wife marvelled not that Tristram loved so fair a creature, and her heart +sank at sight of her beauty, and fiercer burnt her jealousy.</p> + +<p>"They come," she said sullenly, turning to her husband.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he cried, with a deep groan of intolerable suspense. "Of thy mercy +tell me, and do not torture me!"</p> + +<p>"The sails are black," she answered in a cold, hard voice.</p> + +<p>Then was the terrified woman sore afraid, for with a mighty effort Sir +Tristram sprang from his bed, and took one step across the floor, and in a +voice that made even her heart throb and bleed with pity, "Iseult—my +love—my love!" he cried. Then a sudden darkness falling upon him, he +flung out his arms as though to catch at something. "Iseult—Iseult—my +love—come—to me!" he gasped in broken tones, and with a thud fell at his +wife's feet, dead.</p> + +<p>"I come, my love, I come!" rang out a sweet voice, full of love and +tenderness and joy; and up the castle steps flew La Belle Iseult, and +across the hall to where he lay. And never a look she gave at the pale, +unhappy wife. Never a glance at aught beside that form.</p> + +<p>"Tristram, my beloved! I am here. I am with you—with you for all time," +she cried, flinging herself on her knees beside him. And never another +word did she speak,—for when they raised her, her spirit had followed his +to where none could part them more.</p> + +<p>So died those two who had lived and loved so sadly and so truly. And when +he was dead there was found round Sir Tristram's sword-belt the story of +the fatal love-draught, and when he read it deep was the grief and bitter +the remorse of King Mark that he had ever parted those two so bound +together, and driven them to such despair.</p> + +<p>Once more 'The Swan' sailed over the sea to Tintagel, and this time she +bore Sir Tristram and his love together, for side by side they were to be +buried in a dainty chapel made for them alone, that at last they should +never more be parted.</p> + +<p>But in time the sea, jealous for those lovers whose doom she had seen, +came up and drew that dainty chapel into her own bosom. And there, where +none can see them, the lovers sleep in peace for evermore, wrapped round +and guarded by the blue waters of the deep Atlantic sea.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CORNWALL'S WONDERLAND***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 26755-h.txt or 26755-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/7/5/26755">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/7/5/26755</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/26755.txt b/26755.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c70eb80 --- /dev/null +++ b/26755.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5634 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Cornwall's Wonderland, by Mabel Quiller-Couch + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Cornwall's Wonderland + + +Author: Mabel Quiller-Couch + + + +Release Date: October 3, 2008 [eBook #26755] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CORNWALL'S WONDERLAND*** + + +E-text prepared by Lionel Sear + + + +CORNWALL'S WONDERLAND + +by + +MABEL QUILLER-COUCH. + + + + + + + +1914 +This e-text was prepared from a version published in 1914. + + + + +PREFACE. + +With a vivid recollection of the keen enjoyment I myself found in the +strange and wonderful Romances and Legends of Old Cornwall, now so +rapidly being forgotten; with a remembrance too of the numerous long +and involved paragraphs--even pages--that I skipped, as being prosy +or unintelligible, written as they were in a dialect often +untranslatable even by a Cornish child, I have here tried to present +a few of these tales in simpler form, to suit not only Cornish children, +but those of all parts. + +M.Q.C. + + + +CONTENTS. + + + HOW CORINEUS FOUGHT THE CHIEF OF THE GIANTS. + + THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT. + + THE LEGEND OF THE TAMAR, THE TAVY, AND THE TAW. + + THE STRANGE STORY OF CHERRY HONEY. + + THE FAIRIES ON THE GUMP. + + THE FAIRY OINTMENT. + + THE EXCITING ADVENTURE OF JOHN STURTRIDGE. + + THE TRUE STORY OF ANNE AND THE FAIRIES. + + BARKER AND THE BUCCAS. + + LUTEY AND THE MERMAID. + + THE WICKED SPECTRE. + + THE STORY OF THE LOVERS' COVE. + + THE SILVER TABLE. + + CRUEL COPPINGER, THE DANE. + + MADGE FIGGY, THE WRECKER. + + HOW MADGE FIGGY GOT HER PIG. + + THE STORY OF SIR TRISTRAM AND LA BELLE ISEULT. + + + + + +HOW CORINEUS FOUGHT THE CHIEF OF THE GIANTS + + +Long, long ago, when Cornwall was almost a desert land, cold, bleak, and +poor, and inhabited only by giants, who had destroyed and eaten all the +smaller people, Brutus and Corineus came with a large Trojan army +intending to conquer England, or Albion as it was then called, and landed +at Plymouth for that purpose. + +These two valiant chiefs had heard strange tales of the enormous size of +the people in that part of the island, so, like wise generals, before +venturing inland themselves, they sent parties of their men to explore, +and find out what they could of the inhabitants. The soldiers, who had +never heard anything about the giants, went off very full of glee, and +courage, thinking, from the miserable look of the country, that they had +only some poor half-starved, ignorant savages to hunt out, and subdue. + +That was how they started out. They returned nearly scared to death, +rushing into camp like madmen, pursued by a troop of hideous monsters all +brandishing clubs as big as oak trees, and making the most awful noises +you can possibly imagine. + +When, though, Brutus and Corineus saw these great creatures they were not +in the least frightened, for, you see, they had already heard about them. +So they quietly and quickly collected their army, reassured the terrified +men, and, before the giants knew what was happening, they marched upon +them, and assailed them vigorously with spears and darts. + +The giants, who were really not at all brave men, were so frightened at +this attack, and at the pain caused by the arrows and spears,--weapons +they had never seen before,--that they very soon turned tail and ran for +their lives. They made direct for the Dartmoor hills, where they hoped to +find shelter and safe hiding-places, and indeed, all did manage to escape +except one, and that was the great Gogmagog, the captain, who was so badly +injured that he could not run. + +When Gogmagog saw his cowardly companions all running away, and leaving +him to do the best he could for himself, he bellowed and bellowed with +rage and fear until the birds nearly dropped down from the sky with +fright. After a while, though, he began to think he had better stop +drawing attention to himself, and look about for a means of escape, and +this was no slight task, for he could scarcely move a step, and his great +big body was not at all easy to conceal. Indeed, the only means he could +see open to him was to lie down in one of the great ditches which lay here +and there all over the land, and trust to the darkness concealing him +until the soldiers had returned to camp. + +Alas, though, for poor Gogmagog's plans, the moon was at the full, and +every place was almost as light as by day. The Trojan soldiers too were +so excited and pleased with their giant-hunting, that they could not bear +to give it up and return to camp until they had at least one giant to take +back as a trophy. So they prowled here, and prowled there, until at last +they caught sight of the great bulky body stretched out in the ditch. + +Gogmagog, of course, had no chance of escape, he was surrounded and +captured, and bound, and the Trojans, rejoicing greatly, dragged him back +a prisoner to their camp on Plymouth Hoe. Here, although he was carefully +guarded, he was treated with great kindness, fed bountifully, and nursed +until his wounds were healed. + +When at last he was quite recovered, Brutus, who was very anxious to come +to terms with the giants, discussed with him various ways of settling the +question they had come with their army to decide, namely, who should be +the possessor of the country. He proposed this plan, and that plan, and +the other, but none seemed to please Gogmagog, and while the general +talked and talked, and tried to come to terms, Gogmagog just sat stolidly +listening, and only opening his great mouth to disagree with the general's +proposal. The truth was, the giant had a great idea of his own cunning, +and he was trying to think of some way by which he could get the better of +the invaders, and yet avoid further battles and discharges of arrows. +"For," as he said, "you never knew where you were with they things. +They had done for you before you'd got time to turn round. Clubs or fists +he was equal to, but he didn't see no fun in they sharp little things that +stuck right into you, and wouldn't come out until they was cut out." + +Thinking of clubs and fists reminded him of wrestling, which was practised +a great deal in Cornwall, even in those days, and very little anywhere +else. + +"The very thing!" thought the wily giant, for it wasn't likely the Trojans +knew anything about it, and even if they did, they were only little bits +of chaps compared with himself and the other giants. So, after a time, he +proposed to Brutus that they should settle matters by "a scat to +wrastling," the best man, of course, to have the country. + +Rather to Gogmagog's surprise Brutus agreed at once, and it was quickly +settled that the giant himself and the best man in the Trojan army should +be the two to try their skill. This man was Corineus, who accepted the +challenge instantly. + +After this the day was soon fixed, and Gogmagog was allowed to send and +tell his friends, and bid them all come to Plymouth to witness the great +event. The giants, being assured that no arrows or spears would be used +against them, came with alacrity, and both they and the Trojans were in a +wild state of excitement which increased and increased as the great day +drew near. + +At last the longed-for time arrived. A ring was formed on the Hoe, the +giants all sitting on one side, and the Trojans on the other, and the +struggle began. + +Oh, it was a fine sight to see two such men pitted against each other, +the giant, the finest of his race, and the splendid, stalwart soldier, +the enormous strength of the one faced by the skill and coolness of the +other, to see them grapple each other and struggle for the mastery as +never men had struggled before in hand-to-hand warfare. Such a sight had +never been seen in Cornwall until that day, nor ever will be again. +It lasted long, and for long the result was doubtful. + +"Th' little un can't hold out much longer, mun," cried one of the giants. +"Cap'en's only playing with un yet." But just at that very moment +Corineus, who was playing a very clever game, dashed in unexpectedly, +caught the giant by the girdle, and grasping it like a vice, shook the +astonished and breathless monster with all his might and main. The giant, +bewildered and gasping, swayed backwards and forwards at his mercy, at +first slightly, then more and more, as he failed to regain his balance, +until, gathering all his strength for one last effort, Corineus gave him +one tremendous push backwards, and sent him clean over, so that he +measured his great length upon the ground, and the country for miles round +shook with the force of his fall. + +Gogmagog gave one awful groan, which sounded like thunder all over the +land, making the giantesses, who were left at home, exclaim nervously, +"Oh dear, oh dear, there must be an earthquake somewhere! How very +unsettled the country is!" + +Gogmagog was so stunned and breathless with his fall, that for some time +he could not collect his wits, or get up again, so he lay there moaning +and puffing until his hard breathing had lashed the sea into fury. +The other giants were too frightened to speak or move, for they were quite +certain there was magic being used against them, for strength alone could +never have overthrown their 'Cap'en' like that, certainly not the strength +of 'a little whipper-snapper like that there Corinoos.' + +While, though, they were staring open-mouthed, and the giant, never +expecting another attack, lay there still puffing and blowing, and trying +to think how he could get off facing his opponent again, Corineus had been +gathering up all his power to finish his task, and now, dashing in +suddenly on his foe, he seized him by the legs, and dragging him to the +edge of the cliff, he sent him, with one mighty push, rolling over and +over down the sides of the steep cliff into the sea below. + +The fearful roar which broke from the giant's throat as he disappeared, +the crashing and thudding of his body as it dashed from point to point of +the jagged rocks, made even those hardened savages sicken and turn pale, +but worst of all was the crash with which he came to the bottom, where his +body struck a rock with such violence that it was dashed into a thousand +pieces, and his spouting blood dyed the sea crimson for miles and miles +around. + +After that all turned away pale and sobered, the soldiers to their camp, +the giants to their homes, their cowardly hearts full of terror of these +new-comers, and the feasting they had promised themselves by way of +keeping up their victory was postponed indefinitely. + +So ended the fight between the giant and the Trojan. It was not playing +the game, but the giants were too cowardly to demand revenge, or to +attempt to punish Corineus, and so the land and all in it fell to the +Trojans. + +Later, when Brutus had conquered all Albion, and was dividing some of it +amongst his chiefs, Corineus begged that he might have the giant country, +for he loved hunting the great lumbering fellows, and turning them out of +their caves and hiding-places. So it was given to him, and he called it +Cornwall, because that was something like his own name, and in time he +cleared out all the giants, and in their stead there settled there an +honest, manly people, who worked and tilled the land, and dug up tin, and +did everything that was good, and honourable and industrious, and this is +the kind of people who live there still. + + + +THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT. + + +I am sure most of you have heard of St. Michael's Mount, the strange, +beautiful, mountain island, which rises up out of the sea down by +Penzance; a mountain island with a grand old castle crowning its summit, +and a picturesque group of cottages nestling at its base. + +If you have not, you must coax your parents to take you down there for +your next summer holiday, then you will be able to see the Mount, and +visit it too. And when you are on it you must think to yourself, "Now I +am standing where the Giant Cormoran once stood." + +You must look out over the sea, too, which surrounds the giant's Mount, +and try to picture to yourself a large forest in the place of it, and the +sea six long miles away, for that was how it was in Cormoran's time, until +one day the sea rose quite suddenly, a huge mountain of water, and rushing +over the six miles of land, covered it and the forests too, even above the +tops of the tallest trees. Everything for miles around was swallowed up, +except the Mount, which was saved by reason of its great height. + +From that day to this the sea has never receded, and St. Michael's Mount +has remained an island, completely cut off from the mainland, except at +low tide, when you can, if you are quick, just manage to walk across. + +Years before this, Cormoran had built up the Mount for a home for himself. +When first he came to the spot it was all forest, with one large white +rock in the midst of it. As he lay on this rock resting, he made up his +mind to build himself a hill here, all of white rocks, like the one on +which he reclined, where he could live in safety, and keep an eye on the +surrounding country. + +It was a big task he had set himself, for all the blocks of granite of +which it was to be made, had to be brought from a neighbouring hill, those +close by being of the pink, or green, or grey kinds, and he would have +none of these. Perhaps he would have changed his mind about it had he had +to carry all the stone himself, but he, the great lazy fellow, made his +wife Cornelian fetch all the heaviest blocks, while he lay idly by and +watched her. + +Cornelian, who thought the work was very hard indeed, did not see why the +green rocks would not do as well as the white, they would be even +prettier, in her opinion, so one day when her husband was asleep she +knocked off a great green rock, and picking it up in her apron, hurried +back as fast as she could to get it fixed in its place before he should +wake. She could not manage it though, poor soul, for just as she was +reaching her destination the giant opened his eyes, and as soon as he had +opened them he caught sight of the green rock she was carrying. +Then, oh, what a temper he was in at being disobeyed! He did not say +anything, but he got quietly up from his resting-place as soon as she had +passed, and followed her, but so softly that she did not notice anything +until he was close to her, when he gave her such a blow that she fell +staggering under it. Her apron-strings broke, down fell the green stone +to the ground, and there it has stayed from that day to this, for no human +power has been able to move it. + +Cormoran was an old giant, and a very ugly one. He had only one eye, and +that was in the middle of his forehead; he had lost nearly all his teeth, +too. It would have been better for his appearance had he lost them quite +all, for those that were left were broken, jagged, and discoloured, and +were anything but ornamental. He was a perfect monster to look at, and, +oh, he was such a dreadful thief! All the people who lived anywhere near +him went in terror of him, for when he was hungry he would just cross to +the mainland, steal the very best cow or sheep in the neighbourhood, +sling it across his shoulders and go home with it. And as he was very +often hungry, the poor farmer folks were nearly eaten out of house and +home by the bad old giant. + +On the Pengerswick estate near by, there were some particularly good +cattle, which Master Cormoran had taken a great fancy to, and to which he +helped himself pretty freely without ever being caught, or punished. +Of course, the more he stole the bolder he got, for having so often got +off scot-free, he grew to think he was always going to get off scot-free, +and that was where he made his mistake. + +One day he took it into his head that he would very much like another +of these fine, choice animals, so picking up a rope he started off, +and wading across to Pengerswick Cove, landed there as usual, thinking he +was going to help himself without any trouble and be home again by +dinner-time. + +It happened, though, that the Lord of Pengerswick had just returned from +the East, where he had been learning all sorts of magic and spells. +Cormoran, however, knew nothing of this, and if he had he would probably +only have laughed and sneered, and turned up his great nose in scorn, +for he believed in nothing but giants, and only in two of them,--himself, +and the Trecrobben Hill giant. + +As Master Cormoran approached, the Lord of Pengerswick, who knew by means +of magic all about his coming, and knowing his thieving ways, determined +to punish the old thief for all the mischief he had done during his +absence. So he began at once to work his spells, meaning to give the +giant a very unpleasant time. + +Cormoran, never dreaming of any trouble in store for him, landed as usual; +but, somehow, when he reached the Cove he did not feel very well, his head +felt muzzy and confused: he thought perhaps the sun had been too much for +him as he came along. Instead, too, of catching one of the cattle at +once, as usual, he had the works of the world to get one, the beasts +seemed as slippery as eels, and he was so dull in the head, he hardly knew +what he was about. However, after a great deal of trouble, and losing his +temper more than once, he managed to catch a fine calf, and tying its four +feet together, he slung it round his neck, and prepared to hurry back to +the Mount to have a good feast. + +He walked, and he walked, and he walked as fast as his feet could carry +him, but though he went very quickly, and it was really no distance back +to the Cove, he somehow could not get any nearer to the end of his +journey; the path seemed all strange to him, too, and for the life of him +he could not tell where he was. + +At last, when he was so tired that he was ready to drop, he came in sight +of a great black rock in Pengerswick Cove. It was a rock he did not +remember seeing before, and thinking he was once again on the wrong path +he turned to go back. But this, he found to his surprise, was what he +could not do. The rock, as if by magic, was drawing him nearer and +nearer. It was like a magnet, and struggle as he would, he could not keep +away from it. He tried to turn round, he tried to draw back, he even lay +down on the ground and dug his heels with all his strength into the sand. +But still he felt himself being drawn on and on until he actually touched +the rock, and the moment he touched it he found to his horror that he was +fastened to it as though by iron bands. + +Oh, how he struggled to get free, how he twisted and turned, and kicked! +All in vain, though. He might as well have lain still and gone to sleep +for all the good he did. By degrees, too, he felt himself growing more +and more helpless, he could not move hand or foot, he grew colder and +stiffer, and stiffer and colder, until at last he was as if turned to +stone, except that his senses were more acute than ever they had been +before. To add to his torments, too, the calf which he had slung across +his shoulders, struggled and kicked and bellowed until the old thief was +black and blue, and nearly deafened. He was nearly scared to death, too, +for fear someone would hear the creature's noise, and come in search of +it, to find out what was the matter. + +He tried and tried to throw off his burden, but nothing would loosen it, +and all the night long he had to bear the bleating and the bellowing in +his ear, and the incessant kicking and butting, for, for the whole of the +night the giant had to remain there; and probably he would have been there +for the rest of his life, had not the Lord of Pengerswick thought he would +like to have some more fun with him. + +Early in the morning the Enchanter mounted his horse and rode down to the +Cove to have a look at Master Cormoran, and to give him a piece of his +mind before he removed the spell and let him go, and a piece of something +else as well! Cormoran quaked when he saw the old lord coming, for he +looked every bit as angry as he really was, and first he lashed the giant +with his tongue, and then he lashed him with his whip, and he flogged him +and flogged him until in his agony Cormoran kicked and struggled so hard +that he broke away from the rock and leaped right into the sea. + +This was the way the Enchanter removed the spell! + +Once free from that terrible rock, Cormoran soon reached home, but the +lesson he had had was one that he never forgot, and he never troubled that +part of the country again, so the people all around had good cause to +thank the Lord of Pengerswick. Poor Cornelian, his wife, had a sad time +of it, though, for so sore was the giant from his beating, and so angry +and mortified, that his temper became something worse than ever. +Indeed, I cannot find words to describe it. + +Poor Cornelian herself was very kind and good-tempered, and a very +hard-working giantess, and she was very much to be pitied for having such +a disagreeable, grumpy old husband. Cornelian, though, had one great +fault, and that was that she was very, very inquisitive. I do not know +that she ever did any harm to anyone but herself by it. It brought about +her own death, though, in a very dreadful manner. And this was how it +was. + +Cormoran and the Trecrobben Hill giant were very friendly and neighbourly +one with the other, and they used to borrow and lend to each other any +little thing they happened to want, just as ordinary people do who are on +very good terms with one another. + +One day Cormoran was wanting the cobbling-hammer to mend his boots, +but the hammer was up at Trecrobben's,--they only had one between them. +So he went out and shouted, "Halloa, up there! Hi! Trecrobben, throw us +down the cobblen hammer, wust-a?" They always threw across to each other +what they wanted. + +"To be sure," called back Trecrobben; "here, look out and catch un!" + +Hearing a lot of noise and shouting, Cornelian must needs bustle out to +find out what it was all about, and running from the dark house to the +bright sunshine, her eyes were so dazzled, she did not see the great +hammer coming hurtling through the air, as it did at that very moment, and +whack! crack! it caught her a terrible blow right between the eyes, even +crashing in the mighty bone of her forehead. + +Down she fell with a groan right at her husband's feet, and when he turned +her over she was as dead as the fatal hammer itself! Then what a to-do +there was! The two giants wept and roared over the corpse, they wrung +their hands and tore their hair, but it was all of no use, they could not +bring poor Cornelian back to life again. Their sighs and groans only +wrecked a ship or two out at sea, and blew the roofs off some houses at +Market Jew. So they stopped, and set to work to bury poor Cornelian. +They thought it best to get her out of sight as quickly as possible, +it made them weep so to see her lying there dead. + +Where they laid her, though, no one knows. Some say it was in the court +of the castle, others that they lifted Chapel Rock and put her under; but +there are others who say that they only rolled her over the edge of the +cliffs and into the sea! You will always, though, find some people ready +to say unkind things about everyone. + +Cormoran himself met his death some years later at the hands of Jack the +Giant-Killer, but as you probably know that story, I will not repeat it +here. + + + +THE LEGEND OF THE TAMAR, THE TAVY, AND THE TAW. + + +In the days when fairies, giants, and witches, gnomes and piskies, and +dwarfs, and all the other Big People and Little People dwelt on the land +or under it, there lived in a huge cavern, deep, deep down in the heart of +the earth, two gnomes, husband and wife, busy, practical little people, +who spent their lives digging and delving in the very bowels of the earth. + +They had no cravings for a more beautiful life, no desire to see the +sunshine, the flowers, the green grass, or the wide blue sea. They wanted +nothing better, or beyond the life which had always been theirs. + +To them, though, there was sent a little daughter, whom they called +Tamara. She was a lovely, golden-haired sprite, as unlike her parents as +the sun the night, and they were filled with happiness and pride, and +wonder of her beauty. + +When Tamara was old enough, they would have set her to work with them, but +Tamara did not like the cold, dark cavern, or the silence and bareness of +her underground home. She was an earth-loving child, and had a passion +for the upper world, whither she would escape as often as she possibly +could, for the sun, the flowers, the birds, the happy life which +surrounded her up there, were a never-failing joy to her. + +Her parents scolded and scolded; they warned her that the earth was full +of giants, and if she were captured by one of them, nothing could save +her; but she paid no heed to them at all, for she did not know what fear +was, she could not believe that anyone could harm her. And they had +petted and humoured her, and allowed her her own way in so many things, +she did not see why she should not do as she liked in this. + +She hated the cold, gloomy underground, so why should she stay there, +she argued, and she ran away more and more to the upper world, and spent +her days in roaming over the moors chasing the birds and butterflies, or, +when she was tired, lying on a bank of moss and ferns, gazing up at the +glorious sun, and basking in its kindly warmth. + +At length one day, Tawridge and Tavy, sons of two Dartmoor giants, met +sweet Tamara as she was wandering amongst the furze and bracken, and +straightway fell in love with her. They had only seen giantesses up to +that time, who, though very fine and striking in appearance, are never +pretty, and these two young giants had never in their lives seen anything +so delicate and so lovely as Tamara, or dreamed that it was possible that +such beautiful maidens could exist. + +Straightway each of them lost his great big heart to the dainty maiden, +and could not bear to lose sight of her. So afraid were they that she +would vanish, and they would never see her again, that they followed her +far and wide over the moor, trying to coax her to come and talk with them. +But Tamara, like a laughing, mischievous sprite, ran from them laughing, +led them over moor and river, always evading them, never letting them +reach her. The more though that she tantalized and teased them, the more +the poor fellows loved her, and they sighed for her until their great +hearts were like to break. + +One morning, Tamara got away earlier than usual from her cavern home. +She awoke long before her parents, and after gazing for some time at the +darkness which filled the cave, and shivering in the chill, damp air, +she thought of the upper world where the morning sun would be shining on +the dewy grass, and the birds be singing their first glad song; and as she +pictured it all the longing to be up there grew stronger than she could +bear. She rose quietly, and without disturbing her parents, left her home +for the last time. + +In the upper world all was as she had pictured it, and lost in the joy and +beauty of it, Tamara wandered on and on until she came to a place called +Morwenstow, and a dainty little pool in the hollow of a rock. The sun was +so warm, and the pool so lovely, Tamara felt she must step into it; so, +laying aside her robe, she played and swam about in the fresh clear water +until she was quite tired out, when she dressed herself in her robe again, +and shaking her long golden locks to dry them, she lay down under the +shelter of a hawthorn-bush, and soon fell fast asleep. + +Ah me! how sweet she looked, with her delicate cheeks so rosy after her +bathe, her lovely lashes resting on them, her cloud of golden hair spread +all about her! and so thought Tavy and Tawridge when they came along and +found her! At the sight of her they stood speechless with admiration, but +the great stupid fellows were as quiet and careful not to waken her as +fairies would have been. They just sat down near her and gazed and gazed +at her with great faithful dog-like eyes. + +Presently a thrush began to sing hard by, and with a little stretch and a +sleepy sigh Tamara opened her big blue eyes. When she caught sight of her +guardians and captors, she broke into a little rippling laugh and sprang +to her feet, but this time she could not escape. + +"Do not leave us," they pleaded. "We will not hurt you, Tamara. We may +be big and ugly, but we have good hearts. Have pity on us, lovely one, +for you know how we worship you, and how our lives are spent in seeking +you. Such a love for you fills our hearts we know no rest away from you." + +They pleaded long and earnestly, those two love-stricken giants, they +called her by every sweet and endearing name that they could think of, +and Tamara listened, and made no further attempt to run away. +Their devotion pleased her, it was so new and strange, and she loved to +feel her power. So the morning sped away. + +Deep down in the dark earth, the industrious little gnomes paused in their +labours and wondered where Tamara was. "She does not often stay so long," +said the mother; "I trust no harm has befallen her." + +"What a trouble she is to us!" said the father, growing angry because he +was alarmed. "We should be glad we have no more children, or we should +have to spend all our time looking after them, to see they came to no +harm. We should never have time for our work, and never know peace of +mind." + +"Yes, yes," said the mother impatiently, "but Tamara! Where can she be? +The earth is full of giants, and I am full of fears. I cannot rest, +I must go and seek her, and you must come too. She is so beautiful, and +so thoughtless and full of life." + +So they mounted to the upper world, and began their weary search for their +naughty little daughter; and by and by they found her seated on a couch of +sweet, soft heather, between the two giants. They were still telling her +of their love for her,--there was so much, it took long to tell,--and +beseeching her to choose one of them for her own faithful lover. + +The father gnome was very much alarmed at this sight, for what could he, +no taller than a tulip, do against two such monstrous creatures? +Their thumbs alone were as big as his whole body. All that was left to be +done was to appeal to Tamara, and each in turn, and both together, the +father and mother begged and commanded their runaway child to return to +her home. + +But Tamara was as obstinate as could be. "No, I want to stay here," +she said, "these good boys love me, and they will break their hearts when +I leave them. You would not have me make them so unhappy, would you? +I want, too, to hear all about their country and their people, for I love +it, and I love them, and I hate the cold, dark cavern, with its eternal +work, work, work!" Then she turned entreatingly to the giants, "You will +not let me be taken back, will you?" she cried, her beautiful eyes full of +appealing. + +"No, no!" they cried joyfully, "we will take care of you, little Tamara." + +Even, though, as they spoke, a deep sleep fell upon them. The gnome, +thoroughly angry, had cast a spell upon them, and poor Tamara saw herself +in an instant deprived of both her protectors. She was deeply mortified, +but more determined than ever not to go back to her dark, gloomy home. +No pleadings, or coaxings, or commands had any power to move her. +Her mother appealed to her, her father scolded, all in vain. Anger was +roused on both sides, until at length in ungovernable rage the father +cursed his daughter, and as his curse fell on her, the weeping girl was +changed into a crystal stream, which soon became a river; a beautiful, +rapid river, for ever winding its way with a low, sad murmur, in storm or +sunshine, through the land she loved so well, on and on to the great salt +ocean. + +The angry parents, heartbroken and desolate, had returned to their lonely +home, and Tamara, with low, sad sighs, was fleeing further and further +from her sleeping lovers, when Tavy at last awoke. He sat up and glared +around him, too dazed to realize at first all that had happened. +He looked at Tawridge, lying fast asleep, and recollection began to +return,--he looked for Tamara,--she was gone! + +In a frenzy of fear lest he should have lost his new-found love for ever, +he rushed hither and thither, wildly searching for her,--but, of course, +in vain. + +"Tamara! Tamara!" he called despairingly; no answer came. No sound +reached him but the sweet, sad voice of a stream hard by, a stream he did +not remember to have heard before. He was too full of his troubles, +though, to pay heed to such trifles now. + +Flying as fast as the wind to his father amongst the hills, he told him +his pitiful tale, but the giant already knew all that had happened, for he +had powers his son had not. + +"My boy," he said sadly, "your Tamara is gone. Cruelly taken from you. +I cannot bring her back to you, but I can send you to her. Grieved I +shall be to lose my son, but I cannot keep you here and see your life +filled with endless pain." Then the old giant kissed his son, and as he +kissed him he turned him into a stream, which, noisy and turbulent as poor +Tavy himself had been of old, rushed madly on over rock and moor, seeking +his lost love. Wildly he dashed ahead, seeking to overtake her, until at +last in a gentle valley where she loitered slowly, he came upon her, and, +happy that they had met at last, hand in hand they glided softly onwards +to the eternal sea. + +During all this time poor Tawridge slept on, dreaming of Tamara, that she +was his, and nothing could part them; but alas, alas for his waking! +He opened his eyes and found it was but a dream! Tamara was gone, +Tavy was gone, and he was left alone. + +"They have gone together!" was his first thought, but then he remembered +the arrival of the father and mother, and his second thought was that +Tamara had been taken back to her home by her parents, and that Tavy had +killed himself in despair. And Tawridge was filled with a double grief, +for he had really loved poor Tavy. + +In the hills there lived an Enchanter, and to him Tawridge ran for help, +and of him he learnt the truth,--that both were lost to him, and were +together. The knowledge drove him to frenzy. Without a thought for his +father or mother, or anyone else who loved him, he begged and implored the +Enchanter to turn him into a stream too, that he might follow the others +and overtake them, and once again be with his lost love, or near her. + +At last the old Enchanter consented, and Tawridge was turned into a +swiftly flowing river; and there his troubles might have ended, and the +three friends have been reunited, but, as he was going back, Tawridge +mistook the way, and, instead of flowing towards the sea with Tamara and +Tavy, he rushed on wildly seeking them in the wrong direction. Calling to +them with heartbroken cries and moans, he hurried faster and faster in his +longing to overtake them, but always in the wrong direction, ever and ever +flowing farther from them, never to meet his lost love again. + +To this day the Tamar and the Tavy run always side by side, and the Taw, +still sighing and moaning sadly, rushes in the opposite direction, and +never can the enchantment be removed from Tamara and her lovers, until we, +having grown better and wiser, become friends again with the Big People +and the Little People we have driven from us by our ignorance and narrow +minds. + + + +THE STRANGE STORY OF CHERRY HONEY. + + +Cherry Honey, with her father and mother, and a half-score of brothers and +sisters, lived in a little hut at Trereen, in the parish of Zennor. +They were very poor people, terribly poor, for all they had to live on was +what they could get out of a few acres of ground that they owned,--ground +as barren as any you could find thereabouts, and that is saying a good +deal. For food they lived mostly on fish and potatoes, except on Sundays, +when they had pork, and the broth it was boiled in; and twice a year, at +Christmas and Feast-day, they had, as a great luxury, white bread. + +Whether fish and potatoes make people strong, or whether the air at +Trereen was specially good, I can't tell, but sure enough it is that all +Tom Honey's children grew up into fine, handsome men and women, and not +one weakly one amongst them. + +They were a lively crew too, as merry as grigs in spite of the cold and +the hunger that they felt pretty often, and the liveliest and merriest of +the lot was Cherry. She was full of pranks and mischief, and led the +others a pretty life. When the miller's boy came to know if they wanted +to send any corn to be ground, Cherry would slip out, mount his horse, +which he left fastened up close by, and off she would go, racing as hard +as she could go all along the very edge of the cliff, and away to the +Downs, the miller's boy racing and yelling after her, but he might as well +have tried to catch a will-o'-the-wisp. + +So Cherry went on very happily, working very hard and playing too, until +she reached the age of sixteen or so, when she began to feel a wish to see +more life than that lonely moor provided, and have a change from the tiny +hut which could not hold a half of them comfortably. She wanted a new +gown too, her mother had promised it to her ever since she was thirteen, +and she had looked forward to it even more than she did to Feasten-Sunday, +for she had never had a new frock in her life. She could not enjoy +Feasten-Sunday either, unless she was dressed as nicely as other girls. + +Year after year, though, she was disappointed, there was no money and no +new dress, and poor Cherry had to content herself with a clean apron over +her shabby old frock, which had been patched and mended until there was +only one piece of the original left, and no one but Cherry herself could +have told which that was. + +She was not fit to go to church or to fair, and she felt it very hard that +she could never enjoy herself. And then, to make matters worse, her great +friend Tamsin Bray, who was a year younger than Cherry, had a beautiful +frock all trimmed with ribbons, and she wore it to Nancledry to the +preaching there, and had a fine time there, full of adventures and new +experiences, as she took care to tell poor Cherry when she came back, +making Cherry feel more dissatisfied than ever. She knew she was a +prettier girl than Tamsin, and would get more admiration if she only had +the chance. + +After that Cherry could no longer go on bearing things as they were. +If her mother couldn't buy her a new frock, she would go to work, and earn +one for herself, she determined. So she told her parents she was going to +look for a situation, and nothing they could say could make her change her +mind, so they gave up trying to. + +"Why don't 'ee try and get a place down to Towednack?" asked her mother, +who wanted her not to go far from home. + +"Iss, fay, mother," answered Cherry sharply, "a likely tale I'm going to +live in a place where the cow ate the bell-rope, and where they've nothing +but fish and taties all the year round, except Sundays, when they have +conger-pie! Dear no, I'm going where I can get butcher's meat sometimes, +and a bit of saffern cake when I wants it!" + +So Cherry packed up her few garments, which made but a very small bundle, +and started off, after promising her father not to go too far, and to come +home soon. She had been so restless and uneasy, that the poor man thought +she was bewitched, or something. He feared, too, that she might get +carried off by pirates, for there were many of them about Cornwall in +those days, and Cherry was an attractive-looking girl, and rather flighty, +as her mother often said. + +When Cherry had said 'good-bye' and kissed them all, and got outside, she +had not the slightest notion which way to go, so she took the road to +Ludgvan and Gulval, and walked on briskly enough for a time; but when she +turned round for a last look at the old home, and found that it was no +longer in sight, she felt so miserable that she had a very good mind to +turn round and go back. It was the first time she had ever been away, +and she felt very home-sick and lonesome. Indeed, the outlook was enough +to damp her spirits and even frighten her, for she had no friends to go +to, nor a situation. She did not even know where she should find shelter +that night, and she had only one penny in her pocket. However, she +started on again, and trudged along the lonely road until she came to the +four cross-roads on the Lady Downs. + +Here she paused again, and rested while she tried to make up her mind +which of the four roads she should take. All around her the Downs +stretched, looking bleak and wild; and all the stories she had ever heard +of highwaymen and pirates, witches and fairies, came rushing +helter-skelter through her poor brain until she felt too terrified to walk +on or to turn back; and at last she sat down on a big stone by the side of +the road and burst out crying. + +She did cry too, most bitterly, and never stopped until she had made up +her mind to retrace her steps, and go home as fast as she could go. +Having settled that, she felt much happier, and drying her eyes she +started up, only too anxious to get out of that great wilderness. +She wondered if her brothers and sisters would laugh at her. Yes, she +felt sure that they would, but she did not care, she told herself. +She would soon play them some trick that would make them laugh the other +side of their faces. Her father and mother would welcome her back gladly, +she knew. + +So she turned her face towards home, and was trying not to feel ashamed of +her want of pluck,--when she saw a gentleman on the road just ahead of +her, and walking towards her. She was astonished, and just a little +alarmed, for a moment before there was not a soul to be seen. She was so +astonished that she quite forgot her manners, and stood staring and +staring at the gentleman until he had come quite close to her. Then he +stared hard at Cherry, but it was not a rude stare, and he took off his +hat so politely, and smiled so pleasantly, that Cherry was quite +impressed. + +"Can you tell me the way to Towednack?" he asked in a voice as pleasant as +his smile. + +"Yes, sir," answered Cherry, curtseying. "If you'll please to walk a +little way with me, sir, I'll put you in the right road." + +The gentleman thanked her, and as he walked along beside her, he asked +which way she was going, and where she lived, and he was so kind and had +such a pleasant way with him, that Cherry had soon told him her history, +and how she had left home to go to look for a 'place,' and how she had +felt so lonesome on the Downs, and so home-sick, that she had changed her +mind and was going straight back again. + +"Well, this is strange!" exclaimed the gentleman. "Of all the good luck +this is the greatest! I have come out to-day to see if I can find a good +active girl in one of the villages, for I want a servant; and here I find +just what I am looking for, a handsome, sharp young woman, cleanly and +honest." + +He could judge for himself what sort of a girl Cherry was, by her +appearance, and her clean, well-mended frock. + +He went on to tell her that he was a widower with one little boy, for whom +he wanted a nurse, and would Cherry come and take the post? + +He talked for a long time very earnestly and winningly. Cherry did not +understand a half that he said, but she understood enough to make her feel +that this would be a better situation for her than she had ever dreamed of +getting, and before very long she consented to go. + +The gentleman seemed very pleased, and away they started together at once, +the stranger talking very fast all the time, and making himself so +entertaining that Cherry never noticed how far they were going, nor in +what direction. + +They walked through such beautiful lanes that it was quite a pleasure to +be in them, hung as they were with honeysuckles and roses, and many other +beautiful flowers, such as Cherry rarely saw anywhere near her bleak home. + +By and by the light began to fail, which rather surprised Cherry, who had +no idea the day was so far gone. She had no watch or means of telling the +time, so she supposed it was all right, and that she had sat crying longer +than she thought. Presently they came to a river, and Cherry wondered how +she should cross it, for it had grown so dark by that time she could not +see stepping-stones, or bridge, or anything. + +However, while she was wondering, the gentleman just picked her up in his +arms and carried her across, and then on they walked again. They went +down, down and down a very steep lane now, a lane which got narrower and +narrower, and was so steep and long, Cherry thought it would never end. +Not that she minded much, for she did not feel tired, and the gentleman +had given her his arm, that she might not stumble, and she felt so excited +and happy she could have walked on through the sweet-scented darkness for +ever. + +She had not much further to go, though, for presently they came to a gate +which the gentleman opened. "This is your new home, Cherry," he said +kindly, and Cherry found herself suddenly in the most beautiful garden you +can imagine. It was full of lovely flowers and luscious fruits, while +flitting about everywhere, or perching on the trees, were birds of all +sizes and colours, tiny blue birds, large scarlet birds, some that flashed +like silver, and gold, and beaten copper, in the sunlight. For oddly +enough the sun was shining brightly in the garden, though it had long been +dark outside. + +Cherry stood and stared about her in open-eyed amazement. "Dear, dear," +she thought to herself, "'tis just like the fairy-tales Gammer tells us +winter evenings!" and she began to wonder if she could have got into an +enchanted place, and if she should presently see fairies, or enchanted +people there. But no, it could not be any fairy-tale, for there was her +new master standing by her as big as Farmer Chenoweth, and down the path +came running a little boy, calling "Papa! papa!" just as any ordinary +mortal child would. + +Though, as Cherry said afterwards, there was something uncanny about the +child, for he had such an odd, old face and expression, and eyes as +cunning as might be, and so bright and piercing they seemed to look you +through and through; yet he appeared to be no more than four years old. + +Before the child could reach them, an old woman came running out after +him, and seizing him by the arm dragged him roughly back to the house. +She was a bony, ill-tempered looking old woman, and before she retired, +grumbling at the child and shaking him, she favoured Cherry with such an +evil glance that the poor girl felt more than half inclined to turn and +run right away. + +"That's my late wife's grandmother," explained the widower; "she is a +cross-grained old catamaran, and the reason she eyed you so unpleasantly +is that she knows I have brought you here to take her place. Make haste +and learn your work, Cherry, for I want to send the cross old dame about +her business," which was hardly a respectful way in which to speak of his +grandmother-in-law. + +He took Cherry into the house, which was even more beautiful than the +garden; brilliant light, like sunshine, lighted up every room, flowers +grew everywhere, mirrors and pictures lined the walls, and as for the +ornaments, the carpets, curtains and other beautiful things, you could +never believe what their beauty was unless you could see them. + +"It is all so grand," said Cherry to herself, "'tis too much to take in +all at once. It makes my head swim, and I'd like something to eat for a +change." She was really very, very hungry, for she had had nothing to eat +all day but a slice of bread and treacle. + +Hardly had the thought come into her head, when Aunt Prudence,--as the old +grandmother was called,--began to lay a table with all kinds of delicious +food, to which she bade Cherry sit down and eat. + +Cherry did not require a second bidding, you may be quite sure, nor did +she stop until she had made a very good meal indeed. After that she was +told her duties. She was to sleep in the room with the child, and in the +morning to take him and bathe him in a spring in the garden. After she +had bathed him she was to anoint his eyes with some ointment she would +find in a little box in a cleft in the rock. She was to be very careful +indeed to put the little box back where she took it from, and on no +account to touch her own eyes with it. After that was all done she was to +milk the cow, and give the child a basin of the last milk she drew. + +You can imagine how all this raised Cherry's curiosity, and how she longed +to get the little boy to tell her about everything, but, as he always +threatened to tell Aunt Prudence, directly she asked him a question, +she thought it better to hold her tongue, and try to find out things for +herself. + +When she had been told all her duties, she was conducted to her room by +the old lady, who bade her keep her eyes shut, whether she was asleep or +not, or she might wish too late that she had. She forbade her, too, to +talk to the child about anything. So Cherry was rather frightened by the +time she got to bed, and until she fell asleep she kept her eyes and her +mouth fast closed, but fortunately, thanks to her tiring day and her good +supper, she did not stay awake long. + +The next morning as soon as she was awake she got up and began her work, +but when she had bathed the boy in the stream to which he led her, and had +put the ointment on his eyes, she did not know how to set about her next +task, for there was not a cow to be seen anywhere. + +"Call her," said the boy, when she told him her trouble. So Cherry +called, "Coo-o, coo-o, coo-o-o," just as she did at home, and at once a +pretty sleek cow came from somewhere,--it might have been out of the +ground, as far as Cherry could tell. Anyhow, there she was, and Cherry +sat down and milked her, and gave the boy his breakfast, and when she had +done the cow walked away again and disappeared. + +After that Cherry went indoors, where the Grandmother provided her with a +big breakfast all to herself, after which she told her of some more of her +duties. Cherry was to keep in the kitchen, and clean the pots and pans +with water and sand, scald the milk, make the butter, and do anything else +she was told. Above all she was to avoid curiosity, to keep to the +kitchen, and never try to enter or look into a room that was locked. + +Cherry felt that this was very hard, for, as I said before, she was full +of curiosity, and wanted to find out all she could about these strange +people she had got amongst. She could scarcely endure old Aunt Prudence +with her scoldings and growlings, for the old woman never ceased grumbling +at both the girl and her grandson-in-law for bringing her there. + +"I knew Robin would bring some stupid thing from Zennor," she would say, +and she would scowl at Cherry until the girl grew quite nervous. +She tried to get as far away from the old woman as she could, but, as +Cherry said, the old soul seemed to have eyes all over her head, for she +always had one on Cherry, no matter where she was or what she was doing. + +The happiest time of Cherry's life here was when her housework was done, +and her master called to her to come and help him in the garden; for he +was always kind and gentle to her, and always rewarded her with a word of +praise. + +Aunt Prudence, though, was not always a cross old tyrant; she had her +kinder moods, and in one of them she told Cherry that if she was a good +girl, and did her work quickly, she would take her into those parts of the +house where she had been forbidden to go, and show her some of the +wonderful sights of the place! + +Oh, how delighted Cherry was, and how she did hurry through her work! +She felt that now she was going to be made happy for the rest of her life, +and would have nothing left to wish for. She got through her work so +quickly, that it was still quite early when they started off together on +their sight-seeing. + +First of all they came to a door opening out of a passage, and here Aunt +Prudence told Cherry to take off her shoes. This done, they opened the +door and entered, letting it fall silently behind them. The passage was +very low and very dark, and Cherry, who had to feel her way by the wall, +felt rather nervous, for she could not see where her next step would take +her. Before very long, though, they came to a room where the light was +bright, it was a beautiful room, with a floor like glass, but, oh, how +frightened Cherry was when she stepped into it! for ranged all round the +walls, on shelves or on the floor, were a lot of people turned to stone. +Some had no arms, others no legs, while of others there were only the head +and shoulders. Some heads had no ears, others had no noses, and some few +were without either. + +Oh, it was a horrid sight, and Cherry was terribly frightened lest they +should all come to life suddenly, and set on her and tear off her limbs +too. She told Aunt Prudence, "she was mortal fear't of 'em, for she'd +heard tell on 'em up to Zennor, and everybody said there was never no +knowing what they wouldn't be up to. She'd thought all along that she'd +got in with the Little People, only her master was such a fine upstanding +man, she'd never have took him for a fairy." + +Aunt Prudence only laughed at her, and seeing that she really was afraid, +took a greater pleasure in making her go further. There was a +curious-looking thing standing in the room, like a coffin on six legs, and +this Aunt Prudence insisted on Cherry's giving a good polishing to. +So Cherry had to set to and rub it with all her might and main, for she +dared not disobey the old lady; but the more she rubbed the more the old +lady scolded her to rub harder, and Cherry rubbed harder and harder and +harder, until at last she nearly upset the thing. She threw out her arms +and seized, but as it tottered it gave out the most soul-piercing, +unearthly yell it was possible for anyone ever to hear. + +"They'm coming to life! They'm coming to life!" shrieked out Cherry, and +from sheer fright she fell on the floor in a fit. + +All this noise and uproar reached the master's ears, and up he came, +to know what it was all about. And oh, he was angry when he found out. +First of all he ordered old Aunt Prudence out of the house then and there, +and then he picked up Cherry and carried her to the kitchen, where he soon +brought her to her senses again, but, strangely enough, she could not +remember what had happened, or why she was there. Her memory of what she +had seen had quite gone, and though she was always afraid, after that, to +go into that part of the house again, she could not remember in the least +why it was, or anything that had happened there. + +Cherry felt much happier now, and did not worry herself about it, for Aunt +Prudence and her terrifying eye were gone, and she was left sole mistress. +So time passed on, and Cherry's master was so kind to her that the days +flew by like hours, and very soon a whole year was gone. + +During all this time she had never once thought of her home, or her +parents, or her old life. She had everything she could wish, and you +would have thought she was bound to be happy; but no, nothing of the sort! +She soon grew accustomed to her happiness, and then she began to want the +things she had not got. Her curiosity increased every day. She longed to +know more about the mysterious part of the house, and a hundred other +things that she should never have troubled her head about. + +She was particularly anxious to find out all about her master, for his +movements were certainly very strange, and puzzled Cherry. He went off +every morning soon after his early breakfast, and when he came back he +shut himself into the room where the stone figures were, and Cherry was +certain, for she had crept up and listened at the door, that she could +hear him talking to them! + +What _could_ she do to get to know more, she wondered. She thought and +thought, and then one day her thoughts flew to the ointment. She had +often noticed how very bright and peculiar the little boy's eyes became +after she had anointed them, and that he often seemed able to see things +that were hidden from her. + +Cherry grew very excited, she felt sure she had discovered the secret. +So the next morning, after she had bathed him and given him his breakfast, +she sent him away to play for a few minutes, and whisking out the ointment +pot again, she brushed the least bit of it over one of her eyes with the +tip of her finger. + +Oh, how it burned and smarted! and oh, how she did rub her eye and try to +get the nasty stuff out! But it would not come. She ran to the stream +and knelt down to bathe it,--and as she knelt and looked in the water she +saw, at the very bottom, dozens and dozens of little people, playing and +dancing, and enjoying themselves as though they were on dry land. +And there, too, as gay as any, and as small as any, was her master +himself. Bewildered and frightened, Cherry sprang to her feet, but as she +turned to run she saw everything was changed. There were Little People +everywhere, hanging on the trees overhead, swarming over the ground at her +feet, swinging on the flowers, some astride the stalks, others curled up +in the cups, all exquisitely dressed, and flashing with gold and jewels; +and all as merry as crickets. + +Cherry thought she was bewitched sure enough, and she was so frightened +she did not know what to do. + +At night back rode her master, as big and handsome as ever, and very +unlike the little piskyman she had seen at the bottom of the water. +He went straight up to the locked-up room where the stone figures were, +and very soon Cherry heard sounds of most lovely music issuing thence. +So things went on day after day, the widower rode off every morning +dressed as any ordinary gentleman would be to follow the hounds, and never +came back again until night, when he retired at once to his own rooms. + +All this was almost too much for poor Cherry's brain. She felt that if +she did not find out more, she should die of curiosity. Knowing so much +only made her long to know more. + +At last, one night after her master had gone to the enchanted room, Cherry +crept up to the door, and instead of only listening at it as usual, she +knelt down and peeped through the keyhole, which, for once, was not +covered. + +Inside the room she saw her master in the midst of a number of ladies, +some of whom were singing, and their voices sounded like silver bells; +others were walking about, but one, the most beautiful of all, was sitting +at the coffin on six legs, performing on it as though it were a piano. +She had long dark hair streaming right down to the floor, and a blue gown +all trimmed with sparkling silver, her shoes were blue with diamond stars +on the toes, and round her neck she had a string of turquoises set in +diamonds. + +Poor Cherry was very much hurt and mortified when she saw her beloved +master with all those lovely ladies, but oh, how miserable she felt when +she saw him kiss the lovely lady in blue and silver! She did not say +anything, though,--indeed, she had no one to speak to,--and she went about +her work as usual, but the next morning when her master came into the +garden and began to talk to her as usual she answered him quite shortly +and rudely, and when he asked her what was the matter with her, she told +him to leave her to herself. If he wanted to talk he could go and talk to +the Little People he was so fond of. + +Her master was very much surprised and annoyed when he heard this, for he +knew that she had been disobedient, and had used the Fairy Ointment. +He did not scold her, though, but he told her simply and mournfully, and +in a tone which gave her no hope, that they must part. + +"You will have to go home, Cherry; you have disobeyed my orders. I can +have no one spying and watching me. I must send you away, my child." +He spoke so sadly that Cherry's heart felt as though it must break. +"And I must have Aunt Prudence back," he added, with a sigh. + +Very, very unhappy was poor Cherry when she went to bed that night, and +she had only just cried herself to sleep when her master came and woke +her, telling her to get up and dress. Without a word, but choked with +sobs, she obeyed him, and when she was ready she found him waiting for +her, with a lantern and a large bundle of beautiful clothes that he had +tied up for her. + +As soon as they had had some food they started, and miles and miles and +miles they walked, for the way seemed ten times as long as when they came. +For one thing it was all uphill now, and for another, Cherry's heart was +heavy, and a heavy heart makes heavy feet. + +It was nearly daybreak when at last they reached the Lady Downs, and came +to a standstill. The sun was just rising over the great lonely moor. + +"We must part now, my poor child," said her master. "You are severely +punished for your curiosity, but it cannot be otherwise. Good-bye, +Cherry; do your duty, and try to get the better of your failing, and if +you are a good girl I will come to these Downs sometimes to see you." + +Then kissing her, he turned away and disappeared as suddenly as he had +first appeared. + +Dazed and stupefied, scarcely able to realize all the trouble that had +befallen her, Cherry sat for a long time where he had left her. In her +thoughts she went over and over her happy life for the past year, all that +she had had, and lost. By and by the sun came out in its full strength +and warmed her, and roused her sufficiently to look about her, and wonder +what she should do next, for, of course, she could not stay where she was. + +Presently she noticed that she was sitting on the very same stone at the +cross-roads where, on the day she left home, she had sat and cried, and +the strange gentleman had first appeared to her. The recollection brought +back to her more painfully than ever her own foolishness and wickedness, +and all that she had lost, and oh, how miserable she did feel, and how she +cried and cried, and how she longed and longed for her dear, good master +to come again and forgive her. + +He did not come, though, and by and by, as the day had worn far on, Cherry +felt that she had better seek her home before nightfall. Listlessly +enough she rose and trudged along the old familiar roads to her father's +house, with miserable eyes she recognized the old landmarks, but without +any pleasure, until at last she came to the poor little hut she called +'home.' It looked poorer, and meaner, and more comfortless than ever, +after the luxuries she had grown accustomed to. Her mother and all the +rest of them were sitting at dinner when Cherry opened the door. +At the sound of the latch Mrs. Honey looked up, and gave one big screech. + +"Why, 'tis Cherry!" she cried, "or her ghost! Cross her, father. Cross +her!" And when Cherry, taking no notice of her screams, advanced into the +kitchen, they all backed away from her, one on top of another, each trying +to get behind someone else, for they had long since made up their minds +that Cherry was dead, and never for a moment dreamed that this apparition +was Cherry herself, living flesh and blood. + +Not until she flopped into a chair, saying wearily, "Give me a dish of +tay, mother, for goodness sake, I'm so wisht I don't know how to bear with +myself." + +"Tisn't no ghost, mother," cried Tom Honey, his courage reviving; "no +ghost would want such poor trade as tay." + +Then the others plucked up their spirits, too, and crowded round her, +asking a dozen questions, and all at the same time; and for the sake of +peace and quiet Cherry told them her wonderful adventures from the day she +left them, and, as was to be expected, not one believed a word of it. + +"The maid's mazed," said her father, and the others agreed. But as time +went on Cherry repeated the tale so often, and always the same; and she +cried so bitterly for her master and his little boy, that they were +obliged to believe her, in spite of themselves. "There must be some truth +in it," they said, "it couldn't all be fancy." + +Poor Cherry! She was never happy again after her experience. Many people +said she was bewitched, others declared she was wrong in her mind, but +that was only because whenever there was a moonlight night, she wandered +on the Lady Downs hour after hour, longing and hoping to see her master. +For hours together, too, she would sit on the stone at the four +cross-roads, in sunshine or snow, wind or rain, with the tears coursing +down her cheeks, and such a pain at her heart, that she hardly knew how to +endure it. + +He never came, though. To all appearances he had entirely forgotten poor, +faulty Cherry, and by and by she died, unable to bear the loneliness any +longer. + + + +THE FAIRIES ON THE GUMP. + + +Down by St. Just, not far from Cape Cornwall and the sea, is a small +hill,--or a very large mound would, perhaps, be the truer description,-- +called 'The Gump,' where the Small People used to hold their revels, and +where our grandfathers and grandmothers used to be allowed to stand and +look on and listen. + +In those good old times fairies and ordinary people were all good friends +together, and it is because they were all such friends and trusted one +another so, that our grandfathers and grandmothers were able to tell their +grandchildren so many tales about fairies, and piskies, and buccas, and +all the rest of the Little People. + +People believed in the Fairies in those days, so the Fairies in return +often helped the people, and did them all sorts of kindnesses. Indeed, +they would do so now if folks had not grown so learned and disbelieving. +It seems strange that because they have got more knowledge of some +matters, they should have grown more ignorant of others, and declare that +there never were such things as Fairies, just because they have neither +the eyes nor the minds to see them! + +Of course, no one could expect the sensitive little creatures to appear +when they are sneered at and scoffed at. All the same, though, they are +as much about us as ever they were, and if you or I, who do believe in the +Little People, were to go to the Gump on the right nights at the right +hour, we should see them feasting and dancing and holding their revels +just as of old. If, though, you do go, you must be very careful to keep +at a distance, and not to trespass on their fairy ground, for that is a +great offence, and woe be to you if you offend them! + +There was, once upon a time, a grasping, mean old fellow who did so, and +pretty well he was punished for his daring. It is his story I am going to +tell you, but I will not tell you his name, for that would be unpleasant +for his descendants, but I will tell you this much,--he was a St. Just +man, and no credit to the place either, I am sure. + +Well, this old man used to listen to the tales the people told of the +Fairies and their riches, and their wonderful treasures, until he could +scarcely bear to hear any more, he longed so to have some of those riches +for himself; and at last his covetousness grew so great, he said to +himself he must and would have some, or he should die of vexation. + +So one night, when the Harvest Moon was at the full, he started off alone, +and very stealthily, to walk to the Gump, for he did not want his +neighbours to know anything at all about his plans. He was very nervous, +for it is a very desolate spot, but his greed was greater than his fear, +and he made himself go forward, though he longed all the time to turn tail +and hurry home to the safe shelter of his house and his bed. + +When he was still at some distance from the enchanted spot, strains of the +most exquisite music anyone could possibly imagine reached his ear, and as +he stood listening it seemed to come nearer and nearer until, at last, +it was close about him. The most wonderful part, though, of it all was +that there was nothing to be seen, no person, no bird, not an animal even. +The empty moor stretched away on every side, the Gump lay bare and +desolate before him. The only living being on it that night was himself. + +The music, indeed, seemed to come from under the ground, and such strange +music it was, too, so gentle, so touching, it made the old miser weep, in +spite of himself, and then, even while the tears were still running down +his cheeks, he was forced to laugh quite merrily, and even to dance, +though he certainly did not want to do either. After that it was not +surprising that he found himself marching along, step and step, keeping +time with the music as it played, first slowly and with stately tread, +then fast and lively. + +All the time, though, that he was laughing and weeping, marching or +dancing, his wicked mind was full of thoughts as to how he should get at +the fairy treasure. + +At last, when he got close to the Gump, the music ceased, and suddenly, +with a loud crashing noise which nearly scared the old man out of his +senses, the whole hill seemed to open as if by magic, and in one instant +every spot was lighted up. Thousands of little lights of all colours +gleamed everywhere, silver stars twinkled and sparkled on every +furze-bush, tiny lamps hung from every blade of grass. It was a more +lovely sight than one ever sees nowadays, more lovely than any pantomime +one has ever seen or ever will see. Then, out from the open hill marched +troops of little Spriggans. + +Spriggans, you must know, are the Small People who live in rocks and +stones, and cromlechs, the most mischievous, thievish little creatures +that ever lived, and woe betide anyone who meddles with their +dwelling-places. + +Well, first came all those Spriggans, then a large band of musicians +followed by troops of soldiers, each troop carrying a beautiful banner, +which waved and streamed out as though a brisk breeze were blowing, +whereas in reality there was not a breath of wind stirring. + +These hosts of Little People quickly took up their places in perfect order +all about the Gump, and, though they appeared quite unconscious of his +presence, a great number formed a ring all round the old man. He was +greatly amazed, but, "Never mind," he thought, "they are such little +whipper-snappers I can easily squash them with my foot if they try on any +May-games with me." + +As soon as the musicians, the Spriggans, and the soldiers had arranged +themselves, out came a lot of servants carrying most lovely gold and +silver vessels, goblets, too, cut out of single rubies, and diamonds, and +emeralds, and every kind of precious stone. Then came others bearing rich +meats and pastry, luscious fruits and preserves, everything, in fact, that +one could think of that was dainty and appetizing. Each servant placed +his burden on the tables in its proper place, then silently retired. + +Can you not imagine how the glorious scene dazzled the old man, and how +his eyes glistened, and his fingers itched to grab at some of the +wonderful things and carry them off? He knew that even one only of those +flashing goblets would make him rich for ever. + +He was just thinking that nowhere in the world could there be a more +beautiful sight, when, lo and behold! the illumination became twenty times +as brilliant, and out of the hill came thousands and thousands of +exquisitely dressed ladies and gentlemen, all in rows, each gentleman +leading a lady, and all marching in perfect time and order. + +They came in companies of a thousand each, and each company was +differently attired. In the first the gentlemen were all dressed in +yellow satin covered with copper-coloured spangles, on their heads they +wore copper-coloured helmets with waving, yellow plumes, and on their feet +yellow shoes with copper heels. The flashing of the copper in the +moonlight was almost blinding. Their companions all were dressed alike in +white satin gowns edged with large turquoises, and on their tiny feet pale +blue shoes with buckles formed of one large turquoise set in pearls. + +The gentlemen conducted the ladies to their places on the Gump, and with a +courtly bow left them, themselves retiring to a little distance. The next +troop then came up, in this the gentlemen were all attired in black, +trimmed with silver, silver helmets with black plumes, black stockings and +silver shoes. Their ladies were dressed in pink embroidered in gold, with +waving pink plumes in their hair, and golden buckles on their pink shoes. +In the next troop the men were dressed in blue and white, the ladies in +green, with diamonds all around the hem of the gown, diamonds flashing in +their hair, and hanging in long ropes from their necks; on their green +shoes single diamonds blazed and flashed. + +So they came, troop after troop, more than I can describe, or you could +remember, only I must tell you that the last of all were the most lovely. +The ladies, all of whom had dark hair, were clad in white velvet lined +with the palest violet silk, while round the hems of the skirts and on the +bodices were bands of soft white swansdown. Swansdown also edged the +little violet cloaks which hung from their shoulders. I cannot describe +to you how beautiful they looked, with their rosy, smiling faces, and long +black curls. On their heads they wore little silver crowns set with +amethysts, amethysts, too, sparkled on their necks and over their gowns. +In their hands they carried long trails of the lovely blossom of the +wistaria. Their companions were clad in white and green, and in their +left hands they carried silver rods with emerald stars at the top. + +It really seemed at one time as though the troops of Little People would +never cease pouring out of the hill. They did so at last, though, and as +soon as all were in their places the music suddenly changed, and became +more exquisite than ever. + +The old man by this time seemed able to see more clearly, and hear more +distinctly, and his sense of smell grew keener. Never were such flashing +gems as here, never had any flowers such scents as these that were here. + +There were now thousands of little ladies gathered on the Gump, and these +all broke out into song at the same instant, such beautiful singing, too, +so sweet and delicate. The words were in an unknown tongue, but the song +was evidently about some great personages who were about to emerge from +the amazing hill, for again it opened, and again poured forth a crowd of +Small People. + +First of all came a bevy of little girls in white gauze, scattering +flowers, which, as soon as they touched the ground, sprang up into full +life and threw out leaves and more flowers, full of exquisite scents; then +came a number of boys playing on shells as though they were harps, +and making ravishing music, while after them came hundreds and hundreds of +little men clad in green and gold, followed by a perfect forest of banners +spreading and waving on the air. + +Then last, but more beautiful than all that had gone before, was carried a +raised platform covered with silk embroidered with real gold, and edged +with crystals, and on the platform were seated a prince and princess of +such surpassing loveliness that no words can be found to describe them. +They were dressed in the richest velvet, and covered with precious stones +which blazed and sparkled in the myriad lights until the eye could scarce +bear to look at them. + +Over her lovely robe the princess's hair flowed down to the floor, where +it rested in great shining, golden waves. In her hand she held a golden +sceptre, on the top of which blazed a diamond as large as a walnut, while +the prince carried one with a sapphire of equal size. After a deal of +marching backwards and forwards, the platform was placed on the highest +point of the Gump, which was now a hill of flowers, and every fairy walked +up and bowed, said something to the prince and princess, and passed on to +a seat at the tables. And the marvel was that though there were so many +fairies present, there was not the slightest confusion amongst them, not +one person moved out of place at the wrong moment. All was as quiet and +well-arranged as could possibly be. + +At length all were seated, whereupon the prince gave a signal, on which a +number of footmen came forward carrying a table laden with dainty food in +solid gold dishes, and wines in goblets of precious stones which they +placed on the platform before the prince and princess. As soon as the +royal pair began to eat, all the hosts around them followed their example, +and such a merry, jovial meal they had. The viands disappeared as fast as +they could go, laughter and talk sounded on all sides, and never a sign +did any of them give that they knew that a human being was watching them. +If they knew it, they showed not the slightest concern. + +"Ah!" thought the old miser to himself. "I can't get all I'd like to, but +if I could reach up to the prince's table I could get enough at one grab +to set me up for life, and make me the richest man in St. Just parish!" + +Stooping down, he slowly and stealthily dragged himself nearer and nearer +to the table. He felt quite sure that no one could see him. What he +himself did not see was that hundreds of wicked little Spriggans had tied +ropes on to him, and were holding fast to the ends. He crawled and +crawled so slowly and carefully that it took him some time to get over the +ground, but he managed it at last, and got quite close up to the lovely +little pair. Once there he paused for a moment and looked back,--perhaps +to see if the way was clear for him to run when he had done what he meant +to do. He was rather startled to find that all was as dark as dark could +be, and that he could see nothing at all behind him. However, he tried to +cheer himself by thinking that it was only that his eyes were dazzled by +looking at the bright lights so long. He was even more startled, though, +when he turned round to the Gump again, to find that every eye of all +those hundreds and thousands of fairies on the hill was looking straight +into his eyes. + +At first he was really frightened, but as they did nothing but look, he +told himself that they could not really be gazing at him, and grew braver +with the thought. Then slowly bringing up his hat, as a boy does to catch +a butterfly, he was just going to bring it down on the silken platform and +capture prince and princess, table, gold dishes and all, when hark! +A shrill whistle sounded, the old man's hand, with the hat in it, was +paralysed in the air, so that he could not move it backwards or forwards, +and in an instant every light went out, and all was pitchy darkness. + +There were a whir-r-r and a buzz, and a whir-r-r, as if a swarm of bees +were flying by him, and the old man felt himself fastened so securely to +the ground that, do what he would, he could not move an inch, and all the +time he felt himself being pinched, and pricked, and tweaked from top to +toe, so that not an inch of him was free from torment. He was lying on +his back at the foot of the Gump, though how he got there he could never +tell. His arms were stretched out and fastened down, so that he could not +do anything to drive off his tormentors, his legs were so secured that he +could not even relieve himself by kicking, and his tongue was tied with +cords, so that he could not call out. + +There he lay, no one knows how long, for to him it seemed hours, and no +one else but the fairies knew anything about it. At last he felt a lot of +little feet running over him, but whose they were he had no idea until +something perched on his nose, and by the light of the moon he saw it was +a Spriggan. His wicked old heart sank when he realized that he had got +into their clutches, for all his life he had heard what wicked little +creatures they were. + +The little imp on his nose kicked and danced and stamped about in great +delight at finding himself perched up so high. We all know how painful it +is to have one's nose knocked, even ever so little, so you may imagine +that the old miser did not enjoy himself at all. Master Spriggan did, +though. He roared with laughter, as though he were having a huge joke, +until at last, rising suddenly to his feet and standing on the tips of his +tiny toes, he shouted sharply, "Away! away! I smell the day!" and to the +old man's great relief off he flew in a great hurry, followed by all his +mischievous little companions who had been playing games, and running +races all over their victim's body. + +Left at last to himself, the mortified old man lay for some time, thinking +over all that had happened, trying to collect his senses, and wondering +how he should manage to escape from his bonds, for he might lie there for +a week without any human being coming near the place. + +Till sunrise he lay there, trying to think of some plan, and then, what do +you think he saw? Why, that he had not been tied down by ropes at all, +but only by thousands of gossamer webs! And there they were now, all over +him, with the dew on them sparkling like the diamonds that the princess +had worn the night before. And those dewdrop diamonds were all the jewels +he got for his night's work. + +When he made this discovery he turned over and groaned and wept with rage +and shame, and never, to his dying day, could he bear to look at sparkling +gold or gems, for the mere sight of them made him feel quite ill. + +At last, afraid lest he should be missed, and searchers be sent out to +look for him, he got up, brushed off the dewy webs, and putting on his +battered old hat, crept slowly home. He was wet through with dew, cold, +full of rheumatism, and very ashamed of himself, and very good care he +took to keep that night's experiences to himself. No one must know his +shame. + +Years after, though, when he had become a changed man, and repented of his +former greediness, he let out the story bit by bit to be a lesson to +others, until his friends and neighbours, who loved to listen to anything +about fairies, had gathered it all as I have told it to you here. And you +may be quite sure it is all true, for the old man was not clever enough to +invent it. + + + +THE FAIRY OINTMENT. + + +Now I will tell you a story of a very foolish woman, whose curiosity got +the better of her, and of how she was punished. + +The old woman's Christian name was Joan. I will not tell her surname, +for it does not make any difference to the story, and there may be +some of her descendants left who would not like it to be known. +Joan was housekeeper to Squire Lovell. The name of his house shall be +kept a secret too, but I will tell you this much, that he lived a few +miles out of Penzance. + +Now one Saturday afternoon it fell out that Joan wanted to go to Penzance +Market to get herself a pair of shoes, and to buy some groceries and +several Christmas things for the house, for it was Christmas Eve, and the +Squire had a lot of folks coming to supper that very night. So, the +weather being fine, Joan started off soon after her twelve o'clock dinner, +to walk into Penzance to market. Having, though, a great fancy for +company, and loving a little gossip, she thought she would step in on her +way to see if her friend Betty Trenance was going to market too. +It would be so nice to have each other's company on the way. + +Now many persons in those parts told some very queer stories about Betty +Trenance, and amongst themselves some called her a witch, and were afraid +of her. Joan, though, argued that if she was a witch, there was all the +more reason for keeping friendly with her. And if one did not offend +Betty, she was always ready to give one a cup of tea, or do anything to +oblige one. + +Betty lived down at Lamorna Cove, which was a little way out of Joan's +road, but she did not mind that if she could get Betty's company. +She walked quickly, though, for the days were short, and she had a long +way to go, and to be back in time to cook the Squire's supper. +On her way she met two of Betty's elder children carrying baskets of fish +on their backs, and down in the Cove she saw all the younger ones at play +with the limpets and crabs in the rock-pools, and paddling about in the +water. But she could not stay to watch them, for she had no time to +spare, so she hurried on to the cottage. + +When she got there, though, to her astonishment she found the front door +was closed and fastened, not only latched either, but bolted! This was +such an unusual thing in those parts, that Joan was quite startled. +At first she thought something must really have gone amiss, then she +comforted herself by deciding that Betty had already started for the +market, and had locked the children out to keep them from ransacking the +place. Just, though, as she had settled all this in her mind, and was +about to turn away, the sound of voices reached her, and voices talking +very earnestly, too. + +Joan looked round her nervously, the voices sounded quite near to her, but +there was no sight or sign of any living thing except some seagulls, +and Betty's old black cat. + +What did it all mean? Joan was frightened, but her curiosity made her +stay and try to get to the bottom of the mystery. She stood quite still +and listened very closely. Yes, there were the voices again, plainly +enough, but where? She tiptoed close up to the door and placed her ear +against the keyhole. This time she heard Tom Trenance's voice quite +distinctly,--Tom was Betty's husband. He was talking very earnestly to +someone too, more earnestly than she had ever heard him speak in her life +before, but, try as she would, she could not make out to whom he was +speaking, nor what he was saying. + +This was more than inquisitive Joan could endure. She must know what was +going on in that cottage, or she would know no peace day or night, for +thinking about it. So she made up her mind to knock and knock until those +inside were obliged to come to the door, but first of all she thought she +would have a peep in through the finger-hole by the latch. So she stooped +down and put her eye to the hole, and there she saw Tom sitting on the +settle, and after all it was only Betty that he was talking to. + +Betty was standing beside him with a little box in her hand, from which +she took something that looked like ointment, which she smeared over her +husband's eyes, and all the time she did it she seemed to be mumbling some +verses or something that sounded like a charm. There seemed to be other +voices as well, though, and to Joan's great annoyance she could not see +from whence they came. + +All this put old Joan in a fearful flutter. People had always told her +that Betty was a witch, and that Tom had the power of the evil eye, and +now she began to believe them. You would not have thought so to look at +him, for though they were very piercing, they were handsome hazel eyes, +clear and kind-looking,--unless he was angered, and _then_-- + +Completely mystified, and more inquisitive than ever, Joan went round to +the window by the chimney, to see if from there she could hear what they +were saying; but it was of no use. The door of the cottage was on the +landward side, and the windows of the cottage were to seaward, and round +the kitchen window was a great bush of honeysuckle and 'Traveller's Joy,' +which prevented anyone's getting quite close, and what with the sound of +the sea, the singing of the birds, and the shouting of the children below, +one might as well have been a mile off, for all one could hear! + +Back tiptoed Joan again, and sat down on the bench outside the house to +think, but her curiosity would not let her keep still, so up she jumped +again, and peeped through the door once more. This time she saw that Tom +was standing up, preparing to come out; so not wanting to be caught +prying, she tapped at the door, and lifting the latch at the same time, +walked in as if she had but that moment arrived. She was so excited by +what she was doing that she did not notice that the door opened quite +easily now. She went in so quickly, too, that she was just in time to see +Betty push something under the dried ferns at the back of the chimney. + +After saying "good day," and hearing what she had come for, Tom went out, +leaving them to make their plans by themselves, but Betty, though she +seemed pleased to see her friend, could not be persuaded to go to market +with her. She was very sorry, she said, but she was very bad, she had not +been well for days, and she still had a good day's work to get through +making ready for Christmas. She was not too busy, though, to make a cup +of tea, and Joan must stay and have one with her, and away she bustled to +the talfat,[1] where she had a special case of tea put away. This was +Joan's opportunity, and she seized it. As soon as Betty's back was +turned, she whipped the pot of ointment out from under the ferns, stuck +her finger in it, and popped the pot back again, in no time. But no +sooner had she touched her eye with the ointment than, oh! such a pain +shot through it, she very nearly shrieked aloud. It was as though a +red-hot knitting needle had been run right through her eyeball! +And, oh, the smarting and the burning that followed! To prevent a sound +escaping her she had to hug and squeeze herself with all her might, she +dared not open her lips to speak, and the tears poured down her cheeks +like rain. + +It was lucky for her that Betty had some trouble in dragging the chest of +tea from under the bed, for if she had come back quickly she could not +have helped seeing what Joan had been doing. By the time she returned, +though, the worst of the pain was over, and keeping up her hand to that +side of her face, Joan managed to conceal the injured eye, and Betty was +too busy with her fire and her kettle to be very observant. + +"I'm glad you came in to have a cup with me, and drink my health, it being +Christmas Eve and all," said Betty as they drew up to the table. +Then, having drunk each other's health, they had a third cup to drink the +health of the children, for, as Joan said, "there wasn't a healthier, +handsomer family in the whole parish." Then they drank the health of the +mermaids, for it is always wise to be civil to them, and after that Joan +rose to go. + +Before she could go, though, she felt she must manage to open her injured +eye, which still watered and smarted a good deal. So she rubbed it and +blinked and winked until at last she managed to part the lids,--when, lo +and behold! to her amazement and alarm she saw that the house, which she +had thought empty save for herself and Betty, was simply thronged with +Little People! + +There was not a spot that was free of them! They were climbing up the +dressers, hanging on to the beams, swinging on the fishing nets, hanging +across them, playing pranks on the clock, on the table, and the +mantelpiece, sliding down the saucepan handles, riding races on mice,-- +they were everywhere, in fact, and up to every kind of game. + +They were all very beautifully dressed. Most of the little men wore green +velvet, trimmed with scarlet, and their long green caps, which most of +them were waving frantically, had long scarlet feathers in them. +They all wore little red boots, too, and large silver spurs,--at least, +large for fairies. + +The ladies were very consequential little people indeed, and swept about +in their long-trained gowns as though they were Court ladies at a +Drawing-room. On their little shoes they had diamond buckles, and their +great steeple-crowned hats were garlanded with beautiful flowers. +Such flowers as are seldom seen on Christmas Eve, but the Little People +have gardens under the sea where the flowers bloom in wonderful beauty all +the year round. Fishermen see them sometimes on moonlight nights, when +the water is clear and the wind calm, and if they listen closely they can +hear exquisite fairy music floating across the waters from bay to bay. + +Back in the corner by Betty's wood heap were a lot of Spriggans, poor +depressed little creatures, dirty and sullen-looking. They were not +lively like the others, for you know they have to guard the Fairy +treasures all the year round, and they get no fun at all, as other fairies +do. So they are naturally not very lively. + +While Joan was standing gazing, open-mouthed, bewildered by what she saw, +strains of the most beautiful music reached her ears, and gradually a +change began to come over the whole house. It was no wonder that she +thought her head was turned! The music came nearer and nearer, and +mingling with it was the tramp of hundreds of little feet; at last it came +quite close, and through the window marched a regiment of robins as +unconcernedly as a regiment of soldiers entering their barracks. +Quite gravely they stepped down from the window, marched across the room, +and flew up to the beam, where they perched themselves in perfect order, +and began to sing as hard as they possibly could. In a moment or two they +were followed through the window by a regiment of wrens, and then by a +regiment of Little People, all playing on every kind of musical instrument +ever invented, and on a number made out of reeds, and shells, such as had +never been seen before or since. + +Stepping down gracefully from the window to the floor, the band, followed +by numbers of little ladies and gentlemen, carrying branches of herbs and +flowers, marched with stately tread past old Betty Trenance, bowed to her +in a most respectful manner in passing, then arranged themselves in +perfect order behind her. Last of all came another troop of fairies, and +these took the herbs and flowers brought by the little ladies and +gentlemen and placed them in Betty's apron. + +"These are what she makes her salves and ointments of," thought Joan to +herself; "no wonder she is thought so clever." + +This done, all the other fairies who had been playing about the house came +down to the floor and joined the new-comers. Such a crowd never was seen! +No sooner had the flowers and herbs been heaped in Betty's lap than +another troop of fairies came forward with fox-glove bells full of dyes, +which they poured over Betty's dress, when in a moment her russet gown was +changed to the softest white velvet, her apron to the filmiest lace, +edged all round with a delicate fringe of harebells and snowdrops. +Other fairies outlined the quilted 'diamonds' of her petticoat with silver +cord. + +When her dress had been transformed in this way, all the troop of Little +People came forward with dainty bunches of flowers to complete her toilet, +sweet wild flowers they were, delicate speedwells and forget-me-nots with +their fresh green, and their innocent blue eyes; the warm scarlet +pimpernel, violets, snowdrops, heather bells, and ladies' white +petticoats. Some of each and every kind of flower we find in the lanes +and hedges. The little ladies stitched a small nosegay in each 'diamond' +of Betty's petticoat, and every nosegay was different. The tiniest +flowers of all they laid on sprays of feathery moss, others had background +of graceful ferns, or delicate grass. Around the hem of the skirt were +sprays of pink and white dog-roses, while the bodice was wreathed with +tiny pink and white convolvulus. Sparkling at Betty's throat were such +brilliant jewels that Joan had to look away, her eyes were so dazzled. + +The strangest part of all this was that Betty did not seem in the least +surprised at what was going on, and was apparently quite unaware that Joan +was watching her. + +As soon as the gown was completed, another group of the clever little +creatures clambered up to the top of the high-backed chair in which Betty +was seated, and began to arrange her hair. Some had quaint little pots in +their hands from which they poured delicate perfumes over Betty's head,-- +Joan picked up one of the pots, which they threw aside when empty, and +found to her astonishment that it was only a poppy head. Then they +carefully arranged every curl and wave of Betty's hair, until she looked +as beautiful as a queen, and as dignified and stately, too; for Betty, +though a mischievous witch, was not at all like our ideas of one. +She was as clean as a new pin, and as neat and tidy as anyone could be. +Her features were unusually handsome, and her thick dark hair, which +reached the ground when she sat down, was full of the prettiest curls and +waves. + +As soon as the last curl was arranged, and her tire-maidens satisfied, +they placed a spray of jessamine amongst her tresses, and jumped down, +their task completed. + +All this time the music was playing the most bewitching melodies. + +Very soon after this Joan began to have a feeling that Betty wished her +gone. The Little People, too, were making signs that she could not fail +to understand, and such hideous grimaces at her, too, that made her long +to box their ears. Of course, neither Betty nor the fairies knew that she +had used the Fairy Ointment, and could see them, and to save herself from +being found out, she bade her friend 'goodbye' with all speed. + +When Joan got outside, though, she could not resist one more sly peep in, +just to make sure she had not been dreaming. So down went her eye to the +finger-hole again, but all she saw was the kitchen, with its sanded floor +and bright turf fire, the key-beam with the nets hanging across it, and +Betty stitching away as fast as her fingers could fly. + +"This is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard tell of," said Joan to +herself. "I'll have another look." + +Down went her eye again, but the right one this time, and, lo and behold! +there was the kitchen turned into a splendid banqueting hall, hung around +with tapestry representing everything that had ever happened in the world. +The talfat-rail was turned into a balcony hung with pale blue satin, where +sat a number of little ladies and gentlemen watching the dancing which was +going on below. The costumes of all were magnificent, the cottage was as +beautiful as a bit of Fairyland, and seated on a golden chair of state +under a velvet canopy was Betty Trenance looking as royal as a queen. + +Betty, though, seemed to be keeping a sharp eye on the door, and as she +had a crowd of wicked little piskies about her, Joan thought it wise to +get away to safer quarters. So off she hurried, but as she went she met +numbers of fairies all hurrying away to Betty's cottage, while from the +rocks below came the doleful wail of the mermaids, and all was so uncanny +Joan was glad to hurry along as fast as she knew how. She was really +scared by this time, and the light was growing dim, for it was already +past three o'clock. + +Once arrived at Penzance, Joan did her marketing quickly, but by the time +she had finished she was very tired and very hungry, for she had had +nothing to eat since twelve o'clock dinner, and had been trudging about +for hours. So, having a piece of saffron cake in her basket, she turned +into an inn in Market Jew Street, to get something to drink with it, and a +place to sit down for a while to rest. + +When she got there she found the house so crowded that she had to sit on a +bench outside, and here she met a lot of friends, and had a thorough good +gossip. They drank each other's health too, and passed the compliments of +the season, until Joan remembered all of a sudden that she ought to have +been on her way home by that time, for the Squire would be very angry if +she were not there to see to things for the supper-party. + +Up she jumped in a great flurry, and had said 'good-bye' all round when +she suddenly remembered that she had not yet bought several of the things +she had come to town on purpose to get. She was dreadfully vexed, +but there was no time to stay and think about it, she had just to hurry +back into the market and make her purchases as quickly as possible. + +At last she had really bought everything, and was about to leave, when +unfortunately some wonderful bargains caught her eye, and it did seem to +her sinful to go away without taking a glance at them when she might never +have such a chance again. So she lingered by the stalls, and wandered up +and down having a good look at everything, when whom should she see doing +the very same thing but Tom Trenance! + +He did not see Joan, so she thought she would go up and speak to him, and +ask if he was going home soon, for it would be nice to have his company on +the way. He was so busy, though, darting about from stall to stall, that +Joan could never get up to him. But she could see what he was doing, and +the sight made Joan's blood boil with indignation! He was helping himself +to everything that took his fancy! Yarn, stockings, boots, spoons, +clothing, until the wonder was that he could manage to stow the things +away. + +The oddest part of all, though, was that nobody seemed to see him. +Joan looked again and again to make sure she was not dreaming, but no, he +was there right enough, and pocketing things as fast as he could, right +under the stall-keepers' very noses, and they paying no heed whatever to +him! + +Joan could bear it no longer! She could not stand by and see such +wickedness going on; it made her blood boil with indignation. So over she +bustled and touched him on the arm. + +"Tom Trenance," she cried, "I'm downright ashamed of 'ee! I wonder you +ain't above carrying on such dishonest ways, and you with children to set +an example to! I didn't think you capable of such wickedness." + +Tom for a minute looked, and was too much taken aback to speak. But he +quickly recovered himself. "Why, Joan," he said, taking no notice of her +accusations, "I take it very kind and neighbourly of 'ee to come up and +speak. What sharp eyes you've got! Now which of them did you 'appen to +catch sight of me with?" + +"Which? Why, both, of course," cried Joan, but she put up her hand first +over one and then over the other, and found she could only see Tom with +the right one. "Why, no, I can't see 'ee with both," she cried in +astonishment. "The left one don't seem to be a bit of good!" + +"The right one is it?" said Tom, and his look went through her like a +gimlet. Then, pointing his finger at it, he muttered:-- + + "Thou wicked old spy-- + Thou shalt no more see me, + Nor peep nor pry + With that charmed eye." + +And at that very moment a sharp pain shot through her right eye. It was +so sharp that she screamed aloud, and from that moment she never could see +with it again. + +Yelling, and pressing her fist into her throbbing eyeball, she rushed +hither and thither, calling to people to come and help her, and to go and +catch Tom Trenance, all in one breath; but as they could not see Tom,--nor +could she, either, now,--they unkindly said the poor soul was crazy, +which, of course, was most unjust and cruel of them, and shows what +mistakes people can make. + +Of course, it was the Fairy Ointment on her eye which enabled her to see +so much, and it was that same ointment which rendered Tom Trenance +invisible to everyone but to her. + +How poor Joan ever found her way back to Market Jew Street again she never +could tell, but when she did arrive there she had, of course, to stay a +little while and tell her sad story, so that it was really quite late and +dark before she started for home; and then, what with the darkness and her +blindness she could only crawl along. She groped her way painfully down +Voundervoor and over the Green, stumbling over the ruts and sandy banks +until she was very nearly driven crazy. Through only being able to see +with her left eye, she kept bearing away to the left side of the road, and +I cannot tell you how many times she fell into the ditch, marketing and +all! And so afraid was she of falling into the sea, and so close did she +keep to the other side of the road away from it, that at last she went +right through the hedge and fell over into a place called +'Park-an-Shebbar!' + +Luckily one of the farm-boys was in the field, and helped her up and +picked up her parcels for her; then, seeing how bad she was, he took her +into the house to rest and recover, for she seemed quite dazed by that +time. There they gave her something to bring her round, and presently she +began to feel better and able to go on again. + +By this time she was very anxious to get home, so the lad helped her over +the stream and set her on the right road once more. This time Joan +stepped out briskly, for she was really very troubled about the Squire's +supper, and all the people who were expected to it. If she did not get +home soon, they would have arrived first, and, oh, how angry the Squire +would be! + +By the time, though, that she got to the top of Paul Hill, she was so +tired she felt she could not go another step without a rest, so, though +she could badly spare the time, she dropped with a sigh of relief on to a +soft green spot, when, oh! what a shriek she gave! for the soft green spot +was a duck-pond covered with duck-weed! How she got out of the pond she +could never tell, but she did and crept over to the other side of the +road, where she fell back on the hedge quite exhausted. + +"Oh dear, oh dear!" she moaned, "I'm nearly dead. Oh, if only I'd got our +old Dumpling here to give me a lift; or any other quiet old horse I'd be +thankful for. I shall never reach home to-night on my two feet, I'm sure, +they are ready to drop off already!" + +Barely had she uttered her wish when there by the roadside stood an old +white horse, cropping quietly away at the brambles and dead ferns. +How he came there I can't tell you. Whether he had been there all the +time without her seeing him, or whether he came by magic, no one can say, +but there he was. + +Many persons in Dame Joan's place would have been afraid to mount him, +fearing witchcraft, or fairies' pranks, but Joan was too tired to have +many scruples. So up she got and untied his feet, for he was hobbled, put +the rope round his head, and then managed somehow to clamber up on his +back, basket and all. It was hard work, but she got settled after a bit, +then picking up the rope, called to him to start. + +"Gee wug! gee wo!" she called, "get up, you lazy old faggot!" and she +hammered away at his side with her heels with all her might--and her shoes +were none of the daintiest! but in spite of her coaxings and her threats, +her kicks and her thumps, the old horse did not move an inch. + +"Come up, can't you! Gee wug, come here!" She beat him and kicked him +again until she was really too tired to move hand or foot; then, when she +had given up in despair, the tiresome creature made a start. But such a +start! he went at a slow snail's pace, and try as Joan would she could not +make him go faster. + +At last, though, when she reached the top of a hill, there came from the +valley below the cry of hounds, devil's hounds they must have been, for no +others would be out at that time of night. As soon as the sounds reached +the old horse's ears, he pricked them up, whinnied loudly, and with a toss +of his head and a fling of his tail started away like any young colt. + +Away, away, uphill and downhill they tore as fast as the wind. Joan clung +to the horse's mane with both hands, and yelled and yelled to him to stop. +She might as well, though, have held her breath. All her marketing flew +out of her basket, her precious beaver hat was carried away, her shawl was +whisked off her back! On and on the old horse tore, jumping over +everything that came in his way, until Joan was nearly flung from his +back. Presently, too, to her horror she saw that the creature was +growing bigger and bigger, and higher and higher; soon he shot up above +the trees, then he was as high as the church tower. Poor Joan, perched on +his back, grew sick, giddy, and terrified. She was afraid now to slip off +lest she should be dashed to pieces, and was afraid to stay there lest she +should fall off. + +For miles and miles they travelled like this, until at last they came to +Toldave Moor, on the further side of which there was, Joan knew, a deep +black pool, and for this pool, to Joan's horror, the monster galloped +straight! + +"If I don't slip off now, I shall surely be drowned outright!" thought +poor Joan, for the pond was deep, she felt her powers were failing her; +her hands were numb, her limbs cramped. She knew she could not swim. +"Better a dry death than a wet one, it will save my clothes, anyway!" +So, letting go her hold of the creature's mane, she was about to let +herself slide down, when the wind caught her and carried her right off the +horse's back. They were going at a terrific rate, and the wind was very +keen on the moor; it lifted her right up in the air, high above the horse, +and then, just as she thought she was going to disappear through the +clouds, she was dropped plump into the rushes by the edge of the very pool +itself. + +At the same moment the air became filled with the most awful clamour, such +yells and cries, and terrible laughter as no living being had ever heard +before. Poor old Joan thought her last hour had really come, and gave +herself up for lost, for when she looked round she saw the fearful great +creature she had been riding, disappearing in the distance in flames of +fire, and tearing after it, helter-skelter, pell-mell, was a horrible crew +of men and dogs and horses. Two or three hundred of them there must have +been, and not one of the lot had a head on his shoulders. + +Joan would have screamed, too, if she had not been stricken dumb with +fright; so, very nearly scared to death, trembling with cold and fear, +there she lay until they had disappeared. + +How she scrambled out of her soft, damp resting-place she could never +tell, but she did, somehow, and got as far as Trove Bottom, though without +any shoes, for they had come off in the ditch. Her shawl was gone, too, +and all her marketing, and, worst of all, her precious broad-brimmed +beaver hat. + +There was a linhay down at the Bottom, where Squire Lovell kept a lot of +sheep, and into that Joan crept, and lay down, and from sheer exhaustion +fell asleep and slept till morning. How much longer she would have slept +no one knows, but on Sunday mornings it was the Squire's habit to go down +and look over his sheep, and on this Sunday, though it was Christmas Day, +he visited them as usual. + +His entrance with his boys and his dogs and his flashing lantern woke old +Joan with a start, and so certain was she that they were the horse, and +the huntsmen, and their hounds come again, that she sprang up in a frenzy +of terror. "Get out, get out!" she cried, "let a poor old woman be!" +But instead of the hollow laugh of the huntsmen, it was the Squire's voice +that answered her. + +"Why, here's our poor old lost Joan!" he cried, amazed, "and frightened +out of her wits, seemingly! Why, Joan," he said, "whatever have you been +spending the night out here for? We've been scouring the country for you, +for hours!" + +"Oh, Master!" she cried, almost in tears as she dropped trembling at his +feet, "for the sake of all the years I've served 'ee from your cradle up, +do 'ee let me die in peace, and bury me decent!" and then, her tongue once +set going, she poured out all the long tale of the dreadful things that +had happened to her since she set out for Penzance Market. + +How long she would have talked no one knows, but the Squire sent for his +men, and between them they carried her home, and warmed and fed and +comforted her, for she was black and blue, wet to the skin, and half +frozen. However, with all their care she soon recovered, and when she was +dry, and warm, and rested she poured out all her adventures and disasters. + +To her astonishment, though, and anger and pain, they refused to believe a +word of it. They did not pity her a bit; they even laughed at her. +Indeed, they tried to make her believe that the enchanted steed was only +the miller's old white horse, that the demon huntsman and his hounds were +no more nor less than her own son John riding across the moor with the +dogs, in search of her, that her lost eye must have been scratched out by +a 'fuz'-bush; and so they went on pooh-poohing the whole of her story,-- +which was very nearly the most aggravating thing of all she had had to +bear. + +One thing, though, Joan had not told them, and that was about her stealing +the Fairy Ointment, or they would have known that she had been pisky-led +that night, by order of the Fairies, as a punishment, and would one and +all have agreed that she richly deserved it. + + +[1] A 'talfat' is a raised floor at one end of a cottage, on which a bed +is placed. Sometimes it is divided off by a wooden partition, but more +often there is only a bar, to prevent the sleeper falling out of bed. + + + +THE EXCITING ADVENTURE OF JOHN STURTRIDGE. + + +One of the greatest feast-days in Cornwall, and the most looked forward +to, is St. Picrons' Day, which falls just before Christmas. It is the +special day of the tinners and streamers, their greatest holiday in the +year, and on it they have a great merry-making. Picrons was the +discoverer of tin in Cornwall, so they say, so, of course, it is the +bounden duty of those who earn their living by it, to keep up his day with +rejoicings. + +It is not of St. Picrons, though, that I am going to tell you, but of John +Sturtridge, a streamer, and what befell him one year when he had been +keeping up St. Picrons' Day. + +He had been up to the 'Rising Sun' to the great supper that was always +held there, and to the merry-making after it, and had enjoyed himself +mightily. Enjoyed himself so much, in fact, that he did not greatly +relish having to turn out, when both were ended, and face a long walk +home. + +It was a bitterly cold night, and the road was a lonely one, all across +Tregarden Downs. However, it had to be faced, and nothing was gained by +putting it off, so John started, and at first he got along pretty well. +True, he found the roads very puzzling, and difficult to follow, but that +may have been the fault of the moonlight, or the will-o'-the-wisps. +Anyhow, if he did not get on very rapidly, he got on somehow, and +presently reached the Downs. + +Now Tregarden Downs is a horribly wild, uncanny stretch of country, +a place where no one chooses to walk alone after nightfall, and, though +John was in a cheerful mood, and did not feel at all frightened, he +quickened his steps, and pulled hot-foot for home and bed. He kept a +sharp eye on the cart-tracks, too, for he had no fancy for going astray +here as he had done in the lanes. Whether, though, he did go a little +astray or not, no one can say, but all of a sudden what should he come +upon right across his path, but a host of piskies playing all sorts of +games and high jinks under the shelter of a great granite boulder. + +Whatever John's feelings may have been at the sight of them, the piskies +were not troubled by the sight of John. They were not in the least +alarmed, the daring little imps. They only burst into roars of wicked +laughter, which pretty nearly scared the wits out of poor John, and made +him take to his heels and run for his life! If only he could get off the +Downs, he thought, he would be safe enough, but the Downs, of which he +knew every yard, seemed to-night to stretch for miles and miles, and, +try as he would, he could not find his way off them. He wandered round +and round, and up and down, and to and fro, until at last he was obliged +to admit to himself that he did not know in the least where he was, for he +could not find a single landmark to guide him. + +It is a very unpleasant thing to lose yourself on a big lonely Down, on a +bleak winter's night, but it is ten times more unpleasant when you are +pursued all the way by scores of mischievous little sprites, who shriek +with laughter at you all the time, and from sheer wickedness delight in +leading you into all the marshy places, the prickily 'fuz'-bushes, and +rough boulders they can find, and nearly die of laughter when you prick or +bump yourself, or get stuck in the mud. + +John was thoroughly frightened, and thoroughly out of temper, and was +meditating how he could punish his little tormentors, when suddenly from +all sides rose a shrill cry. "Ho and away for Par Beach! Ho and away for +Par Beach! Ho and away for Par Beach!" + +Hardly knowing what he was doing John shouted, too. "Ho and away for Par +Beach!" he yelled at the top of his voice, and almost before he had said +the words he was caught high up in the air, and in another minute found +himself on the great stretch of sands at Par. As soon as they had +recovered their breath the piskies all formed up in rings and began to +dance as fast as their little feet could move, and John with them. + +"Ho and away for Squire Tremaine's cellar!" The shrill cry rang out +again, even as they danced. John again repeated the cry, and in a flash +found himself in the cellars at Heligan,--Squire Tremaine's place,--with +his mischievous little companions swarming all over them. John felt no +fear of them now. He joined them in all their pranks, and had a good time +running from cask to cask, and bottle to bottle, opening everything and +tasting the contents of most. + +John at last became so confused he could not remember who he was or where +he was; in fact, he was so confused and so sleepy that when the piskies +called out, "Ho and away for Par Beach!" try as he would he could not +speak, so the piskies flew off, and John was left behind alone. + +John did not mind it in the least, at first, for it was much more pleasant +in the shelter of the cellar, with plenty of wine to warm him, than it +would be out on the desolate sands at Par, where the wind blows keenly +enough to take one's ears off. John did mind, though, the next morning, +when the butler came and discovered him. He was groping his way between +two rows of casks, trying to find his way to Luxulyan, he explained to the +butler, but the butler, instead of putting him in the right road, led him +at once to Squire Tremaine's study, where John told the wonderful story of +his adventures. + +Strangely enough, though, neither the Squire nor anyone else would believe +a word of them, and without any consideration for poor John's feelings, +they popped him into Bodmin Jail almost as quickly as the piskies and he +had popped into the cellar. And worse still, before much time had +elapsed, they tried him, convicted him, and sentenced him to be hanged. + +Poor John! Here was a dreadful state of affairs, and all brought on an +innocent man by those wicked piskies! There was no escape either, or hope +of reprieve, for people were not so tender-hearted in those days as in +these, and a man was not only sentenced to death for a trifle, but no one +ever took any trouble to get him off. + +Well, the fatal day came, and John was brought to the gallows, where a +large crowd was gathered to see the execution; and there stood John, with +the clergyman imploring him to confess, and free his mind of a load of +falsehood; and the hangman waiting with the noose in his hand, waiting to +slip it over poor John's head, when suddenly a beautiful little lady, +dressed in white and silver, appeared in the midst of the crowd gathered +at the gallows-foot. + +No one saw her come, no one knew how she got there; but without a word +from her, not knowing, indeed, why they did so, every man, woman, and +child stood back and left a clear pathway for her right up to the +scaffold. + +There she paused, and stood, with her eyes fixed on the prisoner, who, +however, did not see her, for he was too frightened to notice anything +that was going on around him--until, "Ho and away for France!" rang out a +sweet voice, which John recognized in a moment. With the sound of it his +poor dazed senses returned, and the spirit to seize the chance of escape +offered him. + +"Ho and away for France!" he yelled. There was no danger of his not being +able to shout this time! And then, before anyone there could collect his +senses, the officers of justice saw their prisoner whisked away from out +of their very grasp, and John was in France long before the executioner +and the chaplain, the jailers and the crowd, had ceased gaping stupidly at +each other. + + + +THE TRUE STORY OF ANNE AND THE FAIRIES. + + +More than two hundred years ago there lived in the parish of St. Teath, +a poor labouring man called Jefferies, and this man had one daughter, +called Anne. Anne was a sweetly pretty girl, and a very intelligent one, +too; but she was a terrible hoyden. She shocked all the old ladies in the +village, and all the prim people, dreadfully, and instead of being +ashamed, she seemed to glory in it. + +Everyone wondered how she came to have such a spirit, and whom she took +after, for her mother was as quiet and meek a little woman as ever was +born, and always had been; while her father was a stern, silent man, who +looked upon his flighty daughter as a thorn in his side, a cross laid upon +him for his good. But the fact remains that Anne was the most daring of +all the young people in the parish, doing things that even the boys were +afraid to do, for she had no fear, nothing awed her, and there was nothing +she would not attempt. + +In those days the fairies and piskies, witches and goblins of all sorts +were all over the land, and everyone knew it, and was more or less in awe +of them. The young people appealed to the fairies for everything, to be +helped in their work, to get love-draughts, to be made beautiful, and to +know their fortunes. At the same time they all, except Anne, would have +been scared to death if they had caught sight of one. Anne, indeed, often +boldly declared that she longed to see them, and would love to have a talk +with them; and she made up her mind that she would, too, and when once +Anne had got an idea into her head, she generally managed to carry it out. + +So, without saying anything to anyone, she went out every evening as soon +as the sun was gone down, and wandered about looking into the fox-glove +bells, and under the ferns, examining the Fairy Rings and every other +likely spot, singing:-- + + Fairy fair and fairy bright, + Come and be my chosen sprite! + +For though she had got a very good and true sweetheart, named Tom, she had +a great fancy for a fairy one. Perhaps she was thinking of the lovely +presents that people said the fairies gave, or perhaps she thought that +she would like to live in a palace, and be dressed in silks and velvet, +none of which things could poor Tom give her, of course. + +On moonlight nights Anne crept away by herself to the banks of the stream +which ran through the valley, and here, walking against the current, she +would sing:-- + + Moon shines bright, water runs clear, + I am here, but where's my fairy dear? + +She sang it wistfully enough to touch the heart of any fairy, but though +she went on for a long time repeating all the charms she knew, and trying, +by every means she could think of, to please the Little People, and though +she often nearly put her hand on one during her searches, the Little +People never showed themselves to her. + +They noticed her, though, and were only biding their time. + +One beautiful warm summer's day, Anne, having finished her housework +early, took her knitting and went and sat in an arbour at the foot of the +garden, for she never could bear to be cooped up indoors if she could +possibly get out. She had not been sitting there very long when she heard +a rustling amongst the bushes, but she took no notice of it, for she felt +it was sure to be her lover, coming to have a talk with her; and now that +she was so possessed with the thought of a fairy lover, she had ceased to +care for poor Tom, and was extremely cool and off-hand with him. + +So, at the sound of the rustling, even when it was repeated, she did not +even raise her eyes from her knitting, or turn her head. + +Presently, though, the bushes were rustled more violently, and then +someone gave a little laugh. Anne moved this time, for the laugh was +certainly not Tom's laugh. + +A lane ran along at the back of the arbour, a lane which one had to pass +down to get to the garden gate, and it was from here that the laugh came. +Anne peeped carefully out through the trellis-work and bushes to try to +see who it was who was laughing at her, but not a sign of any living being +could she see. She felt annoyed, for it is extremely unpleasant to feel +that someone is looking at you through a peep-hole, and making game of +you. + +Anne grew so vexed she could not keep her vexation to herself. +"Well," she said aloud, feeling sure it was Tom who was trying to tease +her, "you may stay there till the moss grows over you, before ever I'll +come out to you." + +A burst of laughter, peculiarly sweet and ringing, greeted her words. +"Oh," she thought to herself, "whoever can it be? I'm certain sure Tom +could never laugh like that. Who can it be, I wonder?" + +She felt really nervous now, for there was something unnatural about it +all, but she tried to reassure herself by thinking that nothing could +happen to her in broad daylight such as it was then. Besides which, she +did not know of anyone who wished to harm her, for she was a favourite +with everyone in the village. She waited anxiously, though, to see what +would happen next. + +She went on with her knitting, seemingly paying no heed to anything, but +her ears were strained to catch the least sound, and when, after a little +while, the garden gate was softly opened and closed again, she heard it +distinctly, and glancing up to see who was coming, she saw to her +astonishment, not Tom, or anyone else she knew, but six little pisky +gentlemen, handsome little creatures, with pleasant smiles and brilliantly +shining eyes. + +To her astonishment they did not seem at all disturbed at seeing her, but +came up and ranged themselves in a row before her and bowed to the ground. +They were all dressed alike in green knickerbockers and tunics, edged with +scarlet, and tiny green caps, and one, the handsomest of the lot, had a +beautiful red waving feather at one side of his. They stood and looked at +Anne and smiled, and Anne, not at all frightened now, but pleased, smiled +back at them. Then he with the red feather stepped in front of the +others, and bowing to her in the most courtly manner, addressed her with a +charming friendliness which set her at ease at once. + +Whether this strange little gentleman was really attracted by her charms, +or whether he acted in the same way to every pretty girl he met, one +cannot say, but he certainly looked at Anne very affectionately and +admiringly, and poor Anne's heart was captured at once. She was certain +there never had been such a charming little gentleman before, nor ever +could be again, nor one with such good taste. + +Stooping down she held out her hand, whereupon the little gentleman +stepped into it, and Anne lifted him to her lap. From her lap he soon +climbed to her shoulder, and then he kissed her, and not only kissed her +once, but many times, and Anne thought him more charming than ever. +Presently he called his companions, and they climbed up and kissed Anne, +too, and patted her rosy cheeks, and smoothed her hair. But while one of +them was patting her cheek, he ran his finger across her eyes, and Anne +gave a terrible scream, for with his touch she felt as though a needle had +been run through her eyeballs, and when she tried to open them again she +found she was blind. + +At the same moment she felt herself caught up in the air, and for what +seemed to her a very long time she was carried through it at a tremendous +rate. At last they came to a stop, whereupon one of the Little Men said +something which Anne could not understand, and, behold, her eyesight at +once came back! + +And now, indeed, she had something to use it on, for she found herself in +what seemed to be a perfectly gorgeous palace, or rather two or three +palaces joined together, all built of gold and silver, with arches and +pillars of crystal, large halls with walls of burnished copper, and +beautiful rooms inlaid with precious marbles. Outside was a perfect +paradise of a garden, filled with lovely flowers, and trees laden with +fruit or blossom. Birds were singing everywhere, such rare birds, too! +Some were all blue and gold, others a bright scarlet, then again others +shone like silver or steel. There were large lakes full of gold and +silver fish, and marble fountains throwing jets of water high into the +air. Here and there were dainty bowers covered with roses, and filled +within with soft moss carpets and luxurious couches. Walking about +everywhere in this lovely place were scores of little ladies and +gentlemen, dressed in rich silks and velvets, and with precious stones +sparkling and flashing from their fingers, their hair, their shoes, indeed +they seemed to sparkle all over, like flowers covered with dewdrops. +Some strolled along the walks, others reclined in the bowers, some floated +in little scarlet or ivory boats on the lakes, others sat under the +blossoming trees. There seemed, indeed, no end to them, and to Anne's +great astonishment, neither they nor her six companions seemed small now, +also, to her great delight, she was dressed as beautifully as any of them, +and wore as beautiful jewels. Though she did not know it, she had shrunk +to their size, and a very lovely little fairy she made. + +Her gown was of white silk, with a long train bordered all round with +trails of green ivy, and over her shoulders she wore a long green silk +cloak with a little scarlet hood. Her hair looked as though it had been +dressed by a Court hairdresser, and amidst the puffs and curls sparkled +emeralds and diamonds, like trembling stars. Her little green slippers +had silver heels, and diamond buckles on the toes, round her waist hung a +diamond girdle, on her neck, too, and fingers gems sparkled and flashed +with every movement. + +Oh, how proud and delighted Anne did feel, and how eagerly she hoped that +she might always live like this! Instead of having one cavalier as most +of the ladies had, she had six, but the one with the red feather was her +favourite, and hour by hour he and Anne grew more deeply in love with one +another. + +Unfortunately, though, the other five began to grow very jealous, and they +kept such a watch on Anne and her friend, that the poor lovers had no +chance to get away and talk by themselves, or exchange even a look, or a +kiss, or a handclasp. + +However, when people are determined they usually succeed in the end, +and one day Anne and her handsome lover managed to slip away unobserved. +Hand in hand they ran to a garden which lay at some little distance from +the others, one that was seldom used, too, and where the flowers grew so +tall and in such profusion that they soon were completely hidden amongst +them. + +Here they made their home, and here they lived for a time as happily as +any two people could who loved each other more than all the world beside. + +Alas, though, their happiness was too great to last! They had not been in +their beautiful retreat very long, when one day they heard a great noise +and disturbance, and to Anne's dismay the five little men followed by a +crowd of fairies, equally angered, burst in on them. They had traced the +lovers to the garden, and even to the lily-bell in which they had made +their home. With drawn swords and faces full of anger, they surrounded +the lily and commanded the lovers to come down. Nearly mad with jealousy +as they were, they heaped the most cruel and insulting speeches on the +poor little pair. + +Furious with indignation Anne's lover sprang down, sword in hand, and +faced his attackers, but what could one do against such odds? His sword +was knocked out of his hand, he himself was overpowered by the numbers who +hurled themselves on him. For a while he fought desperately, his back to +the wall, his courage unfailing, but the blows fell on him so fast and +furious, that in a few minutes he lay bleeding and lifeless at poor Anne's +feet. + +What happened next Anne never knew. She remembered looking down on her +dead lover through eyes almost blind with tears, she remembered seeing his +blood staining her dainty green slippers, and splashing her gown, then +someone passed a hand over her eyes, and she could see nothing. She was +as blind as she had been once before. + +All about her she heard strange noises, like the whirring and buzzing of +numberless insects; she felt herself being carried through the air at a +terrific rate, until her breath was quite taken away,--then she was placed +on a seat, and in a moment her sight came back to her. + +She was back in the arbour where she had first seen the fairies, but, +instead of six little men, she now saw about six-and-twenty big men and +women all staring at her with frightened eyes and open mouths. + +"She's very bad," they were whispering, "poor maid, she do look ill! +'Tis a fit she's had, and no mistake!" Then seeing her open her eyes and +look about her, they crowded nearer. "Why, Anne, child, you've been in a +fit, haven't 'ee?" + +Anne lifted her arm and looked at it and her hand; there was not a +single jewel on either. She glanced down over her gown,--it was of +linsey-woolsey, not silk or velvet. She closed her eyes again that they +might not see the tears that sprang to them. + +"I don't know if I've been in a fit," she said wearily, but to herself she +added sadly, "I know, though, that I've been in love." + + + +BARKER AND THE BUCCAS. + + +Perhaps some of you have never heard about the 'Buccas,' or 'Knockers,' +as some people call them, the busy little people about the same size as +piskies, who are said to be the souls of the Jews who used to work in the +tin mines in Cornwall. + +The Buccas live always in rocks, mines, or wells, and they work +incessantly pickaxing, digging, sifting, etc., from one year's end to the +other, except on Christmas Day, Easter Day, All Saints' Day, and the Jews' +Sabbath. On those days their little tools are laid aside, and all is +quiet, but on every other you can, if you listen, hear them hammer, +hammer, dig, dig, and their tongues chattering all the time. + +A lot of these little people lived and worked within the sides of a well +in one particular part of Cornwall, the name of which I will not tell you, +for in the first place you would not be able to pronounce it if I did; +and in the second, you might be tempted to go there and disturb them, +which would make them angry, and bring all kinds of ill-luck and trouble +upon yourself. + +The story I am going to tell you is of someone who did disturb them, and +pried upon them after laughing at them. The name of the youth was Barker, +a great, idle, hulking fellow, who lived in the neighbourhood of the well +where these little Buccas dwelt. + +Now this Barker often heard the neighbours talking about the Buccas, and +praising their industry, and, like most idle people, he disliked hearing +others praised for doing what he knew he ought to do but would not. +So, to annoy the neighbours, and the Buccas, too, he declared he "didn't +believe there wasn't no such things. Seeing was believing, and when they +showed him a Bucca 'twould be soon enough for him to b'lieve there was +such things." And he repeated this every time the little men were +mentioned. + +"'Tis nowt but dreams," he sneered, "there ba'nt no Buccas in Fairy Well, +no more nor I'm a Bucca." + +"You a Bucca!" cried the neighbours, "why, they wouldn't own such a lazy +good-for-nothing. They does more work in a morning than you'd get through +in a year, you who never does a hand's-turn for anybody and haven't sense +enough to earn your own bread!" + +"I've sense enough to find out if there's any such things as Buccas in +that there well, and I'll go there and watch and listen till I finds out +something, and if there's Buccas there I'll catch one!" + +So away he went to spend his time idly lying amidst the tall grass and +ferns which grew thickly around the well. This sort of job suited him to +a nicety, for the sun was warm and pleasant, and he did no work, for, said +he, if he was to work he wouldn't be able to hear any sounds that might +come from below. And for once he spoke the truth. + +Day after day Barker went and lay by the Fairy Well, and at first he heard +never a sound but the birds singing, and the bees humming, and his own +breathing. By and by, though, other sounds began to make themselves heard +by him, noises of digging and hammering, and numbers of little voices +talking and laughing merrily. + +Barker could not at first make out what they said, but he could understand +that they were always busy. Instead, though, of taking them as an +example, the lazy fellow only said to himself gleefully that if others +worked so hard, there was the less need for him to do so! + +Having discovered that his neighbours were right, and that there really +were such people as Buccas, you would have thought that he would have +hurried home to tell of his discoveries; but no, he liked the lazy life, +lying in the sun by the well, doing nothing. So he kept quiet about his +discovery, and every day started off for his favourite spot, making the +excuse that he was still watching for Buccas. + +As the days passed by he began to understand what the little workmen said, +and he gathered from their talk that they worked in sets, and that each +set worked for eight hours,--which was, of course, the origin of the Eight +Hours Day we hear so much about. He also found that when they had +finished they hid away their tools, and every day in a fresh place. +I cannot tell you why they hid them, or from whom, unless it was those +other 'little people,' the Fairies and Piskies, who love to be up to +mischief when they are not doing good. It could not have been from each +other that they hid the things, for they talked together about the +hiding-places. + +One evening, when the day's work was coming to an end, Barker heard the +usual discussion begin. "I shall hide mine in this cleft in the rock," +said one. + +"Very well, then I will hide mine under the ferns." + +"Oh," said a third, "I shall leave mine _on Barker's knee_." + +You may be sure it gave Barker quite a shock to hear his own name spoken +in those mysterious regions, it frightened him, too, but before he could +stir his big, lazy body and run away,--as he meant to do,--he felt three +hard blows, bang! whack! bang! and then a heavy weight fell crash upon his +knee. + +Barker roared and bellowed like a great calf, for the pain was very great, +and he was a big coward. + +"Take it away! take it away!" he cried, but the only answer was peal upon +peal of mocking laughter. "Oh my poor knee, oh my poor knee, I'm lame for +life! Take away them tools! Oh my, oh my!" but the more he screamed, +the more the Buccas laughed. They laughed and laughed until they were +tired, then they vanished, and Master Barker was left to make his way home +as best he could. He did not want to tell the neighbours how he got his +stiff knee, but pretended he had had a fall; the neighbours, though, +soon found out, and pretty well he was laughed at for a long time wherever +he went. + +Never again did Barker doubt the existence of the Buccas, never again did +he speak disrespectfully of them, nor could he forget the lesson he had +been taught, for to his dying day he had a stiff knee, and nothing would +cure it. + +Now, if ever you hear of anyone having 'Barker's knee' you will know that +he has spoken rudely of the Buccas, and that the Buccas have paid him out. + + + +LUTEY AND THE MERMAID. + + +One lovely summer evening many, many years ago, an old man named Lutey was +standing on the seashore not far from that beautiful bit of coast called +the Lizard. + +On the edge of the cliff above him stood a small farm, and here he lived, +spending his time between farming, fishing, and, we must admit it, +smuggling, too, whenever he got a chance. This summer evening he had +finished his day's work early, and while waiting for his supper he +strolled along the sands a little way, to see if there was any wreckage to +be seen, for it was long since he had had any luck in that way, and he was +very much put out about it. + +This evening, though, he was no luckier than he had been before, and he +was turning away, giving up his search as hopeless, when from somewhere +out seaward came a long, low, wailing cry. It was not the melancholy cry +of a gull, but of a woman or child in distress. + +Lutey stopped, and listened, and looked back, but, as far as he could see, +not a living creature was to be seen on the beach but himself. +Even though while he listened the sound came wailing over the sand again, +and this time left no doubt in his mind. It was a voice. Someone was in +trouble, evidently, and calling for help. + +Far out on the sands rose a group of rocks which, though covered at high +water, were bare now. It was about half ebb, and spring tide, too, so the +sea was further out than usual, so far, in fact, that a wide bar of sand +stretched between the rocks and the sea. It was from these rocks that the +cry seemed to come, and Lutey, feeling sure that someone was out there in +distress, turned and walked back quickly to see if he could give any help. + +As he drew near he saw that there was no one on the landward side, so he +hurried round to the seaward,--and there, to his amazement, his eyes met a +sight which left him almost speechless! + +Lying on a ledge at the base of the rock, partially covered by the long +seaweed which grew in profusion over its rough sides, and partially by her +own hair, which was the most glorious you can possibly imagine, was the +most beautiful woman his eyes had ever lighted upon. Her skin was a +delicate pink and white, even more beautiful than those exquisite little +shells one picks up sometimes on the seashore, her clear green eyes +sparkled and flashed like the waves with the sun on them, while her hair +was the colour of rich gold, like the sun in its glory, and with a ripple +in it such as one sees on the sea on a calm day. + +This wonderful creature was gazing mournfully out at the distant sea, +and uttering from time to time the pitiful cry which had first attracted +Lutey's attention. She was evidently in great distress, but how to offer +her help and yet not frighten her he knew not, for the roar of the sea had +deadened the sound of his footsteps on the soft sand, and she was quite +unconscious of his presence. + +Lutey coughed and hem'd, but it was of no use--she could not or did not +hear; he stamped, he kicked the rock, but all in vain, and at last he had +to go close to her and speak. + +"What's the matter, missie?" he said. "What be doing all out here by +yourself?" He spoke as gently as possible, but, in spite of his +gentleness, the lovely creature shrieked with terror, and diving down into +the deep pool at the base of the rock, disappeared entirely. + +At first Lutey thought she had drowned herself, but when he looked closely +into the pool, and contrived to peer through the cloud of hair which +floated like fine seaweed all over the top of it, he managed to +distinguish a woman's head and shoulders underneath, and looking closer he +saw, he was sure, a fish's tail! His knees quaked under him, at that +sight, for he realized that the lovely lady was no other than a mermaid! + +She, though, seemed as frightened as he was, so he summoned up his courage +to speak to her again, for it is always wise to be kind to mermaids, and +to avoid offending them, for if they are angry there is no knowing what +harm they may do to you. + +"Don't be frightened, lady," he said coaxingly; "I wouldn't hurt 'ee for +the world, I wouldn't harm a living creature. I only wants to know what +your trouble is." + +While he was speaking, the maiden had raised her head slightly above the +water, and now was gazing at him with eyes the like of which he had never +seen before. "I 'opes she understands Carnish," he added to himself, +"for 'tis the only langwidge I'm fluent in." + +"Beautiful sir," she replied in answer to his thoughts, "we sea-folk can +understand all languages, for we visit the coast of every land, and all +the tribes of the world sail over our kingdom, and oft-times come down +through the waters to our home. The greatest kindness you can do me is to +go away. You are accustomed to women who walk, covered with silks and +laces. We could not wear such in our world, sporting in the waves, +swimming into caverns, clambering into sunken ships. You cannot realize +our free and untrammelled existence." + +"Now, my lovely lady," said old Lutey, who did not understand a half of +what she was saying, "don't 'ee think anything about such trifles, +but stop your tears and tell me what I can do for 'ee. For, for sure, +I can help 'ee somehow. Tell me how you come'd here, and where you wants +to get to." + +So the fair creature floated higher in the water, and, gradually growing +braver, she presently climbed up and perched herself on the rock where +Lutey had first seen her. Her long hair fell about her like a glorious +mantle, and she needed no other, for it quite covered her. Holding in her +hand her comb and mirror, and glancing from time to time at the latter, +she told the old man her story. + +"Only a few hours ago," she said sadly, "I was sporting about with my +husband and children, as happy as a mermaiden could be. At length, +growing weary, we all retired to rest in one of the caverns at Kynance, +and there on a soft couch of seaweed my husband laid himself down to +sleep. The children went off to play, and I was left alone. For some +time I watched the crabs playing in the water, or the tiny fish at the +bottom of the pools, but the sweet scent of flowers came to me from the +gardens of your world, borne on the light breeze, and I felt I must go and +see what these flowers were like whose breath was so beautiful, for we +have nothing like it in our dominions. Exquisite sea-plants we have, but +they have no sweet perfume. + +"Seeing that my husband was asleep, and the children quite happy and safe, +I swam off to this shore, but when here I found I could not get near the +flowers; I could see them on the tops of the cliffs far, far beyond my +reach, so I thought I would rest here for a time, and dress my hair, while +breathing in their sweetness. + +"I sat on, dreaming of your world and trying to picture to myself what it +was like, until I awoke with a start to find the tide far out, beyond the +bar. I was so frightened I screamed to my husband to come and help me, +but even if he heard me he could not get to me over that sandy ridge; and +if he wakes before I am back, and misses me, he will be so angry, for he +is very jealous. He will be hungry, too, and if he finds no supper +prepared he will eat some of the children!" + +"Oh, my dear!" cried Lutey, quite horrified, "he surely wouldn't never do +such a dreadful thing!" + +"Ah, you do not know Mermen," she said sorrowfully. "They are such +gluttons, and will gobble up their children in a moment if their meals are +a little late. Scores of my children have been taken from me. That is +how it is," she explained, "that you do not oftener see us sea-folk. +Poor children, they never learn wisdom! Directly their father begins to +whistle or sing, they crowd about him, they are so fond of music, and he +gets them to come and kiss his cheek, or whisper in his ear, then he opens +wide his mouth, and in they go.--Oh dear, what shall I do! I have only +ten little ones left, and they will all be gone if I don't get home before +he wakes!" + +"Don't 'ee take on so, my dear. The tide will soon be in, and then you +can float off as quick as you like." + +"Oh, but I cannot wait," she cried, tears running down her cheeks. +"Beautiful mortal, help me! Carry me out to sea, give me your aid for ten +minutes only, and I will make you rich and glorious for life. Ask of me +anything you want, and it shall be yours." + +Lutey was so enthralled by the loveliness of the mermaid, that he stood +gazing at her, lost in wonder. Her voice, which sounded like a gentle +murmuring stream, was to him the most lovely music he had ever heard. +He was so fascinated that he would have done anything she asked him. +He stooped to pick her up. + +"First of all, take this," she said, giving him her pearl comb, "take +this, to prove to you that you have not been dreaming, gentle stranger, +and that I will do for you what I have said. When you want me, comb the +sea three times with this, and call me by my name, 'Morwenna,' and I will +come to you. Now take me to the sea." + +Stooping again he picked her up in his arms. She clung tightly to him, +twining her long, cool arms around his neck, until he felt half +suffocated. "Tell me your wishes," she said sweetly, as they went along; +"you shall have three. Riches will, of course, be one." + +"No, lady," said Lutey thoughtfully, "I don't know that I'm so set on +getting gold, but I'll tell 'ee what I should like. I'd dearly love to be +able to remove the spells of the witches, to have power over the spirits +to make them tell me all I want to know, and I'd like to be able to cure +diseases." + +"You are the first unselfish man I have met," cried the mermaid +admiringly, "you shall have your wishes, and, in addition, I promise you +as a reward, that your family shall never come to want." + +In a state of great delight, Lutey trudged on with his lovely burthen, +while she chatted gaily to him of her home, of the marvels and the riches +of the sea, and the world that lay beneath it. + +"Come with me, noble youth," she cried, "come with me to our caves and +palaces; there are riches, beauty, and everything mortal can want. +Our homes are magnificent, the roofs are covered with diamonds and other +gems, so that it is ever light and sparkling, the walls are of amber and +coral. Your floors are of rough, ugly rocks, ours are of mother-of-pearl. +For statuary we have the bodies of earth's most beautiful sons and +daughters, who come to us in ships, sent by the King of the Storms. +We embalm them, so that they look more lovely even than in life, with +their eyes still sparkling, their lips of ruby-red, and the delicate pink +of the sea-shell in their cheeks. Come and see for yourself how well we +care for them, and how reposeful they look in their pearl and coral homes, +with sea-plants growing around them, and gold and silver heaped at their +feet. They crossed the world to get it, and their journeys have not been +failures. Will you come, noble stranger? Come to be one of us whose +lives are all love, and sunshine, and merriment?" + +"None of it's in my line, I'm thinking, my dear," said Lutey. "I'd rather +come across some of the things that have gone down in the wrecks, wines +and brandy, laces and silks; there's a pretty sight of it all gone to the +bottom, one time and another, I'm thinking." + +"Ah yes! We have vast cellars full of the choicest wines ever made, and +caves stored with laces and silks. Come, stranger, come, and take all you +want." + +"Well," answered the old smuggler, who was thinking what a fine trade he +could do, if only he could reach those caves and cellars, "I must say I'd +like to, 'tis very tempting, but I should never live to get there, +I'm thinking. I should be drownded or smothered before I'd got half-way." + +"No, oh no, I can manage that for you. I will make two slits under your +chin, your lovely countenance will not suffer, for your beard will hide +them. Such a pair of gills is all you want, so do not fear. Do not leave +me, generous-hearted youth. Come to the mermaid's home!" They were in +the sea by this time, and the breakers they wanted to reach were not far +off. Lutey felt strangely tempted to go with this Siren; her flashing +green eyes had utterly bewitched him by this time, and her promises had +turned his head. She saw that he was almost consenting, almost in her +power. She clasped her long, wet, finny fingers more closely round his +neck, and pressed her cool lips to his cheeks. + +Another instant, and Lutey would have gone to his doom, but at that moment +there came from the shore the sound of a dog barking as though in +distress. It was the barking of Lutey's own dog, a great favourite with +its master. Lutey turned to look. At the edge of the water the poor +creature stood; evidently frantic to follow its master, it dashed into the +sea and out again, struggling, panting. Beyond, on the cliff, stood his +home, the windows flaming against the sun, his garden, and the country +round looking green and beautiful; the smoke was rising from his chimney, +--ah, his supper! The thought of his nice hot meal broke the spell, and he +saw his danger. + +"Let me go, let me go!" he shrieked, trying to lower the mermaid to the +ground. She only clung the more tightly to him. He felt a sudden fear +and loathing of the creature with the scaly body, and fish's tail. Her +green eyes no longer fascinated him. He remembered all the tales he had +heard of the power of mermaids, and their wickedness, and grew more and +more terrified. + +"Let me go!" he yelled again, "unwind your gashly great tail from about my +legs, and your skinny fingers from off my throat, or I'll--I'll kill you!" +and with the same he whipped his big clasp-knife from his pocket. + +As the steel flashed before the mermaid's eyes she slipped from him and +swam slowly away, but as she went she sang, and the words floated back to +Lutey mournfully yet threateningly. "Farewell, farewell for nine long +years. Then, my love, I will come again. Mine, mine, for ever mine!" + +Poor Lutey, greatly relieved to see her disappear beneath the waves, +turned and waded slowly back to land, but so shaken and upset was he by +all that had happened, that it was almost more than he could accomplish. +On reaching the shore he just managed to scramble to the shed where he +kept many of the treasures he had smuggled from time to time, but having +reached it he dropped down in a deep, overpowering sleep. + +Poor old Ann Betty Lutey was in a dreadful state of mind when supper-time +came and went and her husband had not returned. He had never missed it +before. All through the night she watched anxiously for him, but when +breakfast-time came, and still there was no sign of him, she could not +rest at home another minute, and started right away in search of him. + +She did not have to search far, though. Outside the door of the shed she +found the dog lying sleeping, and as the dog was seldom seen far from his +master, she thought she would search the shed first,--and there, of +course, she found her husband. + +He was still sound asleep. Ann Betty, vexed at once at having been +frightened for nothing, shook him none too gently. "Here, Lutey, get up +to once, do you hear!" she cried crossly. "Why ever didn't 'ee come in to +supper,--such a beautiful bit of roast as I'd got, too! Where've 'ee +been? What 'ave 'ee been doing? What 'ave 'ee been sleeping here for?" + +Lutey raised himself into a sitting position. "Who are you?" he shouted. +"Are you the beautiful maiden come for me? Are you Morwenna?" + +"Whatever are you talking about? You haven't called me beautiful for the +last thirty years, and I ain't called Morwenna. I'm Ann Betty Lutey, your +own lawful wife, and if you don't know me, you must be gone clean out of +your mind." + +"Ann Betty Lutey," said the old man solemnly, "if you're my lawful wife +you've had a narrow escape this night of being left a widow woman, and you +may be thankful you've ever set eyes on me again." + +"Come in and have some breakfast," said Ann Betty Lutey sternly, "and if +you ain't better then I'll send for the doctor. It's my belief your brain +is turned." + +Lutey got up obediently and went in to his breakfast; indeed, he was glad +enough of it, for he was light-headed from want of food. His breakfast +did him good. Before he had finished it he was able to tell his wife +about his adventure the night before, and he told it so gravely and +sensibly that Ann Betty believed every word of it, and no longer thought +his brain was turned. + +Indeed, she was so much impressed by his story that before many hours had +passed she had gone round to every house in the parish spreading the news, +and to prove the truth of it she produced the pearl comb. + +Then, oh dear, the gossiping that went on! It really was dreadful! +The women neglected their homes, their children, and everything else for +the whole of that week; and for months after old Lutey was besieged by all +the sick and sorry for miles and miles around, who came to him to be +cured. He did such a big business in healing people, that not a doctor +for miles round could earn a living. Everyone went to old Lutey, and when +it was found that he had power over witchcraft, too, he became the most +important man in the whole country. + +Lutey had been so rude and rough to the mermaiden when he parted from her, +that no one would have been surprised if she had avenged herself on him +somehow, and punished him severely. But no, she was true to all her +promises. He got all his wishes, and neither he nor his descendants have +ever come to want. Better far, though, would it have been for him had it +been otherwise, for he paid dearly enough for his wishes in the end. + +Nine years from that very time, on a calm moonlight night, Lutey, +forgetting all about the mermaid and her threats, arranged to go out with +a friend to do a little fishing. There was not a breath of wind stirring, +and the sea was like glass, so that a sail was useless, and they had to +take to the oars. Suddenly, though, without any puff of wind, or anything +else to cause it, the sea rose round the boat in one huge wave, covered +with a thick crest of foam, and in the midst of the foam was Morwenna! + +Morwenna! as lovely as ever, her arms outstretched, her clear green eyes +fixed steadily, triumphantly on Lutey. She did not open her lips, or +make a sign, she only gazed and gazed at her victim. + +For a moment he looked at her as though bewildered, then like one bereft +of his senses by some spell, he rose in the boat, and turned his face +towards the open sea. "My time is come," he said solemnly and sadly, and +without another word to his frightened companion he sprang out of the boat +and joined the mermaid. For a yard or two they swam in silence side by +side, then disappeared beneath the waves, and the sea was as smooth again +as though nothing had happened. + +From that moment poor Lutey has never been seen, nor has his body been +found. Probably he now forms one of the pieces of statuary so prized by +the mermaiden, and stands decked with sea-blossoms, with gold heaped at +his feet. Or, maybe, with a pair of gills slit under his chin, he swims +about in their beautiful palaces, and revels in the cellars of shipwrecked +wines. The misfortunes to his family did not end, though, with Lutey's +disappearance, for, no matter how careful they are, how far they live from +the sea, or what precautions they take to protect themselves, every ninth +year one of old Lutey's descendants is claimed by the sea. + + + +THE WICKED SPECTRE. + + +There was once upon a time a good old Cornish family of the name of +Rosewarne. Well-born, well-to-do gentlepeople they were, who had always +lived in their own fine old house on their own estate, and never knew what +it was to want any comfort or luxury. + +The family in time, though, grew larger than their income, and their pride +and their dignity were greater than either, so that in trying to support +the large family according to their larger dignity, the poor little income +got quite swallowed up and the whole family of Rosewarne became involved +in poverty and great difficulties. + +Mr. Rosewarne, the father of the last of the family to live on the +property, employed for his lawyer and man of business an attorney called +Ezekiel Grosse, and, as so often happens, as fast as Mr. Rosewarne went +down in the world, his lawyer went up. + +Ezekiel grew rich, no one knew how, and prospered in every way; Mr. +Rosewarne grew poor, and lost in every way. Nothing on the property paid, +and at last, to his great grief and never-ceasing regret, Mr. Rosewarne +had to sell his beloved home and everything belonging to him. Then, who +should come forward to buy it, as soon as ever it was put up for sale, +but his own lawyer, Ezekiel Grosse! + +Everybody wondered, and most people declared that Ezekiel could not have +made such a large sum honestly by his business; that he must have other +and less straight methods of getting money. Anyhow, whether he made it +honestly, or dishonestly, he had enough to buy the estate he coveted, and +as soon as the old family could turn out, he himself took up his abode in +the fine old house, and a very proud man he was. + +If, though, he was a proud man as he sat in the spacious library, or +wandered through the lofty rooms and noble old hall, he could not have +been a very happy one, and very little enjoyment could he have got out of +his new possession, for, from the very hour he entered and took up his +abode there, such unearthly and mysterious noises, such fearful screams +and gruesome groans worried and haunted and dogged him, as made his hair +stand on end, and nearly scared him out of his wits. A ghost, too, +appeared in the park as soon as night fell. + +As Ezekiel crossed the park he would be suddenly confronted by a white, +worn face and a pair of great, ghastly, luminous eyes. It would rise up +from the ground in front of him, or pop round trees and bushes at him, or, +on raising his eyes, he would find it confronting him over a hedge. And +before very long the ghost, not content with making noises in the house, +and haunting the park, took it into his head to enter the house, and make +that his permanent home. + +When Ezekiel came face to face with him indoors, he thought he was not +such a terrible ghost after all, and much of his fear left him, for the +ghost to look at seemed only an infirm old man. Indeed the lawyer found +him less terrifying than the horrible uncanny sounds which seemed to come +from nowhere, and could not be accounted for. + +By and by, though, the ghost's visits were repeated so often, and he began +to make such mysterious signs and movements, that the surly lawyer soon +lost patience, and before long grew so seriously angry that he determined +to put an end to the annoyance and rid himself of his tormentor once and +for all. + +The very next night as Ezekiel sat alone in his office looking over some +papers, and making up his accounts, the ghost glided into the room as +usual, and taking up his position opposite, at once began to make the +usual mysterious and extraordinary signs. The lawyer was very irritable, +he had lost an important case, and was out of spirits, he was unusually +nervous, too. For a while he bore the presence of the ghost and his +extraordinary behaviour with a certain amount of patience, then suddenly +he lost his temper. + +"For pity's sake tell me what it is you want with me, and be done with it, +can't you?" he cried angrily. + +The ghost immediately stopped his gesticulations, and spoke. +"Ezekiel Grosse," said he, in a hollow, ghostly voice, "Ezekiel Grosse, +follow me. I can show you buried gold, the wealth for which thou +longest." + +Now no man in the world loved gold better than did the attorney, but he +was anything but a brave man, and even he himself knew that he was not a +good one, and the thought of going alone with this uncanny guide, to some +desolate spot where no one could see or hear him if he called for help, +made his teeth chatter and his knees tremble. + +He hesitated, and gazed searchingly at the little old ghost, but to save +his life he could not utter a word. He nearly suffocated with longing to +possess the secret and know where the treasure lay, but he dared not ask; +and all the time the spectre stood staring at him with unwinking scornful +eyes, as if the sight of the cowardly, trembling man gave him unfeigned +pleasure. + +At length, beckoning Ezekiel to follow him, he turned and walked towards +the door. Then Ezekiel, fearful of losing the secret and the wealth, +threw aside every feeling but greed, and sprang to follow--at least, he +tried to spring, but so firmly was he secured to his chair he could not +budge. + +"Come," said the ghost imperatively. + +Ezekiel tried again, but great as was his longing to find the gold, he +could not obey. + +"Gold," whispered the ghost in a whining, craven tone, "don't you hear me, +man? Gold!" + +"Where?" gasped the lawyer, making another desperate struggle. + +"Come with me, and you shall see," answered the spectre, moving further +through the doorway; and the lawyer struggled like a madman to get free +from the chair and to follow. + +"Come, man, come," shrieked the ghost in a perfectly awful voice. +"Ezekiel Grosse, I command thee." And with that Ezekiel, by a power +stronger than his own, was forced to rise and to follow the old man +wheresoever he led him. + +Out through the hall they went, down through the park, and on and on by +ways the attorney did not know, until at last they arrived at a little +dell. The night was pitchy dark, and nothing could Ezekiel see but the +ghostly figure gliding along ahead of him, all lit by a weird +phosphorescent light. In the dell was a small granite cairn, and here the +ghost stopped and looked around for the attorney. + +"Ezekiel Grosse," said he, when Ezekiel had come up and was standing on +the other side of the cairn. "Ezekiel Grosse, thou longest for gold. +So did I! I won the prize, but I found no pleasure in it. Beneath those +stones lies treasure enough to make thee richer than thou hast ever +dreamed of. Dig for it, it is yours. Obtain it and keep it all to +yourself, and be one of the rich men of the earth, and when thou art +happiest I will come and look upon you." + +With that the spectre disappeared, and Ezekiel, overcome with fright and +amazement, was left alone by the cairn. + +"Well," he said at last, recovering his courage, "I don't care if you are +ghost or devil, I will soon find out if you are telling me lies or not!" +A harsh laugh sounded through the darkness, as though in answer to his +brave words, and once again the attorney trembled with fear. + +He did not begin his search that night, but taking careful note of the +exact spot, he returned to his house to think over all that had happened; +and what he decided was that he was not going to let any squeamishness +stand in the way of a fortune. + +"I'll tip over that old cairn," he said, with a great show of coolness, +"and I'll search every foot of ground under it and around it, and it shall +not be my fault if the treasure is not found!" + +So, a night or two later, armed with a crowbar and other tools, away he +started secretly, and found his way again to the lonely dell, where he +soon dispersed the stones of the cairn and began his digging. The ground +was hard and flinty, and the work anything but easy, but he had not far to +dig before he came across something, something hard and round, which +increased his excitement until it nearly suffocated him. + +Feverishly he dug and dug, and cleared away the earth until at last he had +laid bare a large metallic urn sunk deep in the ground, an urn so large +and heavy that though he used his utmost strength, and his strength by +that time was almost that of a madman, he could not move it, much less +carry it home with him; and having brought no light he could not even +examine it. So all he could do that night was to cover it over again with +earth, and replace the stones on the top so that no one, coming upon it, +should guess that the cairn had been touched. Ezekiel scarcely knew how +to live through the next twenty-four hours, and as soon as it was dark on +the following evening he crept out of his house, with a dark lantern +concealed beneath his cloak. + +He knew his way to the dell so well now that he reached there very +quickly, and with very little trouble he threw down the cairn and laid +bare the urn again. By the light of the lantern he soon forced open the +lid, in spite of the trembling of his eager, covetous fingers. The lid +off he went to plunge his hand in boldly, when to his unspeakable delight +he found the thing full to the brim of gold coins of all sorts and sizes, +and from all countries, coins of the rarest and most valuable description! + +Glancing round every now and then to see that he was not followed, or that +no one had come upon him accidentally, he loaded every pocket in his +clothing with his treasure, then he buried the urn, rebuilt the cairn, and +hurried back to his house anxious to conceal his wealth in a place of +safety. + +From that time forward, whenever he could get out without arousing the +suspicions of his servants, he went night after night to the cairn, until +he had brought away every coin, and had them all carefully hidden in +Rosewarne House. + +And now, his treasure safe, himself the richest man in the county, +Ezekiel Grosse began to feel perfectly happy. He built new wings on to +the old house, he laid out the gardens, and made improvements everywhere; +even in his own clothing and his personal appearance. + +The people round could not help noticing the changes that were taking +place, the money that was being spent, and the improvements that were +being made. You may be quite sure, too, that the attorney took care to +parade his wealth, for, having money, a fine house, fine clothes, and +carriages and servants, indeed, everything but friends, he began to want +friends too, and people to whom to show off his grandeur. + +And before very long, though everyone knew his character, and what he had +been and what he had done, the neighbouring gentry began to seek his +acquaintance, and many of them declared themselves his friends. + +After that the attorney broke forth in quite a new way, he began to give +entertainments more lavish and splendid than anything of the kind ever +known in the county. Everyone flocked to him, people plotted and +struggled to get invitations from him. They quite ignored the fact that +but a little while before he had been a poor rogue of an attorney whom +they all despised, and that he had come by his wealth by means which no +one had been able to fathom. They all seemed to be bewitched, to be under +some spell. + +High revels were constantly held at Rosewarne House, now, and the gayest +and liveliest of all the people gathered there was the master himself. +He was as happy at this time as a man could be, and a great part of his +happiness was due to the fact that he had never set eyes on his ghostly +visitor since the night he conducted him to the treasure in the dell. + +Months went by, the feastings and gaieties grew more and more splendid, +the hospitality more and more profuse, those who had not his acquaintance, +craved it, and everyone bowed before the 'Lord of Rosewarne,' as in time +he came to be called. + +Indeed, he went about as though he were the lord of the whole county, and +everyone his inferior. He travelled always in a chaise and four, he kept +numberless carriages, horses, servants. He was elected to every high +position in the county, and he was never tired of preaching of the beauty +of honesty and uprightness, and our duty to our poorer brethren. + +So things went on until one Christmas Eve, when there was gathered at +Rosewarne a large company of the most beautiful and well-born of all the +families in Cornwall. Such a gathering had seldom been seen as was +gathered that night in the great hall for the ball Ezekiel Grosse was +giving; and in the kitchen was an equally large party engaged in the same +form of enjoyment. + +Food and wine were provided in lavish profusion, everything was on a most +sumptuous scale. Merriment ran high, everyone was in the gayest of +spirits, and gayest of all was Ezekiel. Now he felt the power of wealth, +now he was positive that all other things were as nothing to it; for had +it not made him the most popular, the most important, the most welcomed +and sought-after man in the county? + +All had just reached the very highest pitch of mirth and excitement that +could be reached, when a sudden chill, as though the hand of death were on +them, fell on the company! The dancing ceased, no one quite knew why, and +the dancers looked at each other uneasily, each frightened by the other's +pallor. + +Then, suddenly, whence, or how come, no one knew,--in the middle of the +hall they saw a little old man standing gazing at the host with eyes from +which darted a hatred which was perfectly venomous. Everyone wanted to +ask who he was, and how he had come, but no one dared. They looked at +Ezekiel Grosse, expecting him in his usually haughty way to demand what +right he had there;--but Ezekiel Grosse stood like a figure hewn out of +stone. + +It all took place in about a minute, and then the old man vanished in the +same mysterious way that he had come. + +As soon as he had gone, the host, who a moment before had been petrified +with terror, as quickly recovered himself, and burst into uproarious +laughter. It was forced laughter, though, unnatural mirth, as most of +those present could not help feeling. + +"Ha, ha! my friends. What do you think of my little surprise? How do you +like my Father Christmas? Cleverly managed, was it not? But you all look +rather alarmed by his sudden movements. I hope my little joke has not +frightened you. Hand round the wine and punch there, then we will on with +the dancing again!" + +Try as he would, though, he could not put new life into the evening's +festivities, the mirth was dead, the pleasure overcast, for there was +still that strange deathlike chill in the air. The guests, frightened, +and convinced that something was wrong, made various excuses and one by +one took their departure. + +From that evening everything was changed. Ezekiel Grosse and his +entertainments were never the same again. He never acknowledged any +difference, and he gave more parties, and issued more invitations than +ever, but at every feast, every dance, every entertainment of any sort, +there was always one uninvited guest, a little wizened, weird old man, who +sat back in his chair and never spoke to anyone, but gazed all the time at +Ezekiel with stern, uncanny eyes which frightened all who caught sight of +them. Indeed, the effect he had on the guests was extraordinary; under +the chill of his presence they could not talk, or eat or drink, or keep up +any appearance of enjoyment. + +Ezekiel was the bravest of them. He tried to encourage them to talk and +laugh,--talking and laughing loudly himself all the time, but all was +unnatural. His apologies for his strange visitor were numerous. He was +an old friend who liked to come to him and see new faces and young life, +but was too old to do more than look on. He was deaf and dumb, that was +why his conduct was so strange. Sometimes the little old man sat unmoved +while these stories were told, at other times, though, he would spring up, +and with a burst of mocking laughter would disappear no one knew how. + +By and by, of course, Ezekiel Grosse's friends began to leave him. +They declined his invitations, and omitted to include him in theirs, so +that in a comparatively short time he had not a single friend remaining of +all those he had spent so much upon. + +Disappointed and miserable, he soon became the wreck of his old self. +Alone in his luxurious house now, save for his old clerk John Cull, he +could never be said to be quite alone, either, for wherever he went, +or whatever he did, the spectre haunted him persistently. Under this +persecution the attorney became a brokendown, miserable man, with every +feature stamped with terror. For a long time he bore with the merciless +ghost without complaining, but at last he came to an end of his endurance. +In heart-rending terms, with tears and piteous pleading, he begged the old +man to go away and leave him. He had been punished sufficiently, he said. +But his prayers were poured into deaf ears. The spectre absolutely +refused to go, and for some time stuck to his word. Then, at last he +consented, on one condition, and that was that Ezekiel should give up all +his wealth to someone the spectre should name. + +"Who am I to give it to?" gasped Ezekiel humbly. + +"To John Cull, the man you have overworked and underpaid for years. +John Cull, your clerk and dependent." + +Ezekiel Grosse had been given wealth, happiness, friends, only to be +deprived of all, to be lowered in the eyes of all men, with not one to +pity him. This was the punishment designed by the frightful spectre, +who was no more nor less than an ancestor of the family Ezekiel Grosse had +robbed, the Rosewarnes. He had planned to punish the lawyer by whose +wickedness his family had been robbed and made homeless, and he carried +through his plan. + +Poor Ezekiel Grosse did not live long in his disappointment and shame. +He was found dead one day, with strange marks upon him, and people who saw +it say that when he died the weird little spectre stood beside him with a +pleased smile on his face. As soon as it was dark, he disappeared, +and the story goes that he took Ezekiel's body with him, for from that day +to this it has never been seen. + + + +THE STORY OF THE LOVERS' COVE. + + +This is a sad story,--at least, some will think it sad! It is not about +fairies, or giants, or witches, but about two lovers who loved each other +above and beyond everything else in the world;--which is uncommon, +for most people love themselves in that way first, and someone else next. + +These two lovers loved each other passionately and devotedly. They used +to meet in the Lovers' Cove, or Porthangwartha,--which means the same,-- +and many a happy meeting they had, and well did everything go until they +told their friends. After that there was such a talk and such a stir, and +such hardness and misery, that the lovers never again knew what it was to +be happy. The parents said that they _should not_ love each other,--which +was foolish, for they could not prevent it; that they should never meet +and never marry, which was cruel, for this they could prevent, and did. +So the poor lovers led a life of utter wretchedness, for they were +persecuted sadly, and were breaking their hearts for each other. + +At last their persecutors ended by driving the young man away. +He determined to go to the West Indies. Then the relations congratulated +themselves heartily that they had got their own way, and parted the lovers +for ever. + +In spite of all their precautions, though, those two poor heart-broken +lovers managed to meet once more; and as it was to be their very last +sight of each other for they did not know how long, perhaps for ever, +it was a very, very sad parting indeed. + +It was in the Lovers' Cove that they met, and there, under the frosty +light of the moon, they bade each other their sad good-byes, and while +they clung to each other for the last time, they made a solemn vow that, +living or dead, they would meet again in that same place at that same hour +of the same day three years hence. + +So the young man sailed away, and the girl lived with her parents, +going about her duties quietly and patiently, and, in spite of her +sadness, with a look of hope in her eyes that increased and increased as +the weeks and months slipped by. Her parents noticed it, and told +themselves that she had forgotten the banished lover, and would soon learn +to care for one of those they approved of. When, though, she had refused +to listen to any of the others who came wooing her, they began to fear +that they were mistaken, and were puzzled to know what it was that was +driving the wistfulness from her face, and the languor from her step. + +So the long years dragged to a close, and at last, as it was bound to do, +the end of the three years drew very near, and with each day the girl's +step grew lighter and more buoyant, her eyes glistened and her lips curved +in a smile that was new to them. Now and then even a snatch of song burst +from them. Her parents had no doubt now that she had quite forgotten the +lover whose name had not been mentioned in her presence since the day he +sailed. + +Then, at last, the three years were really past and gone, the last day +dawned and wore away to evening, and then night fell, moonlit, still, +beautiful, a fitting night for lovers who were to meet once more, whether +living or dead. In the Cove it was as light as day, one could count each +wave as it rose and fell, and see distinctly the white foam at its edge as +it broke on the beach. The sands gleamed like silver in the sad white +light save where the rocks threw dark shadows. + +All round the coast the witches and wizards were busy manufacturing their +spells. High up on a cliff overlooking the Lovers' Cove an old woman,-- +not a witch,--was sitting preparing her herbs and simples,--which must +always be done by moonlight,--when suddenly she was startled to see down +in the Cove below her the figure of the maiden swiftly crossing the sands. +The old dame, who recognized the girl, was startled for it was nearly +twelve o'clock, and in that part most people are in bed by nine. + +Swiftly and unhesitatingly the girl made her way to a rock far out on the +sands, and close to the water. Up the rock she climbed, and sat herself +down as though it had been noon on a fine summer's day. Did not she know, +wondered the old woman nervously, that the tide was rapidly rising, and +the rock being fast surrounded? Apparently, though, the maiden did not +know, or care, for there she sat immovable, her face turned towards the +sea, gazing at it with bright intent eyes, as though searching its face +for something. + +At last the old woman grew so alarmed she could endure the suspense no +longer. The girl's danger increased every moment, and she felt it her +duty to go and warn her, and give her what help she could. So with +trembling limbs and fast-beating heart she hurried as fast as she was able +down the side of the cliff. The path, though, was rough and winding, and +she was old. At one point the end of the beach where the girl sat was cut +off from her view. It was only for a moment, certainly, yet when the old +dame caught sight of her again, she saw, to her amazement, that a fine +young sailor had also mounted the rock, and was seated close beside her! + +He too, sailor though he was, seemed quite unconscious of their danger. +They sat there on the water-surrounded rock, he with arm around the girl, +she with her head on his breast, oblivious of everything but each other. + +"Oh ho! my young woman!" said the old dame to herself, "so this is how you +pass your time while your lover is away! and after the way you pretended +to love him, too!" She felt quite cross, for she was very tired and very +frightened and in no mood to smile at lovers' foolishness. She sat +herself down on a rock by the path they would have to ascend, determined +to await their return, partly to give the maiden a good sound scolding for +her reckless behaviour, and partly to satisfy her curiosity by seeing who +the young man was who had won her heart away from the absent lover. + +The lovers, though, appeared in no hurry to move. There they sat clinging +together, with the moon shining down coldly on them, and the water +gleaming around them. The wind had died away until there seemed to be +scarcely a breath of air stirring, and the sea lay as calm as a lake. +The whole scene resembled Fairyland, with the lovers as two spirits +watching over the Cove. The tide rose higher and higher, and the only +sound to be heard in that lone, desolate spot was the lazy plash of the +waves on the shore, and around the cliffs. + +In a short time the water rose so high that the rock was almost covered; +to get off it now the lovers would have to swim; yet still they paid no +heed. They seemed lost to everything but each other. + +It was all so ghostly and uncanny that the poor old woman grew wild with +nervousness and excitement. She called and called to them at the top of +her voice, but she failed to make it reach them. The plash of the waves +and the sighing of the gently heaving sea seemed to swallow it up. +And when at last a wave came up and washed right over them, she shrieked +aloud, distracted by her own helplessness, and covered her eyes with her +apron. She could not bear to look and watch them being drowned. + +With her face hidden she waited, breathless, for their shrieks for help,-- +but none came. She uncovered her eyes and looked at the rock,--it was +bare, save for the water which now covered it. She gazed frantically +around, first at the beach, then out to sea; the beach was empty, save for +herself, but out on the sea were the two lovers, floating out on the +scarcely moving waters, hand in hand, gazing into each other's eyes, +smiling happily and without sign of struggle. Further and further away +they drifted. Then across the still waters came the sound of sweet low +voices singing, and in the stillness which hung over everything the very +words sounded distinctly:-- + + I am thine, + Thou art mine, + Beyond control; + In the wave + Be the grave + Of heart and soul. + +Slowly, slowly they passed out through the moonlit sea, sweetly chanting +their pathetic song; until at last they turned and faced the shore; and in +that moment the old woman recognized in the sailor the lonely maiden's +lover, who had been driven away by her parents so long before. + +One long look they took at the Lovers' Cove and the black rock on which +they had met, then turned their happy faces to each other, their lips +meeting in one long, long kiss, and while their lips were meeting they +sank quickly beneath the waves. + +A few days later the maiden's body was found not far from the Lovers' +Cove; and some time after news reached the village that on the very night +that she had been seen with him on the rock he had been killed in a +foreign land. + + + +THE SILVER TABLE. + + +Off Cudden Point, in the parish of Perranuthnoe, there lies buried in the +sea, treasure enough to make anyone who finds it, one of the wealthiest +persons in the whole county. + +Now and then, during the spring-tides, when the water is very low, +small portions of it are found, just enough to keep up the excitement, +and cause dozens of children from all the neighbourhood round to gather +there in a swarm, to search among the seaweeds, and dig in the sands, +and venture out in the sea itself as far as they dare. It is only about +once in a blue moon that they do come upon treasure, but there is always +the hope that any hour or day may bring them a big find. + +Jewellery and coins, and silver goblets, are some of the treasures they +seek, but the greatest of all is no less a thing than a table, a large and +massive table, too, made of solid silver. + +I am sure you would like to know why they expect such a prize, so I will +tell you. + +Many, many years ago there lived in those parts a very wealthy man. +He was also a very wicked one, indeed it was said that he was no other +than the Lord of Pengerswick, of whom you will have read in another of +these stories. It was rather difficult to say for certain, for the wicked +old man being an enchanter could go about in all kinds of disguises, +so that only those who had the gift of 'second sight' could discover him. + +Anyhow, if this rich, bad man was not the Lord of Pengerswick he was +someone just as wicked, and just as rich. I believe, though, it was that +old enchanter, and, at any rate, we will call him so for the time. + +The old gentleman had plenty of money and he spent it freely too, for it +cost him no trouble to get. He ground it out of the poor, and in the most +cruel manner. As he got it so easily he did not mind wasting it, and he +kept 'open house' as they call it,--that is, he always had a houseful of +visitors, men and women who were nearly as bad as he was, and he provided +them with every kind of luxury, and pleasure, and amusement that he could +think of. They rode pell-mell over the country on fiery, unmanageable +horses, breaking down the farmers' hedges, trampling down the land, +hunting, shooting, dancing and gambling! They did anything and everything +that was wild, and foolish, and exciting, in order to make the days pass +pleasantly. + +One very, very hot summer's day, though, when the sun was pouring down +pitilessly, scorching up everything, and there was scarcely a breath of +air to be found, and it was too hot to dance, or to ride, or do anything +tiring, this gay crew thought they would like to spend some hours on the +sea, where it was cooler than on the land. + +So the Lord of Pengerswick, always glad to show off his possessions, +ordered his largest and most sumptuous barge to be set afloat, and stored +with every kind of luxury, and every sort of dainty thing he could think +of, and the gay party went on board. Seated on silken cushions under an +awning of cloth of gold, they began at once to feast on the marvellous +dainties spread for them on a large solid silver table, and all the time +they feasted and laughed and jested, delicate music and singing wafted +towards them from the far end of the boat, to charm their ears if they +cared to listen. + +While, though, the awning sheltered them from the sun, it also concealed +from them a little cloud which presently appeared in the sky; and the +music, talk and laughter drowned the sound of a little breeze that sighed +round the vessel. + +The little breeze sighed, and went away unnoticed, but presently returned, +not little now, but very big, and determined to be heard; but they were, +by this time, making such a noise on board, that even the louder breeze +went unheeded, until, grown quite angry, in a gust of fury it struck the +boat--and what happened next no one knows, for none were left to tell the +tale,--except the breeze, and he went scuffling off to another point. + +This only is known, that where the barge had floated nothing was to be +seen but a desolate expanse of water, but for years and years afterwards, +when the wind was in the right direction, the fishermen heard sounds of +laughter and talking coming up from the bottom of the sea, the rattle of +plates and the jingle of glasses, and through it all the strains of sweet +music, and deep voices singing. If the moon was in the right quarter and +the water very still, far down beneath the waves could be seen the +gleaming silver table, and the wicked old Lord of Pengerswick and his +guests still seated round it keeping up their revels. + +The feasting must all have ceased by this time, though, for no sound is +ever heard now, and it is long since anyone has caught sight of the +pleasure-loving crew. A part of the treasure has been cast up by the sea, +and seized by the descendants of the poor people the old lord robbed, and +it seems quite possible that if they only wait long enough, and the tide +goes out far enough, someone will be so fortunate as to find the silver +table. + + + +CRUEL COPPINGER, THE DANE. + + +One of the most terrific storms ever known was raging on the north coast +of Cornwall. The gale, blowing up channel from the southwest, broke with +such fury on that bold, unsheltered piece of coast by Morwenstow, that the +wreckers, who were gathered on the shore and heights above, had more than +enough to do to keep their feet. The rain came down in driving sheets, +shutting off the sea from their eager eyes, so that they could see nothing +of the prey they were watching for. + +Beaten down, drenched, well-nigh frozen, even these hardy men were on the +point of giving way before the fury of the hurricane, when suddenly from +out the sheets of driving rain loomed a vessel, a foreigner. If she had +been a phantom ship, as at first they thought she must be, she could not +have appeared more strangely, suddenly, or unexpectedly. But it was no +phantom battling so bravely, yet so hopelessly with the fierce waves, +ploughing her way through them, defying their efforts to draw her down and +devour her. She rolled and lurched heavily, and was driven closer and +closer on to the jagged rocks of that cruel coast; her sails were in rags, +and she herself was utterly beyond control. + +As she drew nearer, the terror-stricken faces of those on board +could be plainly seen, clinging to each other or to the masts, +praying, gesticulating, or too frightened to do anything but gaze with +fixed and ghastly eyes at the awful fate awaiting them. + +Standing near the wheel was a man who, even at such a time, seemed to hold +himself apart from the rest. He was of gigantic size, towering above the +heads of the rest of them. He had stripped himself of his clothing, and +was evidently awaiting a suitable moment to plunge off the vessel into the +boiling ocean, and fight his hand-to-hand battle with death. At last the +right moment came. Without an instant's hesitation he plunged over the +side into the raging waters. Then rising again, in a moment or two, to +the surface, like a perfect Hercules, he fought his way through the +billows, his strong arm and massive chest defying their power. On, on he +went, now riding on the top of a huge boiling mountain of water, now down +in the hollow, with the raging sea rising above him, so that it seemed he +must be swallowed and crushed in their embrace. + +Long the struggle continued, and the excitement on shore grew intense, +for no one thought it possible that he could reach the land alive. +But, after a terrible fight which would have exhausted anyone not endowed +with supernatural powers, his bravery was rewarded, and with one +tremendous leap he landed safely on the shore, well beyond the deadly +clutch of the waves. + +All the people of the country-side seemed now to have gathered to witness +the marvellous combat, men and women, on horse and on foot, wreckers, +fishermen, and what not,--and into the midst of them all rushed the +dripping stranger. Apparently not in the least exhausted, he snatched the +scarlet cloak off the shoulders of an old woman, and wrapping it about +himself, as suddenly sprang up behind a young woman, who was sitting on +her horse watching the wreck, and urging the animal on to a furious +gallop, rode off in the direction of the young woman's home. The people +shouted and screamed, for they thought the poor girl was being carried +off, no one knew where, by the Evil One himself; but the strange cries, +which they took to be the language of the Lower Regions, were only a +foreign tongue, and the horse made for its own stable by instinct. + +When Miss Dinah Hamlyn and her reeking steed dashed into the courtyard of +her own home, closely clasped by a tall wicked-looking man wrapped in a +scarlet cloak, the outcry was doubled. There was nothing to be done, +though, but to give the stranger a suit of Mr. Hamlyn's clothes, and some +food, and very comely he looked in the long coat, the handsome waistcoat, +knee-breeches, and buckled shoes. + +He accepted the clothes, and the food, and indeed all their attention, +as a matter of course, and having informed them that his name was +Coppinger, and that he was a Dane, he seemed to think he had done all that +was required of him, and settled down in the family circle as though he +were one of them, and as welcome as though he were an old family friend. + +Of the distressed vessel, and the rest of the shipwrecked crew, nothing +more was seen from the moment the big man left her. How or where she +disappeared no one knew, all eyes had been fixed on the struggling swimmer +from the moment he leapt into the sea; and when they had looked again the +ship had gone, and no trace or sign of her or her crew was ever found on +that coast, or on any other. + +At first Coppinger made himself most agreeable to the people he had +appeared amongst, he was pleasant and kind beyond anything you can +imagine. Miss Dinah Hamlyn thought him a very attractive man, indeed, +and not only forgave him for his first treatment of her, but thought it +something to be proud of. Old Mr. Hamlyn liked the man, too, and was as +kind to him as could be, giving him the best he had, and even at last +consenting to his marriage with Miss Dinah herself, though against his own +feelings. + +Coppinger had given out that he was a Dane of noble birth and great +wealth, who had run away to escape marrying a lady he disliked. +Old Farmer Hamlyn did not like his daughter to marry a 'furriner,' and he +considered that people should marry in their own stations; but Dinah +herself loved the man all the better for what he had told them, and +between them they soon overcame the father's scruples, and the wedding-day +was fixed. + +The wedding-day had to be postponed, though, for Farmer Hamlyn fell ill, +grew rapidly worse, and in a very short time was dead and buried. As soon +as this was over a great change came over things. Master Coppinger began +to show himself in his true character, and a very black character indeed +his was! So black and so bad that for generations his mere name was a +terror to the people who lived in that part of the world, and is detested +to this day. + +As soon as poor Farmer Hamlyn had passed away, Coppinger made himself +master and controller of the house and all in it, even to the smallest +domestic affairs. Dinah he persuaded to marry him at once, and hardly had +she done so, when all the evil in his character made itself known, and as +though to make up for having so long suppressed his wicked passions, +he utterly threw off all appearance of goodness or respectability, and +poor respectable Farmer Hamlyn's quiet, happy home became a den of thieves +and vagabonds, and a meeting-place for all the lawless characters in the +county. + +Then it very soon came out that the whole country-side was infested with a +body of smugglers, wreckers, poachers, robbers, and murderers, over all of +whom 'Cruel Coppinger,' as he came to be called by the honest people in +the neighbourhood, was captain and ringleader. + +He and his gang worked their own wicked will, and the poor inhabitants of +the place were completely in their power, for there were no magistrates, +or rich men of power in that part, and no revenue officer dared show +himself. The clergyman was scared into silence, and Coppinger and his +band ruled the country-side. + +Very soon a regular system of smuggling was carried on. All sorts of +strange vessels appeared on that part of the coast, and were guided by +signals to a safe creek or cove, where they were unloaded, and the +valuable, illegal spoil brought in and hidden in the huge caves, which no +one but Coppinger and his crew dared to enter, for it would have meant +torture and death. + +By and by one particular vessel, the 'Black Prince,' Coppinger's own, +which he had had built for him in Denmark, became a perfect terror to all +the other vessels in the parts she frequented. Coppinger and his crew +sailed the seas as though they belonged to them, robbing, murdering, +and doing every evil thing they could think of. + +If a vessel chased them, they led her into such dangerous parts of the +coast that her whole crew invariably perished, while the 'Black Prince' +glided out by some intricate passage, and got safely off. If one of the +poor landsmen offended any of the gang, away he was dragged to Coppinger's +vessel, and there made to serve until he was ransomed, and as the people +were almost reduced to beggary by the rogues, there was very little chance +of the poor fellow's ever being free again. + +Wealth poured into their clutches, and Coppinger soon began to have +enormous quantities of gold, which he spent lavishly. Amongst other +things he bought a farm, which bordered on the sea, but the lawyer to whom +he was to pay the money was taken aback at receiving it in coins from +pretty nearly every country in the world, doubloons, ducats, dollars, +pistoles! At first he refused to accept them, but a look from Coppinger, +and a threat, made him change his mind. He accepted the coins without +another word, and handed over the papers. + +Of course, when Coppinger realized his power, and saw how everyone +feared him, he grew more and more daring. He closed up bridle-paths, to +which he had no possible right, and made new ones, where he had no right +to make them, and forbade anyone but his own friends to use them after a +certain hour in the evening, and no one dared disobey him. Their roads +were called 'Coppinger's Tracks,' and all met at a headland called +'Steeple Brink,' a huge hollow cliff which ran three hundred feet sheer up +from the beach, while the vast, roomy cave beneath it ran right back into +the land. Folks said it was as large as Kilkhampton Church, and they were +not far wrong. + +This was called 'Coppinger's Cave,' and here took place such scenes of +wickedness and cruelty as no one can imagine in these days. Here all the +stores were kept, wines, spirits, animals, silks, gold, tea, and +everything of value that they could lay hands on. No one but the crew +ever dared to show themselves there, for it was more than their lives were +worth, the crew being bound by a terrible oath to help their captain in +any wickedness he might choose to perpetrate. So it came to pass that +all, whether of his band or not, gave in to him, and were ruled by him as +though they were slaves and he their lord. + +His own house, too, was full of misery and noisy, disgraceful scenes. +When John Hamlyn died, Coppinger had obtained possession somehow of +everything belonging to him, with the exception of a large sum of money +which went to the widow. Coppinger meant to have this money too, though, +so he began by getting small sums from his mother-in-law from time to +time, until she at last refused to give him any more, and even his threats +and coaxings failed to move her. + +Cruel Coppinger was not a man to be baulked in any way, so he soon hit +upon a plan. Taking his wife to her room, he tied her to the post of the +great bedstead, then calling in her mother he told her that he was going +to flog Dinah with the cat-o'-nine-tails which he held in his hand, until +she handed over to him the money he had asked her for. They knew quite +well that he would be as good as his word, and that refusal meant death by +torture to Dinah; so the poor mother was compelled to give in, and finding +that this plan answered his purpose so well, he repeated the performance +until he had had nearly every penny poor old Mrs. Hamlyn was possessed of. + +Amongst the numerous animals he owned, there was one favourite mare, +--a vicious, uncontrollable creature,--on which he used to scour the +country at a terrible pace, spreading terror wherever he went. He never +cared in the least how many people or animals he knocked over and trampled +to death; the more weak and helpless they were the more he seemed to love +to hurt them. + +One evening, after spending a few festive hours at a neighbour's house, +he was just on the point of departing when he happened to notice seated by +the hearth a poor little half-witted tailor, who always went by the name +of 'Uncle Tom.' + +Uncle Tom was a very quiet, extremely nervous little man, well-known and +pitied by all. He went from house to house all over the countryside, +doing a day's work at one house, and half a day's at another, and in most +houses he was given a meal in addition to his trifling pay, for everyone +liked him, he was always willing and obliging, and had never harmed anyone +in his life. + +"Hulloa, Uncle Tom!" cried Coppinger boisterously, going up and laying +a heavy hand on the thin, shaking shoulder of the little tailor. +"We are both bound for the same direction. Come along with me, I'll give +you a lift on my mare." + +The old man shrank away nervously, mumbling all sorts of excuses, for he +above all people lived in deadly terror of Cruel Coppinger, also of his +vicious mare, and the idea of being at the mercy of them both nearly +scared away what few wits he had. + +The sight of his terror, though, only made Coppinger more determined to +frighten him. He loved to torment so helpless a victim, and the other +people present, partly from love of mischief, but chiefly to please +Coppinger, egged the tormentor on. + +In spite of his struggles and entreaties they hoisted the poor little +tailor on to the back of the prancing, restive beast, and held him there +while Coppinger sprang up. + +No sooner were they both mounted than up reared the mare, danced round on +her hind legs a time or two, and then sprang away along the road at a rate +which it made one gasp to witness. Tom clung in sheer terror to his big +tormentor, afraid of falling off, yet afraid to stay on. Coppinger, +guessing perhaps that the little man in his terror might spring off, undid +his belt, and passed it round the little tailor's body, buckling it +securely around them both. Then, having fastened his victim to him, +beyond all hope of escape, he urged the mare on to a more furious pace +than ever. They tore through the air at lightning speed. Tom shrieked +and prayed to be put down,--to be told whither he was to be taken,--what +Coppinger meant to do with him; and pleaded to be killed at once, +rather than tortured. They dashed on past his own little cottage, and his +wife at the door, catching sight of the pair, nearly fainted to see her +poor husband in the grasp of the tyrant. On they went and on, without sign +of stopping. They leapt ditches and hedges, animals, waggons, people, +anything that came in their way, until, coming at last to a steep hill, +they slackened their pace a little, and Coppinger condescended to speak. + +"I promised the Devil I would bring him a tailor," he said, "for his +clothes sadly need mending, and I am going to carry you to him to-night. +It will not be very hard work, and he won't harm you as long as you do +what he bids you." + +So terrified was poor little Uncle Tom on hearing this awful fate, that he +had a fit then and there from fright, and the violence of his struggles +was such that the belt gave way, and he was flung from the racing mare, +right into the ditch by the roadside. + +There he lay all night, and there he was found in the morning, not only +battered and bruised and half frozen, but with his poor weak mind quite +gone. + +"He would never sew for the Devil," he kept repeating over and over and +over again, "he would never sew for the Devil, nor for Coppinger either. +He believed Coppinger was the Devil, and he might do his work himself, +Uncle Tom would never work for such as he!" + +Never again did poor Uncle Tom get back his reason, or do another stroke +of work to support himself and his wife,--but Coppinger had had his joke, +and thought it a very fine one. + +Countless were the cruel pranks he played on the poor, the helpless, +and defenceless, until at last people became afraid to go outside their +houses, and were afraid to stay in them, for every day brought some new +wickedness done by him, and every fresh one was worse than the last. + +Coppinger had one child, a boy; he was deaf and dumb, and as uncanny a +child as his father was a man. He was a beautiful boy to look at, with +soft fair skin and golden hair, but he had his father's cruel eyes, and +his father's cruel nature. From his babyhood his mischievousness and +wickedness knew no bounds; any bird, or animal, or even child that came +within his reach he would torment almost to death, and the more his victim +writhed and screamed, the greater was his delight. + +When he was but six he was found one day on the headland, dancing in +frantic joy, and pointing with gestures of delight to the beach below. +Hurrying down they found the mangled and bleeding corpse of a little +child, his companion, whom he had enticed to the edge of the cliff, and, +by an unexpected push, sent headlong on to the rocks beneath. From that +day he was always to be found on the tragic spot, and when a stranger +passed he would make unearthly sounds of delight, and pointing down to the +beach, dance and throw himself about in ecstasy. + +All this time Coppinger and his gang grew more and more reckless and +daring, until they were the scourge of the country-side. To what lengths +they might have gone, no earthly powers can tell, but money became scarce, +and times grew bad for them. Armed King's cutters came, not singly, +but in great numbers, and tidings of danger were brought to Cruel +Coppinger by strangely dressed foreigners. + +And so, at last, things came to a climax, and deliverance was at hand for +the poor suffering people. + +Just such another time as preceded Coppinger's arrival, burst again on +that coast; the rain and hail came down in sheets, the gale blew furiously +all day. At sunset a vessel appeared off the coast--full-rigged. + +Presently a rocket went up from the Gull Rock,--a little rock island with +a creek on the landside, a spot where many smugglings had taken place. +A gun answered from the ship, again both signals were sent up. Then, on +the topmost peak of the rock, appeared the huge form of Coppinger. +He waved his sword, and a boat immediately put off from the ship, with two +men at each oar, for the tide is terribly strong just there. They neared +the rock, rode boldly through the surf, and were steered into the Gull +Creek by someone who evidently knew the coast well. + +Then Coppinger, who was standing impatiently awaiting them, leapt on board +and took the command. + +Their efforts to get back to the vessel were enormous. Like giants they +laboured at their oars to force a path through the boiling, seething +waters. Once, as they drew off-shore, one of the rowers, either from loss +of strength or of courage, relaxed his hold for a moment; in an instant a +cutlass waved above his head, and one swift cruel stroke cut him down. +It was the last brutal deed that Cruel Coppinger was ever seen to do. + +He and his men reached the ship and got on board. What happened +afterwards no one knows, for at the same moment she disappeared like some +ghostly, phantom ship, nobody knows where or how. + +Then, in even more fearful violence than before, the storm raged and beat +on that coast. Hail, thunder, lightning, hurricanes of wind blinded, +deafened, or killed all who were exposed to it. + +Round Coppinger's home it expended the very utmost of its fury; +trees were torn up by the roots, the thatch was blown off the outhouses, +chimneys fell, windows were blown in, and, as Dinah, terrified by the +uproar and destruction racing round her, stood holding her uncanny child +in her arms, through the roof and ceiling came crashing a monstrous +thunderbolt, surrounded by flames, and fell hissing at the very foot of +Cruel Coppinger's chair. + + + +MADGE FIGGY, THE WRECKER. + + +Those of you who know Land's End, and that part of it called +Tol-pedn-penwith, cannot fail to have been struck by a huge cliff there, +in shape like a ladder, or flight of steps, formed of massive blocks of +granite, piled one upon another, and on the top of which there is perched +what looks like, and is, a monstrous granite chair. + +'Madge Figgy's Chair' is its name, for in it Madge Figgy, who was a +wrecker by trade, used to sit and call up the storms, and here, while the +rough, cruel Atlantic boiled and lashed in impotent fury over the face of +the ladder, Madge sat cool and unconcerned, keeping a sharp look out for +any vessels coming in on that terrible coast. + +As well as being a wrecker, Madge Figgy was one of the most cruel and +wicked witches in the county; and hour after hour she would sit in her +chair plotting mischief, or hurling curses at any unfortunate person or +thing who had happened to offend her. The poor country-folk were afraid +of their very lives of her, and whatever wicked things she told them to +do, they had to do them, for they knew her power and lived in terror of +offending her. + +Amongst the witches she was the leader in all their frolics and revels and +wickedness. Getting astride her broomstick she would fly right away +across the sea to some foreign land, a band of her friends and cronies +after her, and right well did they enjoy themselves,--which was more than +anyone else did who came across them while on their wicked revels. + +Madge Figgy's home was in a little cottage in a cove not far from her +ladder and chair, and this cove was a nest of a gang of the worst wreckers +in Cornwall, gathered together by old Madge to help her in her cruel work. +No one can count how many noble vessels they lured on to the rocks of that +dangerous coast, how many bodies they stripped and cast back into the sea +again; while as for the treasure they had divided amongst themselves!-- +they had quite enough to live on for the rest of their lives, even if they +never did another stroke of mischief. That, though, was not what they +cared about. They loved wrecking and robbing, and all their evil ways, +and would have been quite miserable if they had had to live quiet, +respectable stay-at-home lives. + +Where all were so wicked there were none to shame them into being any +better, and they flaunted their stolen riches as shamelessly as though +they had come by everything honestly. It was quite a common sight to see +the great, clumsy country-women and girls going about their work dressed +in costly silks and velvets, all of the richest character and most +beautiful colouring, digging and ploughing, cooking and scrubbing with +valuable jewellery on their great arms and their coarse red hands, +sparkling gems in their ears, and very likely a tiara that would have made +a queen envious, fastened round their untidy, unbrushed hair. + +Of all the crew, though, Madge and her husband were the very worst. +Most of them did abide by the old saying, 'Honour amongst wreckers,' but +not those two. If they could cheat or trick even their friends they would +do so; and did, too, very often. + +One particularly stormy day, Madge Figgy sat in her great chair in high +glee. A tempest such as was seldom known, even on that coast, was raging +round her, and close on to the rocks below her was drifting a Portuguese +Indiaman which she had lured in to be dashed to fragments on the terrible +rocks by the boiling, maddened breakers which towered up like mountains, +then broke and fell with all their force on the helpless vessel. + +Madge Figgy kicked her heels and clapped her hands with joy as she +watched, for the huge vessel laden with valuables of the costliest kind +was a prize such as they did not often get, and Madge in her mind was +already reckoning up her gains. Far better for the Indiaman had she +dropped her treasure overboard and sent it to the bottom of the sea, where +she would be ere long; for Madge could tell at any distance what a ship's +cargo was worth, and if it was a small one she let the vessel sail on in +peace. + +Up aloft was the old witch dancing and singing, and down below struggled +the perishing crew, captain, sailors, passengers, men, women and children, +shrieking aloud for help, but seeing never a living creature coming to +give them a hand. Their cries might have melted hearts of iron, but not +the hearts of those who were hiding behind the rocks watching with greedy +interest for the moment when they might go down and seize their prey. +One by one the cries ceased as the sea swallowed up the poor struggling +creatures, then presently the vessel broke up, and in on the waves came +floating cases, casks, chests, broken spars, mingled with the dead bodies +of men and women and little babies. + +As fast as they appeared they were seized on, and quickly stripped of +everything that was of value, the ladies were robbed of their jewels and +dresses, and even of their long hair, and even the babies were robbed of +the necklaces which still hung around their chubby necks. + +When the bodies were stripped they were not thrown into the sea again, +but were carried away and buried in a great green hollow near Perloe Cove, +with a stone at the head of each to mark the spot. Though the graves +cannot be distinguished now, the hollow may yet be seen. + +For weeks after the wreck of the Portuguese Indiaman, the wreckers were +continually finding gold and jewels washed in to the sand, and now and +again more bodies were washed ashore, all richly dressed. Oh, it was a +fine haul the wreckers had after that black storm, but one very curious +thing happened such as had never happened before. + +Amongst the bodies washed in was that of a beautiful lady, dressed in the +richest of robes, and wearing more magnificent jewellery than any of the +other poor creatures. In addition to her jewellery, too, she had, +fastened about her, a very large amount of money and treasure, as though, +poor lady, she had thought that she could not only save herself, but a +great deal else as well. + +When Madge Figgy, who had claimed this body, had finished stripping it, +she stood gazing at it very attentively for a long time. She appeared to +be troubled about something, almost frightened, in fact, and turning to +the rest of the gang she forbade them to divide any of the spoil, or even +to touch a single thing. + +There was a fine row at that, of course, for they had all been counting on +a rich share, and they vowed they would have it, too! They quarrelled, +and fought, and a good deal of blood was spilt, but Madge took care of +herself and got the better of them all, too, for it would have taken more +than a gang of wreckers to outwit that wicked old woman. + +She declared that there was a mark on the body which she understood, +though no one else could, and that if they divided any of the things +belonging to it, ill-luck would befall them all, and no one knew where it +would end. + +"Trust a witch to know a witch!" she cried. She got her way, as she +generally did, for they were all afraid of her, and everything belonging +to the poor lady was put into a chest which stood in Madge's kitchen, +while the body was carried to the hollow and buried with the others. + +The very night, though, after they had laid her in her grave, a very +curious thing happened. Out from the grave there came, as soon as +darkness fell, a little blue light. For a moment it flickered and gleamed +on the newly made mound, then glided swiftly away up over the cliffs until +it reached Madge Figgy's great granite chair. Up into the chair it +glided, and there it stayed for a long time, a weird, mysterious gleam, +looking most uncanny in the darkness. Then out of the chair it glided and +made its way to Madge Figgy's cottage, where it floated across the +threshold and straight to the chest where the dead lady's belongings lay. + +All the wreckers were watching it, and all, except old Madge, were very +nearly terrified out of their senses. They felt sure that at last their +wickedness was to meet with its punishment, that the Evil One had come to +carry them away, and their hours on earth were numbered. + +Madge Figgy tried hard to laugh away their fears and cheer them up. +She wanted no 'chicken-hearts' about her, men who would refuse to take +part in her wicked work, or even carry tales where she did not want them +carried. + +"Get along, you great stupids, you!" cried Madge, trying to put some +spirit into them, "it will all come right in time. I know all about it!" + +It took a long time, though, and the people began to lose faith in Madge's +cleverness; for three long months the little blue flame crept out of the +dead lady's grave at nightfall, glided to Madge Figgy's chair, and then to +the chest in the cottage, and nothing could stop it. + +At the end of three months, when the people of the Cove were feeling they +could not bear this thing any longer, there came to Madge's cottage one +day a curiously dressed stranger. From his appearance all who saw him +concluded that he was a foreigner, but from what part of the world he came +no one could tell, for never a word escaped his lips. + +Madge Figgy's old husband, who was home alone when the stranger arrived, +was very nearly scared to death. Firstly because the sight of a stranger +always frightened any of that wicked crew, and secondly because of the +man's signs and curious gesticulations. Old Figgy thought that he was a +madman, sure enough. + +After some time, though, and a good many signs and misunderstandings, +the old man gathered that the stranger wished to see the graves of the +poor souls who went down in the wreck of the Portuguese Indiaman. +Old Figgy put on his cap readily enough to show him the way, only too +thankful to get him out of the house; but as soon as ever they had started +on the right road, the stranger did not need any further guidance, +he walked on by himself straight to the hollow, and making his way direct +to the grave of the Portuguese lady he threw himself on it passionately, +and broke into the most violent outburst of grief imaginable. + +For some time old Figgy stood watching him in astonishment, until the +foreigner, looking up, caught sight of him, and signed to him to go away; +then returning to the grave, again, he threw himself on it once more and +stayed there weeping and moaning until nightfall. + +When darkness crept on up rose the little blue flame from the grave as +before, but, instead of going to Madge Figgy's chair it made its way to +the cottage, and gliding on to the chest, gleamed there with twice its +usual brilliancy. + +The foreigner, who had followed the flame closely, went, without let +or hindrance from the old witch or anyone, straight to the chest, +and clearing away with one sweep all the rubbish and lumber which were +piled on it, opened it as if he had known it all his life, picked out +everything in it that had belonged to the lady, then, without touching +anything else that the chest contained, closed it again, and, after giving +liberal gifts to every wrecker in the place, departed as mysteriously as +he had come. + +Anything of his history, or whence he came, was never discovered, but from +the moment he left Madge Figgy's cottage neither he nor the little blue +flame was ever seen again by any of them. + + + +HOW MADGE FIGGY GOT HER PIG. + + +Madge Figgy, as you already know, spent most of her life in injuring +someone. After she had left her cottage by the sea, where she spent so +much of her time in robbing the dead, she went to live in St. Buryan, +and there she spent her time in robbing the living, and doing any other +mischief that came into her head to do. + +One of her victims here was her near neighbour, Tom Trenoweth, +a hard-working, struggling man who spent all his days trying to make both +ends meet, and mostly failing, poor fellow. Now Tom had a sow, a fine +great creature, on which he set great store, for when she was fattened up +enough he meant to take her to Penzance Market, where he hoped to sell her +for at least twenty shillings, for she was worth that and more of any +man's money. + +As ill-luck would have it, though, Madge Figgy caught sight of the sow one +day, and from that moment she could not rest until she had got it for +herself. + +Over she bustled to Tom's house in a great hurry. "Tom," she said, +"I've taken a fancy to that sow of yours, and I'll give 'ee five shillings +for her, now this very minute, if you'll sell her. Four would be a good +price, but I've set my mind on having her, and I don't mind stretching a +point for a friend." + +"I ain't going to sell her now," said Tom, "I'm fattening her up for +market, and it's a long sight more than five shillings I'm thinking I'll +get for her. So keep your money, Madge, you may want it yet," he added +meaningly. + +"Very well," replied the witch, shaking her finger at Tom, and wagging her +head; "I won't press 'ee to sell the pig, but mark my words, before very +long you will wish you had!" and away she went without another word. + +Poor Tom! He did mark her words, and many a time he remembered them with +sorrow, for from the moment they were uttered his sow began to fail. +She ate and drank as much as ever he chose to give her, and seemed to +enjoy her food, too, but instead of growing fatter she grew leaner and +leaner, and from being a fine great beast, nearly fit for a Christmas +market, she became a poor, spare-looking thing that no one would say +'thank you' for. + +"Are you willing to sell her now, Tom?" cried cruel old Madge, popping her +head round the door of the pig-sty one day, when Tom was feeding the +animal. + +"No, and I wouldn't sell her to you for her weight in gold," cried Tom, +too desperate now to care whether he offended the woman or not. +"So get home to your own house, you ill-wishing cross-grained old witch!" + +Madge Figgy only smiled. "Don't lose your temper, Tom, my dear," she said +sweetly, "'tis for me to do that. Just wait a bit, and I'll be bound that +before another week is out you'll be glad to get rid of her, even to me!" +and away trotted the mischievous old creature, cackling to herself, and +rubbing her hands with glee. + +"I'll fatten the pig up somehow," cried Tom desperately, and he began +giving her more than double her usual quantity of food at each meal. +He gave her enough, indeed, to fatten two pigs, and nearly ruined himself +to do it; but the more she ate the thinner she grew, and before the week +was out she was merely skin and bone. "I can't afford to spend no more on +'ee," said Tom sorrowfully, and he made up his mind to take her to market +the very next day before she got any worse. + +So, early the following morning they started off to walk to the market. +Tom tied a string around the sow's leg to prevent her running away, but +there was little enough fear of her doing that, for the poor thing could +scarcely stand for weakness. In fact, she kept on falling down from sheer +inability to support herself, and Tom had to pick her up and put her on +her feet again, for she had not got the strength to get up by herself. + +After a long time, for they only went at a snail's pace, they came to the +high road. "I believe I'll have to take and carry her on my back," said +Tom dolefully, "or we shan't get to market till night." But hardly had he +spoken the words when the sow took to her heels, and ran as if she had +been a stag with the hounds after her! + +Poor Tom was nearly shaken to bits, and his arms were pretty nearly +dragged from his body, for over hedges and ditches she went, and over +everything else that came in her way, dragging Tom after her, until at +last he had to drop the rope and let her take her chance, for his strength +was all gone, and he had no breath left. + +As soon, though, as Tom let go his hold of the rope, the creature stopped +her mad race, and walked along as quietly and soberly as the best-behaved +pig that ever breathed. She went, though, every way but the right one, +and this she did for mile upon mile, taking Tom after her, until at last +they came to Tregenebris Downs. + +Here, where the two roads branch off, the one to Sancreed and the other to +Penzance, Tom caught hold of the rope again, and tried once more to lead +her to market, but the moment she came to the cross-roads, the sow started +off at full speed again, jerking the rope out of Tom's hand, and careering +away by herself until she got under Tregenebris Bridge. Here, though, she +was forced to stop, for she stuck fast, and could not move backwards or +forwards, for Tregenebris Bridge was a queer, old-fashioned construction, +more like a big drain-pipe than anything, except that it was smaller in +the middle than at the ends. Consequently, as she could not go through it +and come out the other side, and she would not come back, she had to stay +where she was. + +Tom did not know what to do. He could not reach her to pull her out, and +all his holloaing and shouting was so much waste of breath. He pelted her +with stones and lumps of turf, first her head and then her tail, until he +was tired, but he might just as well have left her, for all the good it +did. She only grunted, and planted her feet more obstinately. + +At last Tom, being quite worn out, sat down to rest, and waited to see +what she would do if left to herself, but though he waited and waited till +evening, the pig never budged. Tom, though, grew so hungry that he hardly +knew how to bear with himself. He had had nothing to eat or drink since +five in the morning, and he had tramped miles upon miles since that time. + +"There don't seem much chance of the contrairy old thing's coming out, so +I may as well go home to get some supper," he said at last. "If anybody +finds her they'll know she's mine, for there isn't such another poor +miserable creature in the parish. So here goes." But no sooner had he +made a start than whom should he see coming towards him but Madge Figgy. + +Madge was smiling to herself as she walked along, as though she were very +well pleased about something. "Hulloa, Tom Trenoweth!" she cried, +pretending to be surprised. "What are you doing here?" + +"Well," said Tom, "that's more than I can tell you, but I ain't here for +my own pleasure, I can assure you of that, and if you want to know more +you can look under the bridge and find out for yourself." + +"What's that grunting in there? Surely never your old sow! Well, she +can't have fattened much if she's got in there! Are you in the mind to +part with her now, Tom? What will you let me have her for now?" + +"If you've got a bit of something to eat in your basket, for pity's sake +let me have it, for I'm famished; and if you can get the old thing out of +that there pipe you're welcome to her for your trouble," said Tom +sullenly, for he felt small at giving in to his enemy after all. + +"I've got a beautiful new kettle loaf in my basket, Tom; take it and +welcome, do." + +Tom seized the loaf and began to eat ravenously. "Thank 'ee," said he, +pretending to smile. "I think I've got the best of that bargain, +for anyway I've got a good loaf, and it'll take more than you to get out +my old pig!" + +"Ha, ha!" laughed Madge Figgy, "I'm glad you are pleased, Tom, ha, ha! +refused five shillings, and took a twopenny loaf! I'm pleased with my +share of the bargain, and I'm glad you are." Then turning towards the pig +she called softly, "Chug! chug! chug! Come on, chug! chug! chug!" + +Out walked the old sow at once, and going up to the witch, she trotted +away down the road after her as tamely as a dog. + + + +THE STORY OF SIR TRISTRAM AND LA BELLE ISEULT. + + +Long, long ago, when Arthur was King of England, and King Mark was King of +Cornwall,--for there were many petty kings, who held their lands under +King Arthur,--there was born in Lyonesse a little boy, a king's son. + +Instead, though, of there being great joy and rejoicing at the birth of +the little heir, sorrow reigned throughout Lyonesse, for his father, King +Melodias, had been stolen away by enchantment, no one knew where. +Nor could anyone tell how to release him, and the heartbroken queen was +dying of grief, for she loved her husband very dearly. + +When she saw her little son her tears fell fast on his baby face. +"Call him Tristram," she said, "for he was born in sorrow," and as she +spoke she fell back dead. + +Little Tristram wailed right lustily, as though he fully realized his +orphan state, and wept with pity for his own sad fate; and good cause he +had to wail, too, poor little man, had he but known it, for already the +greedy barons had cast their eyes on his land, longing to possess it and +rule it. With only a baby boy standing between them and it, their way was +easy enough. His death could easily be accomplished. + +Fortunately, though, for him, and everyone else in the land, King Melodias +was just then released from enchantment by Merlin the wizard, and came +hurrying joyfully to his home, to embrace his beloved wife. Great was his +grief when he found that she was dead, great was the moan he made in his +sorrow. With great pomp and splendour he buried her, and for seven years +lived a lonely life, mourning her. + +At the end of that time he married again, but the stepmother hated little +Tristram, the heir, and longed to destroy him, that her own child might be +king. So one day she placed some poison in a cup for him to drink, but +her own child, being thirsty, drank the poison and died. + +The queen, broken-hearted at the loss of her boy, and horror-stricken at +what she had done, hated her stepson more than ever after this, and once +again she tried to kill him in the same manner. This time, though, +King Melodias, spying the tempting-looking drink, took it up and was about +to drink it, when the queen, seeing what he was about to do, rushed in and +snatched it from him. Then he discovered her guilt, and his anger knew no +bounds. + +"Thou traitress!" he cried, "confess what manner of drink this is, or here +and now I will run this sword through thy heart!" + +So she confessed, and was tried before the barons, and by their judgment +was given over to be burnt to death. The faggots were prepared, the queen +was bound to the stake, and they were beginning to light the fire when +little Tristram, flinging himself on his knees, besought his father with +such entreaties to pardon her, that the king could not refuse. So the +queen was released, and in time the king forgave her. + +But, though he forgave her, he could never trust her again, and to protect +little Tristram from her, he was sent to France, where he continued for +some time, learning to joust and hunt, and do all things that were right +and brave and noble; and seven years passed before he returned to his home +in Lyonesse. + +Lyonesse was the furthest point of Cornwall; it joined what we now call +'Land's End,' and stretched out through the sea until it reached the +Scilly Islands, a wild, rugged, beautiful spot, washed on either side by +the glorious Atlantic sea. One day, though, that glorious Atlantic rose +like a mountain above Lyonesse, and where in the morning had been a +beautiful city with churches and houses, and fertile lands, in the evening +there was only a raging, boiling sea, bearing on its bosom fragments of +the lost world it had devoured. This, though, was long after the time of +which I am writing now. + +For two years after his return from France, Tristram lived in Lyonesse, +and then it happened that King Anguish of Ireland sent to King Mark of +Cornwall to demand seven years' truage that was due to him. But when the +demand reached King Mark, he and his knights absolutely refused to pay the +money, and sent the messenger back, with none too polite a message, to say +so. If he wanted the debt settled, they said, he could send the noblest +knight of his court to fight for it, otherwise the king might whistle for +his money. + +King Anguish was furiously enraged when this message reached him, and +calling to him at once Sir Marhaus, his biggest and trustiest knight, sent +him without delay to Cornwall to fight this battle. + +So Sir Marhaus set sail, and King Mark was troubled when he heard who was +coming against him, for he knew well he had no knight to match him. + +At last Sir Marhaus arrived, but he did not land at once; for seven days +he abode in his ship, and each day he sent to King Mark a stern demand for +the money. + +The king had no intention of paying the money, but he sorely wanted a +knight to fight for him. One worthy by birth and skill to meet this great +champion; and in great ado he sent all over the country in search of such +a one. At last, when none was to be found at home, someone counselled the +king to send to King Arthur at Camelot for one of the Knights of the Round +Table; but that could not be, for Sir Marhaus himself was a Round Table +knight, and they, of course, never fought each other, unless it was in +private quarrel. + +When at last the news of all this reached young Tristram's ears, he felt +very greatly mortified that there could not be found in Cornwall a knight +to fight for their rights, and his heart burned within him to go and save +the honour of the West Country. He went to his father, King Melodias. +"It seems to me," he cried impetuously, "a shame to us all, that Sir +Marhaus, who is brother to the Queen of Ireland, should go back and say we +Cornishmen have no one worthy to fight him." + +"Alas," answered the king, "know ye not that Sir Marhaus is one of the +noblest of Arthur's knights, the best knights of the world? Beyond those +of the Table Round I know none fit to match him." + +"Then," cried Tristram, "I would I were a knight, for if Sir Marhaus +departs to Ireland unscathed, I will never more hold up my head for very +shame. Sir, give me leave to go to my uncle, King Mark, that I may by him +be made a knight." + +King Melodias could deny his son nothing, so, "Do as your courage bids +you," he said, and Tristram, filled with joy, rode away at once to his +uncle's court, and as soon as he arrived there he heard nothing but great +dole made that no one could be found to fight the Irish knight. + +"Who are you?" asked the king, when Tristram presented himself before him, +"and whence come you?" he added, looking admiringly at the handsome +stranger. + +"Sir, I am Tristram of Lyonesse; I come from King Melodias, whose son I +am; my mother was your sister." + +Then King Mark rejoiced greatly, for he saw in this stalwart nephew a +champion for Cornwall, and, having knighted him, he sent word to Sir +Marhaus to say he had found a champion to do battle with him. + +"I shall fight with none but of the blood-royal," Sir Marhaus sent back +word; "your champion must be either a king's son or a queen's." + +Whereupon King Mark sent word to say that his champion was better born +than ever Sir Marhaus was, and that his name was Tristram of Lyonesse, +whose father was a king, and his mother a queen, and a king's sister. + +So it was arranged that the fight should take place on an island near, and +thither Sir Tristram went in a ship with his horse, and his man +Gouvernail, and all that he could need. And so noble he looked, and so +brave, and of so good heart, that not one who saw him depart could refrain +from weeping, for they never thought to see him return alive. + +So, on the island those two noble knights met, and Sir Marhaus was sad to +see one so young and well-favoured come against him. "I sore repent," +said he, "of your courage, for hear me that against all the noblest and +trustiest knights of the world have I been matched and never yet been +beaten. So take my counsel, and return again to your ship while you are +able." + +"Sir," said Sir Tristram, throwing up his head proudly, "I have been made +a knight that I might come against you, and I have sworn never to leave +you until you are conquered or I am dead, for I will fight to the death to +rescue Cornwall from the old truage." + +So they lowered their spears, and without more ado the fight began, and +such a fight as that was never seen or known before in Cornwall. At the +very first charge they met with such force that Sir Marhaus's spear +wounded Sir Tristram in the side, and horses and riders were sent rolling +on the ground; but soon they were on their feet again, and freeing +themselves of their horses and spears, they pulled out their shields and +fought with swords. With their swords they slashed and smote each other +until the blood poured from them in streams, and so courageous were they, +and determined not to give in, that they fought on and on until it seemed +as though that struggle would last for ever. They hurled at each other +with such fury that the blood ran down them in streams, dyeing the ground +all round, yet neither prevailed in the least degree. + +By and by, though, Sir Tristram, being the younger and the better-winded, +proved the fresher, and drawing up all his strength for one last effort, +he smote Sir Marhaus on the helm with such force that Sir Marhaus fell on +his knees, and the sword cleaving through helmet and skull stuck so fast in +the bone that Sir Tristram had to pull three times at it with all his +might before he could get it free, and when it did come, a piece of the +edge of the sword was left behind in the skull. + +Overcome with pain and shame at his defeat, Sir Marhaus with a mighty +effort raised himself to his feet, and without speaking one word, flung +from him his sword and his shield, and staggered away to his ship. + +"Ah!" mocked Sir Tristram, "why do you, a knight of the Table Round, flee +from a knight so young and untried as I?" But Sir Marhaus made as though +he did not hear the taunts, but hurrying on board his ship, set sail with +all possible speed. + +"Well, Sir Knight," laughed Tristram, "I thank you for your sword and +shield; I will keep them wherever I go, and the shield I will carry to the +day of my death." So Sir Marhaus returned to Ireland, and there, in spite +of all that physicians could do, he soon died of his disgrace and his +wounds; and after he was dead, the piece of sword-blade, which could not +be extracted before, was found embedded in his brainpan. + +When the queen, his sister, saw the piece of sword-blade which was taken +from her brother's skull, she asked that she might have it; and putting it +away in a secret spot she vowed a solemn vow that when she had found out +who had done this thing, she would never rest until she had had revenge. + +But about that time Sir Tristram, who had been severely wounded himself, +was also lying at the point of death, neither knowing nor caring to know +of the blessings and praises showered upon him; and great was the grief +that filled the hearts of all the leeches and surgeons for whom King Mark +had sent, for not one was of any avail, and the gallant young knight who +had saved the honour of Cornwall was more than like to die. + +At last, when hope was well-nigh dead, there came a lady to the court who +told King Mark that his nephew would never recover from his wounds unless +he went to the land whence the poisoned spear came, for there only could +he be healed. + +So, with all speed was a vessel prepared, and on board it Sir Tristram was +carried, and with his man Gouvernail, his dogs, his horses, and his harp, +he sailed until he came to Ireland. Here they all landed, and Sir +Tristram was borne carefully on shore, to a castle prepared for him, where +he was laid on a bed, and there on his bed he lay day after day, playing +on his harp so exquisitely that all the people crowded to listen to him, +for such music had never been heard in that country before. + +By and by the news of the presence of this wonderful player was carried to +the king and queen, who were dwelling not very far away: and the king and +queen sent for him to come to them; but when they found that he was a +wounded knight, they had him brought to the castle, and there his wound +was dressed and every care taken of him, for now they all grew to have a +great admiration and liking for him. But who he was, or where he came +from, they had no idea, for he had not told anyone his real name, or the +story of the joust in which he got his wound. + +Now in all that land there was no better surgeon than the king's own +daughter, the lady Iseult,--who, because of her loveliness, was known as +La Belle Iseult.--So presently the king, who came to feel a greater and +greater liking for Sir Tristram, and was anxious to see him well again, +gave him over to the charge of his daughter, in whose skill he had great +faith; for none other seemed able to heal him. + +So La Belle Iseult nursed him, and attended to his wound, and soon, at the +bottom of it, she found the poison, which she removed, and quickly healed +him. Before this end was reached, though, Sir Tristram had grown to love +his beautiful nurse, and she her patient; for La Belle Iseult with her +flower-like face and large grey eyes, her broad, low brow, round which her +gleaming golden hair waved softly, and fell in heavy waves to her knees, +was wondrously lovable. And Sir Tristram was more than passing noble, +and his manners were gentle and courteous. When he grew stronger he +taught Iseult to play the harp, and they sang songs together, so that they +saw much of one another. + +Someone else loved Iseult also, and this was Sir Palamides the Saracen, +and many fair gifts he brought the lady to win her love. But ladies are +not to be won thus, and Iseult did not love the Saracen knight. +Indeed, she besought Sir Tristram to joust with him and conquer him, that +she might be rid of him, both of which Sir Tristram did, though Sir +Palamides had put to the worse many brave knights before, and most men +were afraid of him. Sir Tristram, whom Iseult had arrayed in white +harness, rode against him on a white horse and threw him, and Sir +Palamides was sore ashamed and would have crept secretly from the field, +and from the crowds of knights and ladies watching the jousts, had not Sir +Tristram gone after him and bid him return and finish the joust. +So Palamides returned and fought again, but once more Sir Tristram +overthrew him, and this time wounded him so sore that he was at his mercy. + +"Now," said Sir Tristram, "swear to me that you will do as I command, or I +will slay you outright." Sir Palamides seeing his stern face, and +remembering his strength, promised. "Then," said Sir Tristram, +"promise never more to come near the lady La Belle Iseult, also that for a +twelvemonth and a day you will bear no armour, nor wear any harness of +war." + +"Alas," cried Sir Palamides, "I shall be for ever ashamed and disgraced," +but he had to promise, and in fierce vexation he cut to pieces the harness +he then wore, and threw the pieces from him. No one but La Belle Iseult +knew who the knight was who had jousted with the Saracen, until some time +after; and when it was known, Sir Tristram was loved more than ever by the +king and queen, as he was already by their daughter. + +So month after month Sir Tristram lingered on in Ireland, and did many a +noble deed during that time, and there he might have gone on living to the +end of the chapter, if it had not been for a sore mischance which befell +thus. + +One day, while Sir Tristram was absent, the queen and the lady Iseult were +wandering up and down his room, when the queen suddenly espied Sir +Tristram's sword lying on a couch, and seeing it to be of fine workmanship +and delicately wrought, she lifted it the better to examine it, and she +and Iseult stood admiring it together. Then presently the queen drew the +sword slowly from out its scabbard, and there, within an inch and a half +of the point, she espied the broken edge of the blade. + +Thrusting the weapon into Iseult's hands she ran to her chamber, where she +had, safely locked away, the piece of steel which had been taken from her +brother's skull; and bringing it back fitted it to the broken blade +exactly. + +At that her anger knew no bounds, nor her mortification that they should +have treated so well, and grown to love, the slayer of her brother. +Sir Tristram happening to return at that moment, her anger so overmastered +her that, seizing the sword, she rushed on him and would have slain him +there and then, had not Gouvernail caught her and wrested the weapon from +her. + +Being frustrated she ran in a frenzy of hate to her husband. "My lord," +she cried, "we have here, in our very home, the destroyer and slayer of my +brother, your most noble and trusty knight." + +"Who is he?" cried King Anguish, springing to his feet, "and where?" + +"Sir, it is this same knight whom your daughter has healed, and whom we +have loved and treated well. I beseech you have no mercy on him, for he +deserves none." + +"Alas, alas," cried the king, "I am right sorry, for he is as noble a +knight as ever I saw. Do him no violence. Leave him to me, and I will +deal with him according to my best judgment." + +So the king, who loved Sir Tristram, and could not bring himself to have +him slain, went to Tristram's chamber, and there he saw him dressed, and +ready to mount his horse. Then and there the king told him all that he +had learnt, and said, "I love you too well to do you harm, therefore I +give you leave to quit this court on one condition, that you tell me your +real name, and if you really slew my brother-in-law, Sir Marhaus." + +So Tristram told him all his story, and then took leave of the king and +all the court; and great was the grief at his departure, but by far the +saddest leave-taking was that between him and La Belle Iseult, for they +loved each other very dearly. And when they parted Sir Tristram swore to +be ever her true and faithful knight, and she, that for seven years she +would marry no one else, unless by his consent or desire. Then each gave +the other a ring, and with a last long kiss they parted. + +So Sir Tristram returned at last to Cornwall, and there stayed with his +uncle Mark, at Tintagel, and great were the rejoicings that he had +returned recovered of his wound, and stronger and more noble-looking than +ever. + +When, though, he had been back a little time, a great quarrel arose +between King Mark and his nephew, and their feelings grew very hot and +angry towards one another. It was about a beautiful lady that they +quarrelled, a lady whom King Mark loved more than passing well. +He thought that Sir Tristram loved her too, and she him, and he was so +jealous of Sir Tristram that one day he and his knights, disguised, rode +after him to see if he had gone to meet her. And as Tristram came riding +back King Mark bore down on him, and they fought until the king was so +wounded that he lay on the ground as though dead, and Sir Tristram rode on +his way. He never knew that it was his uncle with whom he had fought, but +from that day to the day of his death, though they were fair-spoken to +each other, the king never forgave his nephew or loved him again. + +Indeed, he hated him so much that he ever plotted to injure him, and at +last one day he thought of a plan by which he could ruin Tristram's +happiness, and probably get him killed as well. + +Now it happened that when Sir Tristram had first returned from Ireland he +had told his uncle of La Belle Iseult, of her beauty, and grace, and +skill; for his heart was ever filled with love and admiration for her, +and to him she was the very fairest woman in the world. So to wound Sir +Tristram, and to take a sore and cruel revenge upon him, King Mark +determined to ask her in marriage for himself, and to make his cruelty the +greater, he determined that Sir Tristram should be the knight who should +go to Ireland as his ambassador to ask her hand of King Anguish, her +father. + +Sending for Sir Tristram he laid his commands upon him, rejoicing in the +heavy task he was laying upon him, watching him closely to note how he +would bear it. But Sir Tristram, though sad at heart and deeply troubled, +bore himself bravely, and accepted the task; for to have refused it would +have been a cowardice and a shame, and not the conduct of a true knight. + +Without delay he set about preparing for his sad journey. He had made +ready a large vessel, fitted in the most sumptuous manner possible, +and taking with him some chosen knights dressed in the most goodly style, +he set sail from Tintagel for Ireland. Before they had got far, though, +a fierce storm burst over them, and beat their vessel about until she was +driven back to England, to the coast of Camelot, where King Arthur dwelt, +and right glad they were to take to the land. + +There, when they were landed, Sir Tristram set up his tent, and hanging +his shield without it, lay down to rest. Hardly, though, was he lain +down, before two knights of the Round Table, Sir Ector de Maris and Sir +Morganor, came and rapped on the shield, bidding him come forth and joust. + +"Wait awhile," called back Sir Tristram, "and I will bring you my answer." +Then he hastily dressed himself, and came out to the two impatient +knights, and without much ado he first smote down Sir Ector and then Sir +Morganor, with the same spear. + +"Whence come you, and whose knight are you?" they asked as they lay on the +ground, unable to rise because of their bruises. + +"My lords," answered Sir Tristram, "I am from Cornwall." + +"Alas, alas, I am sore ashamed that any Cornish knight should have +overcome me," cried Sir Ector. And so ashamed was he that he put off his +armour and went away on foot, for he would not ride. + +Now it happened about this time that King Anguish of Ireland was sent for +to appear at King Arthur's court at Camelot, to answer a charge of treason +brought against him by Sir Blamor de Ganis, and Sir Bleoberis, his +brother; which was that he had slain at his court a cousin of theirs and +of Sir Launcelot. + +The king, who had not known for why he was sent, was sore abashed when he +heard the charge, for he knew there were only two ways to settle the +matter, either he must fight the accuser himself, or he must get a knight +to do so for him, and very heavy-hearted he was, for Sir Blamor was a +powerful knight, and one of the trustiest of the Table Round, and King +Anguish knew that now Sir Marhaus was dead he had no knight in Ireland to +match him. + +Three days he had in which to decide upon his answer, and great was his +perplexity as to what it should be. + +Meanwhile, Gouvernail went unto his master and told him that King Anguish +was arraigned for murder, and was in great distress. Whereupon Sir +Tristram replied, "This is the best news I have heard these seven years, +that the King of Ireland hath need of my help. I dare be sworn there is +no knight in England, save of Arthur's court, that dare do battle with Sir +Blamor de Ganis. Bring me to the king then, Gouvernail, for to win his +love I will take this battle on myself." + +So Gouvernail went to King Anguish, and told him that a knight wished to +do him service. "What knight?" said he. + +"Sir Tristram of Lyonesse," answered Gouvernail, "who, for your goodness +to him in your own land, would fain assist you in this." + +Then was the king right overjoyed, and went unto Sir Tristram's pavilion, +and when Sir Tristram saw him he would have knelt and held his stirrup for +him to dismount, but the king leapt lightly to the ground, and they +embraced each other with great gladness, and the king told his tale. + +"Sir," said Sir Tristram, "for your good grace to me, and for the sake of +your daughter, Belle Iseult, I will fight this battle, but you must grant +me two requests. The first is, you must give me your own word that you +were not consenting unto this knight's death; the second, that if I win +this battle you shall give me as reward whatsoever reasonable thing I +ask." Whereupon the king swore to both of them, and then went to tell his +accusers that he had a knight ready to fight Sir Blamor. Then King Arthur +commanded Sir Tristram and Sir Blamor to appear before the judges, and +when they came many kings and knights who were present recognized Sir +Tristram as the young unknown knight who had fought and conquered Sir +Marhaus of Ireland, and the excitement grew intense, for two lustier +knights than Sir Tristram and Sir Blamor could not have been found. + +So the time was fixed, and the combatants retired to their tents to +prepare for battle. + +"Dear brother," said Bleoberis to Blamor, "remember of what kin you are, +and how Sir Launcelot is our cousin, and suffer death rather than shame, +for none of our blood was yet shamed in battle." + +"Fear not," answered Sir Blamor stoutly, "that I will ever disgrace our +kin. Yonder knight is a goodly man, but I swear I will never yield, +nor say the loth word. He may smite me down by his chivalry, but he shall +slay me before I say the loth word." + +So the two champions rode to meet each other from opposite sides of the +lists, and they feutred their spears and charged each other with so great +force that it sounded as though the heavens were sending forth loud +thunders, and then Sir Tristram by his great strength bore Sir Blamor to +the ground, and his horse under him. + +He was quickly clear of his horse, though, and on his feet again. +"Alight, Sir Tristram," he cried, pulling out his sword, "my horse has +failed me, but the earth shall not." + +So together they rushed, and lashed at each other in fury, slashing and +tearing, foining, and making such fearful strokes that the kings and +knights held their breath in horror and amazement that two men could use +each other so, and neither give in. But so fierce were they that their +stabs and cuts might have been falling on men of wood, so little heed did +they pay. So fast and furiously they fought, that the wonder was they had +breath to keep on; but Sir Blamor was the more furious, and therefore the +less wary, so that by and by Sir Tristram saw an opportunity and smote him +such a crushing blow on the head that he fell over on his side, and Sir +Tristram stood over him. + +Then was Sir Blamor's shame piteous. "Kill me, Sir Tristram," he cried, +"as you are a noble knight, for I would not live. Not to be lord of the +whole universe would I endure with shame; and I will never say the loth +word, so the victory is not yours unless you slay me." + +Sir Tristram was sore perplexed what to do. He could not bring himself to +kill this noble knight; but for his party's sake he must, unless Sir +Blamor would say the loth word. So he went to the assembled kings, and +kneeling before them he besought them that they would take the matter into +their hands. "For," said he, "it is a cruel pity that such a noble knight +should be slain, and I pray God he may not be slain or shamed by me. I +beseech the king, whose champion I am, that he will have mercy upon this +good knight." + +Sir Bleoberis, though, as hotly demanded that his brother should be slain +outright, until the judges gave him stern reproof. + +"It shall not be," they said, "both King Anguish and his champion knight +have more mercy than thou," and they went to King Anguish, and he, good +man, gave up his claim, and resigned the loth word, as each champion was +proved of good faith. And so it was settled, and so rejoiced were Sir +Bleoberis and his brother, and right grateful for their goodness, that +they swore eternal friendship to King Anguish and Sir Tristram, and each +kissed the other, and swore a vow that neither would come against the +other in combat. + +Then King Anguish and Sir Tristram set sail for Ireland, with great +splendour and gladness, and right welcome was Sir Tristram when the people +heard what he had done for their king and for them. Great were the +rejoicings, and great the joy, but the joy of Iseult was greater than all +the rest together, for she still loved Sir Tristram with all her heart and +soul. Then as the days came and went, much did King Anguish marvel that +Sir Tristram had not made his second request, but Sir Tristram was fain to +postpone doing so, for he was heavy-hearted at his task. At last King +Anguish asked him, saying, "Sir Knight, you have not yet asked of me your +reward." + +"Alas," said Sir Tristram sadly, "the time is come. I would ask you for +your daughter Iseult to take back with me to Cornwall,--not for myself, +but to wed the king, my uncle Mark; for full well he knows how she +surpasseth all in beauty, and wisdom, and charm, for I myself have told +him of her, until he desireth her greatly for his queen and lady." + +"Ah me!" cried King Anguish in amazement, and, "Ah me!" he sighed, +"I would you had asked her for yourself, Sir Tristram. Right glad would I +have been to have called you 'son!'" + +"That can never be now," said Sir Tristram gently; "I should be false to +my trust, and for ever shamed. My uncle commanded me to come, and I have +promised." + +So a great feasting and merry-making began, and all things were made +ready for La Belle Iseult to sail to another land to be made a queen. +Now whether the queen, Iseult's mother, saw that Sir Tristram and her +daughter loved each other, or whether she feared that her daughter might +not love King Mark, no one will ever know, but she set to work to concoct +a love-drink, brewing it from delicate herbs and simples, which when ready +she enclosed in a golden flask. This she handed to Dame Bragwaine, +La Belle Iseult's waiting-woman, bidding her guard it with all care, +and not let it out of her sight until La Belle Iseult and King Mark were +wedded, when she was to give it to them that they might each drink of it, +so that a great and holy love should rise and grow between them, never to +die until their lives ended. + +So, on a certain day a dainty vessel, all painted white and silver, and +furnished with the utmost richness and beauty, set sail from Ireland. +At the prow glittered a golden swallow, all set with gems, and on board +were Tristram and Iseult. + +Silently, swiftly they glided through the waters, the sun shone softly, +the breeze lightly caressed the dainty, bird-like vessel and the white +fluttering canvas, as though afraid to breathe on anything so lovely as +the lady lying amidst her silken cushions and cloth of gold. Then it +stole modestly away, only to return again, full fain to touch her golden +hair, or her delicate cheek. The scent of the land-flowers filled the +air, for the vessel was gaily bedecked with all the fairest and most +delicate. + +In this little nest of luxury sat Tristram and Iseult, he so stalwart, +noble, bronzed, she so surpassingly beautiful, gentle and lovable. +All through the long, warm days they sat listening each to the other's +talk, and when the sun went down and left them to the fair white light of +the moon, they still sat and talked, or looked at each other, for the mere +sight of each filled the other's heart with joy. + +Oh the pity of it all! the pity of it! Such a nobly-matched pair was +never seen before nor since. + +Iseult made Sir Tristram tell her of the battles he had fought, of the +countries he had seen, and of the people of this new land towards which +she was hastening; for all was strange to her, and a great heaviness +filled her heart at the thought of King Mark and his court. + +That her mind might not dwell on it, she asked him of Queen Guinevere, +the fame of whose beauty had spread to all lands. + +"Alas, alas for her beauty!" cried Sir Tristram. "It has been the undoing +of many good men and true, who have died for love of her. Her beauty has +been a sore curse to her, poor lady." + +"Then," answered Iseult, looking up at him with serious, innocent eyes, +"right thankful I am that my face will never bring ill-fortune to any +man!" And Sir Tristram had to turn from her to hide his pain, for his +love for her was greater than ever. + +On and on they sailed, full fain that their voyage might last as long as +might be, for perfect was their happiness to be together thus, and +everything was fair and peaceful. But at last one day the sun was hid by +the clouds which gathered in the sky above them, the wind howled +threateningly around the vessel, increasing in violence as the hours +dragged by, until the danger of the dainty craft was great. + +Ill indeed would it have been with them but for the might of Sir +Tristram's arm, for the vessel was not one built to battle with tempests +and mighty seas. With all his strength and skill he guided her through +the troubled waters, and Iseult sat and watched him at his task, +marvelling at his power. "Ah," she thought, "had I been a man I would +have been just like to him." And, without fear of danger, so perfectly +did she trust in him, she lay and gazed at him with admiring, wistful +eyes. From time to time he came to her to encourage and reassure her, +but although she felt no fear, she did not tell him so, so dearly did she +love to hear his voice, and feel his care for her. + +At last when the danger was over he came to her again, dropping beside her +almost exhausted. "Iseult, my throat is parched and burning, my tongue +cleaves to my mouth. Give me some drink," he pleaded. + +Pleased to do his bidding, glad to be able to help him, Iseult rose and +ran below. But in the confusion caused by the storm nowhere could she +find aught wherewith to quench his thirst. Dame Bragwaine, half dead with +terror of the storm, fatigue, and sickness, lay in a sort of stupor on her +couch, and Iseult, ever kind and thoughtful for others, would not disturb +her to help her in her search. Here and there she sought, and high and +low, but nowhere could she find wine or aught else to drink. + +Right vexed and disappointed, she was returning empty-handed to the deck +where Sir Tristram impatiently awaited her, when, close by the couch of +Dame Bragwaine, she spied a beautiful golden flask full of a rich +sparkling liquid. With a cry of relief she snatched it up, and running up +on deck, "Drink, drink," she cried, unloosing the fastening, "the perfume +is intoxicating. Such wine I never before beheld." + +"Nay, sweet Lady Iseult," cried Sir Tristram, pressing it back into her +hands; "deign first to put your lips to it; do me that honour, or I will +never taste it." So to her sweet parted lips she raised the flask, and +drank, and then, smiling and glad, she handed it to him. + +Alas, alas, unhappy pair, who might have been so happy! No sooner had +they tasted of that fatal drink than through their hearts and brains +poured a love so great, so deep, so surpassing, that never a greater could +exist in this world. And in their hearts it dwelt for evermore, never +leaving them through weal or woe. + +At last, alas, after many adventures and many dangers, the happy voyage +ended, the coast of Cornwall was reached, and Sir Tristram had to lead La +Belle Iseult to the king. And King Mark when he saw her was so amazed at +her beauty that he loved her there and then, and with great pomp and +rejoicing the marriage took place at once. + +But La Belle Iseult loved none but Sir Tristram, and he her. + +For a while all went well, but only for a little while, for King Mark, +told by his knights of the love Queen Iseult and Sir Tristram bore each +other, grew sore jealous of Sir Tristram, and hating him more and more, +longed for a chance to do him harm. + +But Tristram gave him no chance, for he was the noblest and trustiest +knight of all the court, and though he fought and jousted continually no +harm came to him until one unhappy day, when he was lying sleeping in a +wood, there came along, a man whose brother Sir Tristram had killed; when +the man saw Sir Tristram lying there asleep he shot an arrow at him, and +the arrow went through Tristram's shoulder. + +Sir Tristram was on his feet in a moment, and killed the man; but his own +hurt was a grievous one, for the arrow had been a poisoned one, so, what +with his poisoned wound and what with his sorrow that Iseult was so kept a +prisoner by King Mark, that he could neither see her nor hear from her, +he was very ill for a long time, and like to die. And no one had the +skill to cure him but La Belle Iseult, and she might not do so. + +Hearing, though, by some means, of his sad condition she sent to him a +message by Dame Bragwaine's cousin, bidding him to go to Brittany, for +King Howell's daughter, Iseult la Blanche Mains,--or Iseult of the White +Hands,--could cure him, and no one else. So he took a ship and went, and +this other Iseult healed his wounds, and restored him to perfect health. +But she grew to love him, too, for he was a man to whom all women's hearts +softened. + +She was but a child, this White-handed Iseult. She had barely reached her +sixteenth year. And though she thought of her unasked love with shame, +and though she ever strove to hide it, it shone in her soft brown eyes, +and pale face, and filled Sir Tristram's heart with pain for her. So he +left the court and sailed the seas again, hoping that she would forget +him, and learn to love someone else. + +Now, though Sir Tristram could not tear the love of La Belle Iseult from +his heart, he did not spend his life in moans and sad regrets. He gave +his life to helping the oppressed, and destroying the oppressors; to +helping to right wrongs, and in all ways living a good and noble life +worthy of the lady who loved him. + +His liking for the sea was great, too, so that he spent many days and +nights on board his own good ship, and often he thought of the time when +La Belle Iseult crossed the sea with him, of the sunny days and starry +nights, the peace, the joy, and the happiness of that sweet time. +And his heart ached cruelly, and he was full of sadness, for he was a very +lonely man now, with no hope of happiness before him. + +Then one day in his loneliness came the thought of that other lonely +heart,--kind little Iseult of the White Hands, and of her love for him. +"She suffers as I do," he said. "Why should two women suffer so for my +sake? I cannot love her as she deserves, but I will try to make her +happy." So, turning the vessel's head, he made once more for Brittany, +and there he found that an earl called Grip was making great war upon King +Howell, and was getting the mastery. So Sir Tristram joyfully went to the +king's aid, and after mowing down Grip's knights right and left, he killed +the earl himself, and so won the battle. + +Right royally was Sir Tristram received after that, and King Howell in his +joy would have given him his whole kingdom had he so desired. But Sir +Tristram would accept no reward. What he had done, was done for Iseult's +sake, he said. And a love grew up in Tristram's heart for the gentle +maiden, for who could help loving one kind and beautiful! + +So they were married with great rejoicings, and all the kingdom was glad, +and so was Sir Tristram, for now, he thought, he could quench that fatal +love for Iseult of Cornwall, and could spend the rest of his days in this +sunny land, happy with his sweet child-wife. + +Alas! alas! Once more the deadly love-drink did its work! No sooner had +he placed the ring on his bride's finger, than the love for the other +Iseult returned stronger than ever. + +"I have been false to my lady!" he cried to himself remorsefully, +"for I swore ever to be her true knight, loyal to her alone." +And such sorrow and repentance filled his heart that his love for his +bride was killed. He concealed his pain so well, though, that little +Iseult was happy, never doubting that her husband loved her,--but all the +days and nights that passed were full for Tristram of yearning for his +love, and a great longing to be again in Cornwall. + +At last one day there arrived at the castle a knight from King Arthur's +court at Camelot; and of him Sir Tristram asked, "Say they aught of me at +court?" + +"Truly," answered the knight, "they speak of you with shame, for Sir +Launcelot says you are a false knight to your lady, and his love for you +is dead, so that he longs to meet with you that he may joust with you." + +Sore troubled indeed was Sir Tristram at this, for he loved Sir Launcelot, +and coveted his respect, and to be deemed traitor to the lady for whom he +would have laid down his life, hurt him most of all. + +From that time his longing to return to Tintagel and his love for La Belle +Iseult grew daily more and more unconquerable, until at last he could no +longer bear it, and one day set sail from Brittany, leaving his poor +little lonely wife behind to mourn his absence, and yearn for his return; +for as yet she had not found out that there was no love at all in his +heart for her. + +But on a day soon after he had left her there was brought to her the story +of his love for that other Iseult, and of hers for him. Then was the +young wife filled with shame that ever she had showed her love for him, +and jealousy raged in her, turning her love to bitter hate, and her heart +hardened so that night and day she longed to be revenged. + +Thus a whole year passed away, and Tristram and Queen Iseult loved each +other as dearly as ever; but King Mark in his jealous anger kept them so +watched that they could never see or speak one to the other, and they had +no peace or joy in life, until at last they could bear the pain no longer, +and one day they managed to escape together and to reach the Castle of +Joyous Gard, where the king had no power to reach them, even had he known +where they were hid. Of their love and happiness there no tongue can +tell, and of the peace and joy of their life, for they loved each other +above all else, and when they were together nothing had power to pain +them. + +But at last, on a sad, sad day, the trusty Gouvernail came to Sir Tristram +with word that a summons had been sent him from King Arthur, to go to the +aid of Sir Triamour of Wales, for he was sore beset by a monster named +Urgan, and needed help. + +Sir Tristram could in no wise, of course, neglect this summons, for that +would have been the direst disgrace to him, and never more in all his life +would he have been able to show himself anywhere but as a treacherous and +loathly knight, and, though it broke his heart to send her from him, La +Belle Iseult loved him too well to have him so disgrace himself. + +So they parted; and a sadder parting never had been in this world, for +they knew with a sure and certain knowledge that never again would they be +allowed to meet; and their hearts were full of a love and sorrow almost +too great to be borne. With tears and kisses they said farewell, vowing +each to be true to the other till death, and after. + +So Sir Tristram rode away into Wales, and Queen Iseult being discovered by +King Mark, was made to return to him, only to be made a prisoner in the +great grim castle at Tintagel, where all day long she sat sad and lonely, +looking out over the sea, and musing sadly on all the bitterness life had +held for her and for her lover. And her husband, jealous, wrathful, never +slackened his watch over her, night or day. + +A harder lot was Iseult's than her lover's, for he had change and action +to distract his thoughts, and all the excitement of battle; but she had +nothing to do but sit and think on all that might have been, until her +heart was near to breaking. + +Meanwhile, Sir Tristram arrived in Wales and met the monster Urgan, a +huge, hideous creature with no notion of fighting, or chivalry, for the +moment he beheld Sir Tristram, he rushed upon him, and would have dashed +him to the ground, but that Sir Tristram by good hap saw what was coming, +and swerved aside so that the blow fell harmless. And while the giant +roared with rage and mortification, and tried to recover his balance, +Sir Tristram swiftly drew his sword, and swinging it lightly round his +head, cut the monster's right hand clean off at the wrist with one sharp +stroke. + +Maddened by the pain, Urgan fumbled with his left hand until he drew from +his belt a short steel dagger which had been tempered with sorcery, and +springing on Sir Tristram they closed together, and long and fiercely they +fought until the cliffs trembled with the struggle, and the ground was +sodden with blood. + +Great ado had Sir Tristram to avoid the huge bulk of the giant, and +greater and greater grew the strain upon his strength, until a blow from +him sent the giant rolling over in the gory mud. He was soon on his feet +again, but the moment had given Sir Tristram time to get his breath. +Then they closed again, and the blows fell faster and more furiously than +ever. The giant's groans of rage and excitement might have been heard for +miles around, while the earth flew about them until they could scarce be +seen. Between every joint of their corslets the blood ran down in +streams, but the sight only infuriated them the more. + +At last, with a fierce roar between bitter laughter and pain, Urgan smote +Sir Tristram with such fury that he cracked his shield in half, and then +before Sir Tristram could recover himself he smote him again so that he +would have killed him had not the blow by great good chance turned aside. +But, turning aside as it did, it gave Sir Tristram the chance he coveted, +and rushing in on the giant before he had recovered his foothold, he smote +him with such force and skill that he cleft him clean through; and in his +agony Urgan leapt so high in the air that he fell back over the edge of +the cliff, and dropped heavily into the sea. + +His task accomplished, Sir Tristram got into his ship again and sailed +away, and as he passed Tintagel, where his unhappy love lay a prisoner in +the castle, his heart felt like to break; and his yearning for her was so +great, it seemed as though it must bring her to him in spite of her +jailers. + +But they were parted, those two, by a fate as strong as death. And she +lay immured in her castle home, while he sailed on and on, not heeding nor +caring whither he went, for all that he loved dwelt on that bleak +iron-bound coast, as far from him as though the whole wide world lay +between them. + +And so at last, not heeding whither he sailed, he came to that sunny land +where his wife Iseult dwelt, praying always for revenge because she had +been scorned by him. On the coast at Brittany he landed, close by his own +castle, but no sooner had he stepped ashore than he was met by a knight +who knelt before him and besought his aid. + +"Noble sir," cried he, "I am in sore distress. Some robbers, who infest +this land like a scourge, met me as I was riding along with my new-made +bride, and I being alone and single-handed, they quickly mastered me, and +binding me, carried my bride away. And how to rescue her I know not. +Come to my aid, sir, I beseech you, for you look a noble and trusty +knight." + +Sir Tristram, glad to have some distraction from his sorrow, was only too +ready to help others who suffered for love's sake. So to Iseult he sent a +message to say he had arrived, and would have been with her but for the +quest, which he was bound to accomplish for his honour's sake, and for the +sake of his knighthood. Then he departed, and he and the knight rode +along the seashore in search of the robbers. + +All night they slept in the wood by the sea, but as soon as morning broke +there sounded close at hand a great trampling of horses and clanking of +arms, and soon came along the robber band, with the pale-faced, terrified +lady in their midst, fastened to one of the robbers. + +At this sight the hapless young husband could no longer restrain himself. +With a fierce cry he flew at the man to whom his bride was bound, +while Sir Tristram, cool and strong, closed with the band and slew three +before they had tried to defend themselves. And so the unequal battle +began, and so it raged; but with so much courage and fierceness did the +two knights fight for their just cause, that soon nearly all the robber +band lay lifeless on the ground. + +The young knight, though, was himself by that time wounded by the last +remaining of the band, and ill would it have gone with him, for the +reeking sword was raised high to give him the final blow, when Sir +Tristram with a cry of triumph rushed in and clove the man so that he +never breathed again. + +Thus was all accomplished, and gladly was Sir Tristram returning on his +homeward way, when one of the robbers who had made his escape and lay +concealed, shot at Sir Tristram from his hiding-place, and the arrow +pierced Sir Tristram in that same wound whereof he had nearly died before +he went to Ireland, and La Belle Iseult cured him. And now he felt like +to die again. + +Scarcely could he stagger home through the long miles of that rugged +forest by the sea; his eyes were faint and blinded, his legs shook under +him. Parched, trembling, well-nigh dead, he reached at last his castle +gates, but there his strength failed him, and with a terrible cry he fell +prostrate on the ground. + +At the sound forth came soldiers and servants, and strong men lifted him +in kindly arms and laid him gently on a bed, calling aloud for someone to +come and dress his wound. + +Over by the window of the big hall sat Iseult la Blanche Mains, gazing +with stony, unseeing eyes out over the golden sea, paying no heed to the +noise and bustle going on about her. She had recognized that cry of pain +at the gate, and knew her husband had returned sore stricken, but never, +never once did she turn her head to look at him, nor move to give him +comfort or assistance. And Tristram, ill though he was, felt the change +in her manner to him, and grieved in his heart that all was not as it +should have been, for he could not bear to cause pain to any woman. + +As soon as he could speak he called to her, humbly, "Iseult, my wife!" +At that she rose and went to him, but sullenly, and stood looking at him +as though he were a stranger. + +"Kiss me," he whispered, and at his bidding she stooped and kissed him, +but it was as though an icicle had brushed his cheek, and a black cloud of +misery settled down upon him, and despairing longing for her who would +have been so gentle and kind to him; and towards his wife his heart +hardened. + +And she, poor little Iseult, her heart aching sorely with love and +jealousy and bitter pain, returned to her seat, and no movement did she +make to heal her lord of his wound, though she alone could do so. But in +her heart she had vowed that she would not give him health and life only +that he might leave her again to go to that other Iseult. So, stern and +cold she sat by the window looking out upon the sea, and never spake one +gentle word, or tried to win his love. + +And thus three days and nights passed by, and ever the husband and wife +drifted more and more apart. Sir Tristram's wound refused to heal, +his strength failed him more and more, but still his wife made no attempt +to save him. + +At last there came a day when Sir Tristram could no longer endure his +lonely, loveless life, or his pain of mind and body, with never a kindly +word or deed to comfort him. This hard, reproachful woman tortured him +hour by hour with her sullen face and hard eyes, her cruel, cold +indifference. And his love for that other Iseult, so tender, and true, +and loving, burnt like fire in his veins and consumed him. So calling to +him Ganhardine, his wife's brother, who loved him greatly, he bade him, by +the love they bore each other, to take his ship 'The Swan,' and with all +speed sail in her to England; and there to land at Tintagel, and by fair +means or foul to convey to Queen Iseult the ring which he there gave him. +To tell her, too, how that he, Sir Tristram, was like to die, but could +not die in peace till he had seen her face once more. + +"Then if it be that she comes, hoist a white sail that I may know my love +still loves me, and is on her way. If not, then let the sail be black, +that I may know, and die." + +And Iseult of the White Hands heard each word he spake, and never a word +she said; but her rage and jealousy well-nigh consumed her. + +So Sir Ganhardine left upon his errand, and sailed for Tintagel in +'The Swan,' and the journey did not take him long, for the ship flew +through the waters like a real bird, as though she knew she was bound on +her master's errand, and that his life depended on her swiftness. + +Dark it was when Ganhardine arrived, for it was winter-time, when storms +rage full violent on that bleak coast. And at once he landed, and was +made welcome by King Mark, for a stranger, and a noble one, was ever +welcome in that lone country; and the king's heart never misgave him that +this was a messenger from Sir Tristram. + +Now it happened that Dame Bragwaine knew Sir Ganhardine, for they had been +lovers in days gone by, and more than glad they were to see each other +again. So with Bragwaine's gladly given help, Ganhardine conveyed Sir +Tristram's ring to Queen Iseult in a cup of wine, so that when the queen +drank, there at the bottom of the cup lay Sir Tristram's ring, one that +she had given him long ago. And there she saw it, and her pale sad face +lit up with such a wondrous joy that she had some ado to conceal her +emotion from the king and those around her who were ever keeping her +watched. + +Deftly, though, she slipped the ring out of her mouth, and deftly she +presently managed to slip it into her bosom, marvelling much the while +whence and how it came, and why. And her anxiety and longing nigh drove +her beside herself. For until all the inmates of the castle had retired +to rest, naught could she learn of the mystery, or of the stranger who had +come to the castle. But once within her own apartments, where she was no +longer watched and guarded as of yore, she quickly, at Dame Bragwaine's +bidding, muffled herself to the eyes, and creeping softly down a flight of +secret stairs, she got out of the castle by a private passage-way and +reached the spot where 'The Swan' lay moored, and where Sir Ganhardine +awaited her with his message and his sad story. + +When she heard tell of Sir Tristram's sad plight, and how that he was like +to die, but could not die in peace till he had once more beheld her, there +was no need to plead with her to leave all and go to him. Almost before +the tale was told her she had stepped on board the ship, and without one +glance behind her or one regret she set sail upon the stormy wintry sea to +go to her true love, as fast as the faithful 'Swan' could carry her. +And in her joy that once again she should be with him, once again she +should see him, she almost forgot his sore plight, for hard it was for her +to believe that Sir Tristram could be like to die. + +Meanwhile death was drawing nearer and nearer to Sir Tristram. +His restlessness aggravated his wound, his anxious, tortured mind +increased his fever, so that truly he was like to die at any moment. +And all the time, a little way from him sat White-handed Iseult, pale and +cold without, the better to bide the burning rage within. + +"Iseult! Iseult!" cried the sick man in his sleep. + +"I am here. What would you?" she answered coldly, and he opened his eyes +with a half-doubting joy in them; but his heart sank like lead, and all +the joy died out of him, for the voice was not the voice of his love, nor +the face her face, and sore wearily he sighed, and turned his face away. + +"I wronged you past all forgiveness when I married you," he said, "for my +heart had long been given to La Belle Iseult, whose sworn knight I was; +but I did love you, I thought I could make you happy. Have you no pity? +Can you feel no mercy for me now?" he cried piteously. + +"I feel nothing," she answered bitterly; "between you, you have killed my +heart, and all that was good in me." + +So his heart yearned all the more for the gentler, more tender Iseult. +Wearily he moved in his bed and watched for the first gleam of daylight. +Slowly the hours dragged by, relieved only by the plash, plash of the +waves against the castle walls, or the sighs of the sick man. + +Then within a while he spoke again. "My wife," he said, "when morning +comes, look across the sea, and tell me if you see a ship coming, and if +its sails be black or white, that I may the sooner be out of this +miserable uncertainty." + +Obediently she rose, and sat watching until the first ray of dawn, when, +skimming over the sea through the morning mist, she saw the dainty 'Swan,' +with her white sails like wings gleaming through the dimness. Over the +wide waters she flew, until she drew close to the castle, and the anchor +was cast. Then from out her sprang Ganhardine, and following quickly +after him came La Belle Iseult. Too impatient to wait for help she sprang +lightly on the shore, and stood there breathless, eager, glad. + +And so for the first time Iseult la Blanche Mains saw that other Iseult, +and as she stood on the shore in her white gown, with her golden hair +falling out under her hood like a mantle over her shoulders, the unhappy +wife marvelled not that Tristram loved so fair a creature, and her heart +sank at sight of her beauty, and fiercer burnt her jealousy. + +"They come," she said sullenly, turning to her husband. + +"Ah!" he cried, with a deep groan of intolerable suspense. "Of thy mercy +tell me, and do not torture me!" + +"The sails are black," she answered in a cold, hard voice. + +Then was the terrified woman sore afraid, for with a mighty effort Sir +Tristram sprang from his bed, and took one step across the floor, and in a +voice that made even her heart throb and bleed with pity, "Iseult--my +love--my love!" he cried. Then a sudden darkness falling upon him, he +flung out his arms as though to catch at something. "Iseult--Iseult--my +love--come--to me!" he gasped in broken tones, and with a thud fell at his +wife's feet, dead. + +"I come, my love, I come!" rang out a sweet voice, full of love and +tenderness and joy; and up the castle steps flew La Belle Iseult, and +across the hall to where he lay. And never a look she gave at the pale, +unhappy wife. Never a glance at aught beside that form. + +"Tristram, my beloved! I am here. I am with you--with you for all time," +she cried, flinging herself on her knees beside him. And never another +word did she speak,--for when they raised her, her spirit had followed his +to where none could part them more. + +So died those two who had lived and loved so sadly and so truly. And when +he was dead there was found round Sir Tristram's sword-belt the story of +the fatal love-draught, and when he read it deep was the grief and bitter +the remorse of King Mark that he had ever parted those two so bound +together, and driven them to such despair. + +Once more 'The Swan' sailed over the sea to Tintagel, and this time she +bore Sir Tristram and his love together, for side by side they were to be +buried in a dainty chapel made for them alone, that at last they should +never more be parted. + +But in time the sea, jealous for those lovers whose doom she had seen, +came up and drew that dainty chapel into her own bosom. And there, where +none can see them, the lovers sleep in peace for evermore, wrapped round +and guarded by the blue waters of the deep Atlantic sea. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CORNWALL'S WONDERLAND*** + + +******* This file should be named 26755.txt or 26755.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/7/5/26755 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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