By RICHARD BLAKEBOROUGH.
In the early years of last century the genial hostess of The Fox and Hounds, Urra, or Orra, told the following story to several young folk, part of a wedding party staying the night under her roof (this, of course, was the old inn, now for some years fallen into disuse), in memory of which some rhymster has left us the following lines : —
YE LAMENT.
Could we by wizard wand or spell,
Magic powder cast upon the fire,
Or incantation long forgot,
Bring back again those who have slept
Within the grave now many years,
A picture we should call to life
Of those who once in this old inn
(Ye Fox and Hounds of Urra famed),
Stopped here to quench a dusty sleck,
A lovely scene we then should paint
Of tuckers, mobcaps, high-heel’d shoon,
Of well-turned ankles, rounded arms
White shoulders, necks, and plumper charms,
Of powdered hair, and kiss-me patch;
For true the lasses of our dales,
With any town wench then could vie;
And such were they who laughed and chaffed,
With dandy bucks, or love-lorn swains.
Here rowdy song, and lively dance,
Here games such as we play not now;
Too noisy some, and some too rough
For us, with our more modest ways
To take part in, for in these days
A maid forsooth would die of shame
If by mishap one unawares,
Whilst yet before her glass she stood,
Saw but her neck, ere her dress waist
Had hit the vest which hides her charms;
‘Tis mockery this, and breeds our smiles
For that same maid at dinner will
Without a blush, all arts and wiles,
Without the tucker maids once wore,
Dare sport her neck, and—well, much more.
But ’tis enough; such were the folk
Who once within these walls gave life
To ail the doings of their time;
And let us not forget that they
The grandsires were of those to-day
Who people now our lovely dales.
ANON.
But to the story.
“Once upon a time,” began the hostess, when her company were all seated, “many a long year ago, the occupants of two houses near to the village of Castleton were in sore straights. In one lived a widow and her stepdaughter, the husband and dearly loved father having but very recently died, leaving more debts than there was money to pay. In the other lived a young fellow, whose father had met with an accident, which his caused his death, and that, too, whilst indulging in a drunken orgie. The son speedily discovered that his father’s affairs were in anything but a satisfactory state; debt, debt, stared him in the face, turn which way he would.
All that time all the there about was owned by one nobleman, whom his tenants very rarely saw, and some did not even know. His steward, a Mr Mott, a young gentleman sent by his lordship to live amongst the good people to collect his rents and attend to other business, fell desperately in love with Rosa, the stepdaughter of the widow. But everyone knew that the maiden’s heart had gone into the keeping of young Ainsley (the young fellow who had lost his father so suddenly) long before Mott had ever been heard of.
Rob begged the steward to give him time and he would pay off his father’s indebtedness. But Mott shook his head, and said “He must pay up by the end of the week, or quit his farm at once.”
Many there were who whispered that Mott was simply to get Rob out of the way, so he might have a clear course to prosecute his designs on Rosa.
Rob hastened to Rosa with the sad news.
“It means,” said he, ” that we must part and it may be years before I can offer you a home, therefore it is only manly, it is only right, it is only just to you, that I should give you back your freedom.” The maiden remained seated with bent head, seemingly busy at her wheel, but never a word did she utter.
“It is a pity, my lad,” said my stepmother. “but you have acted wisely and kindly to the lass. It would be a shame, as things have turned out, for thee to hold her to her promise. She will soon get over the parting, and then mend her fortune by wedding some wealthy suitor. Poverty is a dreadful thing, with bairns hungering about your knee; poverty soon breeds want, and want drains the cup of love.” Still Rosa never raised her head nor spoke one word. At last, Rob took up his cap, and with bitterness tilling his heart, he bade the stepmother good-night and good-bye, and then turned to Rosa, whom he felt had failed him in his hour of need, just when he thirsted for her love, and kindly words of hope.
“Good-bye, Rosa. You’ll shake hands with me, won’t you, and at least wish me God-speed?” he said, holding his outstretched hand toward her.
Then she lifted her eyes to his, and he saw were wet with tears. Springing to her feet, and lifting her cape and hood front the peg, she very quietly said — “I will set you a little way.”
“Rosa!” exclaimed the stepmother, “I bid thee to thy wheel. Wish thy old sweetheart good-bye and God-speed here, Be not so unmaidenly as to force thyself upon anyone’s affection. Heed my command! Say good-bye, and to thy wheel at once.”
“I will to my wheel the moment I return,” answered Rosa, very firmly, as the twain left the house. Waiting until they wore of earshot, Rosa, laying her hand gently and lovingly upon Rob’s shoulder, whispered “Rob, you have offered me my freedom surely not because come other maiden has taken my place in thy heart, eh?’
” You know that never could be. No other maiden can never to me what thou art,” said he, winding his arm about her slim waist.
“And no man but you, Rob, shall ever call me wife.” Presently Rosa told her lover that she had held her peace whilst in the house, because she desired to have as few words as possible with her stepmother, and then she went on to explain thee during the last few days “that woman,” for so she indignantly styled her stepmother, had striven by every argument which sh, could imagine might influence her, and lead her to see the wisdom of giving up her old sweetheart, and accepting the attentions of the young steward. “But,” said she, in conclusion, “I am convinced that he and she are in league. ”
“The base intriguers,” cried Rob.
“Hush, let me tel you aIl. You know that we, like you, are debt. I have no actual proof, but I feel sure that he has made yon woman an offer to tide her over her present difficulties, if she can only win me over to look upon him with favour, the wretch ! There is trouble in store for both of us; but you are a man, and must bear up bravely and help and encourage me to do the same.”
Clasping her to his heart., and with her arms about his neck, he bravely said, ”I will. It was only the thought of losing you, my darling, which made me a coward. Let come what may now, I will fight and conquer all. I will find our noble landlord, and put the case before him. Surely he will hearken kindly to such a story, and then I will and wed thee in spite of everything.”
“Very bravely spoken, spoken like a man, a very young man,, I might any, and one desperately in love, too. Ha! ha! he! he! ho! ho!” laughed the speaker. “Oh, these young men and maidens, how they do ta’k to be sure; but it was ever so — ay, ay, and will go on. I saw him kiss you, my pretty maid. Well, well, don’t mind me, don’t mind a little crumped up cripple like me. I’m nobody; I’m not worth a thought — not worth a thought,” he repeated somewhat sorrowfully.
At the first word he had uttered the lovers had turned in the direction of the voice, and at once beheld, sitting cross-legged upon a boulder, the queeriest misshapen little dwarf of a man they had ever seen. When he saw how amazed the two were on beholding him, he burst into a most infectious fit of laughing, so catching indeed that although their hearts were very sad, both Rob and Rosa laughed too.
“That’s better! I like to hear young folk laugh, though yours, sad to say, will be of short duration, but remember —
“The loudest laugh oft foreruns sorrow.
And the tears of to-day bring us joy on the morrow.”
“Ay,” said Rosa, “it is true we are very sad.”
“I, know that,” said the little man. “Your to-morrow for joy will not be yet; but it will come, if you do that which is right — not the right which the world approves of, but the kind of right which balances with truth in the scale of justice, and that too when all earthly things are slipping away from us. I know much of your past history, and I know some little of what will be. Now, listen. My name is Elfi. Both Rob and Rosa started when the dwarf mentioned his name, for often they had both heard of Elfi, the good dwarf of Farndale. Often had they been told of his good deeds, and those, too, of his kindly-hearted mother. “l am the dwarf of the moors. My Mother’s name is the Siba the Good. She it is who has sent me to give you what comfort she can. She has sent you each a present of four things, three of which you must plant and care for in your hearts; the fourth you will wear round your necks, and guard with your lives.”
“Firstly, then, never forget that true goodness not always outwardly beautiful.
“Secondly, the shortest path is not always the easiest to travel.
“Thirdly, when you say that truth is truth, strive to be all that is. You, Rob, remember that truth ever walks arm in arm with honour, justice, and mercy.
And you, my dear, forget not that truth ever holds over a maiden the silken banner of virtue and modesty. It shields you from vanity, for the latter often shouts in one ear, ‘Do, there is little harm,’ whilst modesty whispers in the other, ‘ Don’t! little harm begun oft ends in a great sin.’ Never for a moment forget that the road to evil is easy to travel. Half the journey is downward, ever downward; the steps are of polished marble, strewn with sweet scented flowers, crystal fountains play on every side, and birds fill the air with their voluptuous notes, on either hand luscious fruit hang inviting the weary traveller to pluck and feed upon their rich, ripe, tempting bunches. There is everything almost the heart could wish, but one thing is ever found wanting — there is no place to rest. And should weary souls ever decide to turn back they discover the marble steps have all crumbled behind them, the hanging fruit is rotten to the touch, the fountains have ceased to play, every basin is full of stinking stagnant water, fit poison for a blighted soul; the path heading heck is thorny and over rugged boulders. Ay, it a rough way leading hack be the cross roads of right and wrong. To you, Rosa, I give the piece of silver which once rested upon the breast of the blessed St. Hilda. Let it lie near to thine own young heart, and prize it as thou hast hitherto done thine own pure virtue. It will help to guide thee aright when thine own judgment might be at fault. To thee, Rob, I give a chip from the sandal of King Egfrid (Eegfrid?), whose footsteps walked this life in holiness. Wear it on thy own breast, and may it help thee to walk aright, for many are the evils which assail and the pitfalls which lie hidden along the pathway of a young man.
“And now to business. Tomorrow morning make arrangements with some trusted friend to sell all thy belongings and settle with Mott. He has, we know, made claims against thee which are unjust, but he is at present too powerful for thee to fight for thy rights. Be patient, always bearing in mind, that success oft bestrides a bullock, whilst failure rides abroad seated upon a blinded mare. Tomorrow evening you and your lady love will go to Ralph Cross and there light your love afresh. Then ye will start and there must be no turning back; thou wilt start thy journey going by way of White Cross and from thence make thy way to the cross which stands guard over Lastingham village. When there pray for guidance.
“And now, my dear, what about you? Go ye home, and as far as in ye lies, be dutiful. Thou shalt be watched over.”
The day following Rob did as advised, and in the early evening Rosa and he parted; parted with the shadow of the cross falling upon as their lips met in their farewell embrace.
It was a lovely autumnal evening, the sun was low in the heaven’s, here and there casting broad and quickly spreading shadows o’er hill and vale. The purple heather as far as the eye could reach clothed the land in its regal robe. The yellow brackens showed here and there in broad patches like molten gold fresh poured from some giant ladle. Now and again tall foxgloves in luxuriant profusion reared themselves heavenward, brewing honey in the setting sun for the busy bee to garner on the morrow. It was a picture the twain had lived and loved amongst ever since their earliest days. Backward many a time he turned his eyes to look upon, and wave his hand to the girl he so dearly loved. Ay, until the maid and the cross she leant against merged into one. ” ‘Tis a beautiful emblem of what she is,” he murmured as they both faded from his sight, as the deepening shadows of night drew their curtains about them. They had vanished. But he knew both were there, and when she retired, though now beyond the ken of his sight, he knew the Cross would still be there, as it had been for hundreds and hundreds of years.
That night he spent in solitude upon the lonely moor; at the White Cross he breathed a prayer for Rosa’ safety and his own guidance, and as the sun rose bright and fair, tipping the eastern hills with a golden glory, he sat down upon a boulder, and watched the early day wake from its night’s slumber and don itself in all the changing colours of its early autumnal robe. He was then close to Rosedale. It was whilst thus contemplating the lovely picture, that a young hound came galloping towards him, carrying same object in its mouth. Seeing young Rob seated, it playfully approached, as young dogs will, but when within thirty yards of where he seated a rabbit sprang across its path, at the sight of which, the hound dropped what it was carrying, and eagerly gave chase, and Rob saw no more of it. He discovered the object which it had dropped, to be a very old-looking leathern purse, of considerable size, very hard and brown, as though it had lain long in the peat. Within were five gold rings, each holding in its setting a gem of priceless value. For a few moments he gazed in amazement and rapture upon the treasure he had thus discovered. In his delight be shouted “my troubles are ended;” he knew that if he said nothing to anyone, but hurried his steps to some large town, and made the best bargain he could with some Jew, be could then return home, wed Rosa, and live like a nobleman the rest of his days.
Here was a short cut to fortune; then came into his mind the precepts which Siba the mother of Elfi, had bid him bear in mind, and he remembered, too, the chip of sandal he was wearing.
“I will not do this thing,” he murmured, “did not Elfi bid me remember that the shortest path is not always the easiest to travel.”
His duty was to set about finding the owner. But to carry about his person gems of so great value was a danger in itself, so he carefully hid them upon the moor, and then started in quest of the owner. From house to house and village to village he wearily trudged for many days, but no owner could he find; many dishonest people declared they had lost just such a pouch as he described, but as they could not make known the contents he passed on. Thrice he was taken prisoner and put to torture, so that he might disclose the hiding-place of his treasure.
“But this part of the story,” said the hostess, “I have forgotten. I forget what they did to him, and how he escaped, but I remember that at last he found the owner of the hound. He was an old cobbler living at Hutton-in-the-Hole, and he was a Godly, pious man. The hound was his, but of the treasure be knew nothing. Doubtless the dog had found it lying upon the moor, or scratched it up whilst digging for a rabbit. He advised Bob to leave the treasure where it was hidden, and go on his way, and pursue his purpose, which was the finding of his landlord. Maybe this treasure was only a trap of the evil one to delay him by the way. If such was the case, he might be sure the devil would not leave the pouch where he had hidden it, as he was not likely to reward anyone who was striving to act justly. ‘But,’ said the old man, ‘if when thou returnest the pouch is still there, and there has been no outcry, it is thine, and thou mayest claim it. Be assured, as I am inclined to believe, that it has lain buried in the peat for many years.’ ”
So, early next morning Rob started on his way, turning his step as bidden towards Lastingham, and there he bent his knee in prayer beside the old cross, which at that time was standing pointing the way to glory, and guarding the village, with its thousand and one goodly associations linking it with the long long past.
When he rose from his knees he perceived a horsewoman quickly approaching him. At a smart gallop she urged her steed forward, and as she drew nearer, Rob saw that she was wonderfully handsome, having a charming figure, and sat her mare with all the grace of a finished horsewoman, and there was only one other woman, his Rosa, he had ever seen with such sloping shoulders and round bust, but when the young and lovely damsel drew rein within a few feet of him, all blushes and confusion, he did not fail to notice, in fact, he could not fail to notice, that every charm she possessed was heightened and enhanced by some subtle trick of art. And when she begged the aid of his hand, saying: “I wish a word with thee good youth,” the way which she lifted the skirt of her habit and gave him her foot, startled him, and he could not help but think that his modest Rosa would have been more careful how she deported herself before an entire stranger. Lightly she sprang to the ground, begging him come a little way from the cross, to a more convenient seat.
Presently seating herself, she bade Rob with a wave of her dainty hand seat himself beside her “There, now, we are quite comfortable,” said she, ‘witching him with a shy glance, which she shot from her lovely eyes. “And now let me explain how it is that I thus accost thee, a perfect stranger; the fact is, I need thy aid. First, let me tell thee my sad story. To begin then. Until a few mouths ago I was a happy maiden, but to save my father from dishonour and the fetters of a cruel prison, I gave myself in marriage to as vile a wretch as ever lived. He is rarely sober, and but yesterday he struck me, and not for the first time, look,” said she, baring her shoulder and pointing to a nasty wheal, reaching to her snowy bosom.
“Shameful!” cried Rob, fully sympathising with this lovely and ill-treated lady.
“Hush!” said she, gently laying her hand upon his arm, and leaving it there. “After that blow, all my respect — love I never had for the monster — fled from my heart, and I hastened with my trouble to the good and man of these parts. He knew my story, he knows everything. I begged of him to advise me in my sore straight. He bade me rise with the sun, and come hither, when I should meet one, who “he told me” I should find was likewise in sore trouble, and he assured me that thou wouldst succour me.”
“But how, in what way can I help to free thee from thy present trouble?” questioned Rob, fascinated by her strange beauty, and the confidence she was freely reposing in him.
“I will tell thee, although I know I shall pain thee; but hear me to the end. Open not thy lips until I bid thee speak. A year ago I saw thee, and since that moment my heart has treasured thy image. Hush!” she cried, as Rob was about to speak. “I know what thou would’st say — that I am a wedded wife, and that thou lovest another. Ay, thou lovest one as faithless to thee as my brute of a husband is untrue to me,” laying her hand gently upon his mouth. “The wise man told me to wait until I saw three crows fly overhead in company, and at that moment we should both be transported, in spirit form, to some place where we should witness a sight which would satisfy us that we both were being played with.
“Look,” she exclaimed, “here come the three crows,” and, as they passed overhead, in an instant Rob found himself quite close to Rosa’s cottage. He saw her in conversation with an unknown stranger; he heard her agree gladly to go with him. He saw the stranger draw her to his side and kiss her, lift her on to a spare steed, and the twain away together. Next moment, as if awaking from some horrid dream, he found himself seated by the side of his companion. His heart was too full, he could not help himself; he burst into tears. For the moment he was helpless as a child.
“I know what a stricken heart is. I know what you suffer; and remember the man you said was my husband,” whispered the young wife, gently drawing his head upon her lap. “Lie still and weep out the sorrow of a deceived heart. Start not, for it is true what I say. She never loved thee as I have loved thee. I will dare anything, do anything; I am thy slave.”
Putting on one side her last statements as the words of an injured, excited woman, he repeated his former question: “But in what way can I be of any real service to you?”
“I will tell thee. Like, all bullies, my drunken, besotted husband is a coward. Remember, he it was whom thou beheld just now ride away with the hussey whom thou hart so trusted. So cruelly does he treat me that I wish to some one near me who will dare to protect me from his brutal assaults, some one in whom I can confide. Thou art in want of a situation; I will engage thee as my man, but only in his presence will I treat thee as an inferior. At other times, when alone, knowing what we both know, thou shalt be master of me. And when he hath drunk himself to death, as speedily he will, I will freely offer thee the solace of these arms and my wealth. Thou need have no fear that we shall ever be discovered; he is nearly always in his cups. Oh, take pity on me. I offer thee much; I will give thee more,” and so saying, the floodgates of her pent up sorrow burst their bonds. Flinging her arms about his neck, she sobbed upon his breast as if her heart would break.
Rob was bewildered, he had witnessed the perfidy of Rosa. His companion was beautiful, Ay, even as beautiful as Rosa herself. Why should he not go as the protector of this persecuted damsel? Just for a moment his senses lost their balance, he was thrilled with the touch of her arms, He was intoxicated already, with the tiny sip he had taken from the cup she was holding no near his lips. And then he fancied that something had darkened the sun, but he found it was not so, it was but the shadow of the old Cross falling upon his face, and at that instant he awoke to the reality of his position. He gently pushed back the tear stained face, which was lifting its ripe young lips, all unbidden to his own, and springing to his feet, exclaimed:
“I cannot, I dare not play with so great a temptation. One thing we mustn’t forget; whatever the man may be, he is your husband. I dare not venture to engage in such a service as you desire. No! no I get you home, and strive to win your husband to better ways. You have beauty and graces, which rightly used, even your husband will find hard to withstand if given wholly in the nobler cause of winning him from his present vices.”
“Dost thou refuse the offer I have made thee? An offer a thousand other men would give their lives but to bask in for one single day?” she cried trembling with suppressed excitement.
“I do,” answered Rob so firmly, that she knew he meant what he said, and that she had failed in her wicked scheme, laid for his eternal undoing. Standing before him, livid with passion, she almost screamed, so shrill was her voice, yet speaking almost in a whisper.
“Dolt! Thou shalt yet learn what the cost of a woman’s unrequited love means. Thou fool! thou weakling! Bah! I have not patience to speak or look upon thee, but my vengeance shall surely overtake thee.” Then calling to her steed, she sprang into the saddle, and galloped away.
Back to the Cross Rob went, and again kneeling prayed to be forgiven for having dallied with sin, for well he knew that he had done so. A few moments later he saw approaching him an old lady.
“Aa dear, young Rob,” cried the old lady, “but this bank out of Lastingham is as brant1steep as a house side, and sorely tries my old legs. They fail me nowadays but I mind the day when I could run from the wath2ford in the village to the top of this bank without stress or strain. It is not, however, of myself I have climbed the bank to talk about, but of thee. I am Siba, the mother of Elfi, and a proud mother I am too; oh what a son he is to be sure, and I cursed the day when my misshapen babe was laid in my arms, but I have learnt to bless his being spared to me a thousand times a day. Ay, and I have bent the knee in thankfulness, many’s the time, for being so honoured in having given birth to such a noble soul. But neither must I talk of him. I have been spending a few days with a friend ie the village yonder, but my son looked in a short while ago, and he told me that lhee had thee with Elba, the young and abandoned wife of the wicked Golfa. My son said to me, if Rob with stands her blandishments, as I feel assured he will, then Elba will gallop home end swear to her husband that she has been assaulted on the moor, and it won’t be long before he and his dogs will be on his track, for he delights in such a hunt. And if he captured thee, thou wouldst become one of his bond slaves, and sad would be such a fate. It is to save thee from being thus hunted, that my son bade me hurry to thee and lead thee to my humble cot.”
“You speak me fair, good mother, but how am I to know that thou art the mother of Elfi?” cautiously asked Rob.
“I admire thy caution, but it would have been more to thy credit had it been equally displayed in the of the beautiful Elba. I am old and ugly; bet I won’t scold thee, as thou did’st cast off the worthless jade. But in future let thy caution be as much to the fore when thou art tempted with youth and beauty as with age and wrinkles. Never again let slip from thy mind that real goodness is not always outwardly beautiful. But come, we must away to my cot in lovely Ferndale, or the dogs will overtake thee before I have thee housed, so that I may parley and make terms with Mad Golfa before giving thee up. Thou hast made a great enemy of yon young Elba, but bear in mind, thou hads’t better have her for thy bitterest foe in life than thy friend for a day. Remember that the frowns of a bad woman lead on to fortune her smiles to man’s undoing. It is as well that thou shouldst know that. Had thou but succumbed to her wicked whispers and drunk from the cup which she so temptingly held to thy lips, she would for a short time have made thee master of her many charms; in secrecy she would have indulged thee in every wicked pleasure; but sin ever rideth in a chariot with a loose tire, and it is always drawn by a mistetched steed. The pleasures of sin are of short duration; but long does its poison rankle in the blood. On the slightest suspicion of her misconduct being discovered she would cast thee off, and sworn some wicked lie against thee, and then — well, death or something worse would have been thy lot.
Thus chatting, the two hurried along. For two hours over moorland and dale the old dame led the way at a brisk pace. At last, with a sigh of relief she said, “Here we we.” Hardly, however, had they crossed the threshold when in rushed Elfi, greatly excited.
“Quick!” he cried, “off with your shoon{mfn]shoes[/mfn] and on with these. Elba has told Golfa that thou hast waylaid her during her morning’s ride, and shamefully ill-used her. His passion is so violent that if he found thee here he would listen to no parleying, but set his dogs to worry thee. In those boots his hounds will be at fault, and unable to follow thy scent any farther than here, but he will scour the woods to find thee, so we must waste a moment.”
Quickly changing his shoes, Rob followed his little friend, and what a speed, and how those untiring little misshapen legs hastened through the dense part of the forest, until they came to the river Dove, which fortunately was very low at the time.
“Follow me,” said the dwarf, dropping upon his hands and knees, and disappearing feet first down one of the many tunnels through which here and there the Dove so mysteriously runs its course undeground. “There,” said he, after they had proceeded some twenty yards. “This is my secret cave. Here you will be quite safe. I must leave you at once, for my poor old mother may he needing my aid.”
In less than an hour he returned. Rob saw something was wrong: the little fellow’s face was drawn with trouble, he spake not a word, but throwing himself cross-legged upon the ground, buried his face in his hands and sobbed like a little child.
Gently laying his hand upon his friend’s shoulder, Rob begged to know what had happened.
“My mother is gone, our little cottage is now a smoking ruin,” he sobbed as he rocked to and fro. A moment later he sprang to his feet, and the look of stern determination in every line of the little chap’s face would have well become a giant. “I must leave you. I —”
But Rob stopped him. “Why should you leave? I, who have been the cause at all your trouble, beg that I may be allowed to stand, and, if needs die by your side.”
“God bless you! ’tis well spoken; the day is yet young, and we have much to do. Let us not waste a moment; come, follow me, we must haste with hot foot to the seer who lives hard by Black Howe, on the far Keldy Castle.
When once again they gained the moor path, Elfi bade his companion wait awhile. Turning his face to the sun he made a curious noise with his lips, and then gently hummed in a soft, not unmusical, voice:—
“Wings of purple, blue, and gold.
Shim’ring, sheeny, instant flight,
Ye swift dragons of the moor,
I crave your aid my sore plight;
Whirring, whizzing, light’ning flash.
From the stars your jewels came,
Moonlight, sunlight, both are ye.
Come ye wings of magic flame;
Come! in countless thousands, come!
My instant bidding do this day,
Sorely do I need your help—
Come, ye dragons, come, I pray. B—”
Barely had the last word fallen from Elfi’s lips than from all quarters of the moor came whirring towards countless numbers of dragon flies — such a sight never before had mortal eyes beheld. From all quarters there speeding came ten thousand times ten thousand, ay, almost in the twinkling of an eye, they lay spread upon the heather to a great distance round them, a blinding blaze of ever-changing light, of every shade and tint. It was a huge carpet spread out, on bush and moss, composed of a quivering sheeny mass of living jewels.
Than Elfi raised his head, and in an instant every wing was folded.
“Flying Æthers,” said he, addressing the assembled throng, “I command ye dragons of the moor to tell the adders to go , in their thousands and hide themselves near to the house of wicked Golfa. Tell ye every hornet and wasp ye meet that I need their aid in countless thousands at early sunrise to-morrow. When ye have done this, haste to the anthills, and bid them ask their queens to marshal their armies, and send them hither likewise. Go ye to the bustards, and beg them to go to the anthills at early dawn, I desire each bustard to transport an army of ants upon their backs to the place. Tell one, tell all, that my dear mother, good Siba, who has always been a kind friend to ye of the woods and moors, is in great danger of her life. Now hasten ye to do my bidding.” So ending his speech Elfi clapped his hands, and as if by magic instantly all around them became a blaze of jewelled light, which gradually spread itself over the moor, and then was lost to view.
“Now, then, I am going to try the muscles of your legs, and your powers of endurance. Happily, you have my boots on, so they will give you a good help. Come, I am anxious; I cannot waste a moment.”
With this request Elfi started off at a pace which Rob had not thought possible. His little legs seemed to fairly twinkle as he hurried along, mile after mile, by shorts cuts, and but little used moor paths, across becks, and along the skirts of great bogs. Through valleys, and over hills, on, on, they went. Never once did those little legs flag or seem to tire. Tire, indeed! He felt no fatigue. Nothing could have tired him. He might have dropped dead as he ran; such an event could only have stopped him in his endeavour, if possible, to his mother, the mother he so loved. His was a noble, truly noble nature, disalayed in one of nature’s rudest caskets.
At last their long run ended. Fortune so far favoured them in that they found the seer in his cave. He received Elfi end Rob very kindly. He told the dwarf that he had acted very wisely in calling to his aid the Flying Æthers. After some conversation, the dwarf so earnestly requested to be where his mother was and how she was being treated at that moment, that in the end the old man said—
“I would have spared thee a heart’s pang, but have thy will. Up to now they mother hath suffered no ill. She is even at this moment about to be judged. Gaze ye both upon this shield. Speak ye not an much an in a whisper. Move ye not so much as an inch from where ye stand, or the picture will instantly vanish. Hush!”
Pulling on one side a curtain, the seer disclosed to their view, hanging by a chain from the roof of the cave, a large shield having the brightness of polished silver; dipping a lighted taper within a brazen bowl standing upon the ground immediately below the swinging shield, a blinding, bright rod flame filled the cave. ‘Twas but a flash, but that same instant they discovered they were standing side by side in a large hall. Instinctively they knew they were in Golfa’s home. Rob perceived the immodest damsel of that morning’s encounter seated near to the besotted-looking man he had seen Rosa ride away with. He divined this was Elba’s husband, and at her side, smiling and being smiled at, stood Mott, the steward. Whilst Rob was thus wondering, Elfi’s mother was dragged before her judges and placed in front of Golfa’a chair. Then Golfa’s wife stood up, and without a blush, declared to all those present as shameful a lie as ever fell from woman’s lips.
Said the: “At sunrise, when I was taking my morning’s ride upon the moor, a young man begged alms of me, but when I would have relieved him, he seized hold of my habit skirt, and would have dragged me from the saddle, had I not fortunately broken away from him, or I know not what might have happened to me. I cannot repeat the shameful and disgusting language which he used. When I was safely as home, I at once told my husband how I had been insulted, and when he would have had him caught and punished, Siba, the witch, who stands there, and whom we all know for a vile creature, aided by her cripple son, spirited the scoundrel away, and will not disclose his hiding place. I demand that she be soundly whipped.”
“She shall be, my dear, and to-morrow morning we will end her foul existence. I order that, she be burnt at the stake. See you that one is driven in the centre of the clearing upon the moor. Also gather together dry and green brushwood for the occasion. Ho! ho! ha! ha; but it will be good sport to hearken unto thy cries for mercy. Hast anything to say, thou skinny hag?” Golfa brutally demanded.
“Take your revenge upon this old body, but have a care. Remember, but an you spill but one single drop of my blood, it shall be reckoned against thee, thou drunken sot, as well as against thee, thou debauched and lewdly-gi’en miss, whom Golfa calls his wife. Oh, thou silly fool, she tricks thee every day.”
Whilst yet thus the old dame uttered her fearful and true denunciation, Elba snatching the heavy riding stock from Mott’s hand, sprang at the old dame with the ferocity of a wildcat, and beat her most unmercifully, Golfa laughing uproariously as he watched his young wife strike blow after blow, unmindful where they fell. At last one severe cut lighted upon the dame’s hand, breaking the skin, from which the red blood flowed vigorously. Shaking her hand, a few drops fell upon Elba’s garment, as well as upon Golfa and Mott.
“Your fates are sealed; yo have spilled my blood, and it has lighted upon ye.”
Shouting these words so that might hear, Siba sank senseless upon the ground.
During the whole of this painful ordeal, Elfi had remained motionless at Rob’s side, trembling with suppressed passion, but knowing that he was powerless to render the least aid to his aged mid loved parent.
The moment his mother sank senseless upon the floor, Golfa left the hall alone, whilst Mott and Elba made their exit by another way. Gradually the picture faded away, until they were in total darkness. Again the red flash lighted the gloom, and another scene was presented to Rob’s astonished gaze. He beheld Rosa seated weeping in a small room, lighted with one narrow strongly-barred window. At that very moment the heavily-studded oaken door was pushed open, and Golfa entered.
“Well,” Rob heard him say, addressing Rosa. “I have come to have just another peep at my lovely Rosa, and how is she this morning? Pray why these tears?” he questioned, seating himself at her side upon the little bed, and would have wound his arm he waist, but Rosa sprang as far from him as she could.
“Monster!” she cried indignantly, “leave me, and never let me see thy evil face again.”
And then Rob had to listen to tho vile man proposing shameful terms, by which she might purchase her freedom, to which she stoutly refused to listen. At last, rising to his feet he concluded the interview by saying, “Were it not my little wench, that I can take at any moment that which ye so foolishly refuse to grant me, I would not stop to parley with thee; nay, not one single moment. But, hark ye thou art in my power, nothing can save thee, and I solemnly swear if ye do not send a favourable reply to my wishes, by your supper bearer this very night (for I hate a reluctant mistress) I will to-morrow morning, after the burning of the witch, tear every rag from off thy body, turn thee loose upon the moor, and then hunt thee with a muzzled pack. ‘Twill be good sport for me and my retainers, such I never indulged in before. So, hark you now, send me yes by to-night, or my vengeance shall fall upon thee. Remember, I never break my word,” said he, as he left her, and he might (with truth) have added, “when the cause is a bad one.
“Hush!” said Elfi, when they were once again on the moor. “Let me think, the maiden’s case is desperate. Golfa spares neither man in his anger nor woman in his lust. I would not give thee a moment’s unnecessary pain, but I must tell thee that I fear as Golfa, becomes more intoxicated as the day proceeds he may not wait until her supper is sent her ere he again visits the maiden. It is now just turned noon. There are many hours yet ere to-morrow’s sun rises, during which the villain may change his mind. What we do for her salvation must be done at once; but what ?” almost savagely the little fellow asked himself, dropping his face within his huge bands as he asked the question.
“Ohl” groaned Rob in the anguish of his heart, “think! For mercy’s sake devise some means to free her from the clutch of such a vile brute.”
” Hush!” again cried the little fellow. “Listen to me. Lest her spirit fail her we must give her hope. We must let her know that help is near. Give me the bit of Elfrid’s sandal, she will recognise that. “Calling a small bird to hand he gave the chip to it, bidding it fly to Rosa’s prison and drop it in her lap. “That will do for the present. And now I must ask aid from one who is very small but very wise. I speak of the Queen of the fairies reigning over this and the six adjacent dales.”
“I am here to render thee all the help I can; indeed I have already done so,” said a small sweet voice close to them; and then they both saw Her Majesty seated, swung to and fro from the frond of a brackken.
“How, and in what has your gracious Majesty been good enough to help the maiden?” enquired Elfi.
“I despatched a number of wasps to the maiden’s prison, and ordered them to begin with all speed to build a solid mass within the lock, so that long ere this Golfa will have discovered that the key won’t turn, and therefore although the maiden is securely looked in, Golfa, the wicked monster, is just as securely locked out. Get you therefore as speedily to the locksmith and tell him from me that he must make excuse and say that he will not be able to pick the lock to-day, as he will need to make a special tool before he can do so.”
It was well they did haste away, for when they reached the forge they discovered the goodman had already been sent for, and was then gathering together those things he would require. He promised Elfi that he would do as requested, though he doubted not there would be some bother, as the serving man who had brought the message declared that Golfa was wild with passion because lie could not unlock the door of the strong room.
“In the morning, good smith,” said Elfie. “Be not there much before porridge time, and then you will open it for us, not for Golfa.”
Before the had sun above the Eastern hills, Eifie and Rob were on their way to the place where the stake had been driven — the dreaded stake to which his poor mother had been sentenced to he bound and burnt to death. Even at that early hour, the air was busy with an ever-increasing throng. This Elfie noted with a gleam off satisfaction shining in his huge soft eyes. Bustard after bustard went whirring overhead, all in one direction, all aiming for the fatal stake. As the sun rose, swarm after swarm of hornets and wasps in dark, angry-looking clusters followed in their wake, and then, a little further on, both the travellers had to wait awhile, for right across the path they were taking, and as far as the eye could see, was an immense number of adders sinuously writhing, all in the one direction, the stake.
“And,” said Elfi, “were you to make a complete circle of the moor until you were as far distant on the yonder side of the stake as we are now on this, you would find wherever you might he, that it is just as busy as you find it here. All aiming for the stake.” As he spoke the hoarse croak of several ravens cawed overhead. They, too, were lazily winging their flight stakewards.
“Ho! those will be the signallers; fit birds for such a scene as this morning sun shall witness,” said Eifi, looking upward.
Even at that very moment, Golfa, who risen by times, was peering between the thick bars of Rosa’s prison. She was sleeping. In utter weariness, she had cast herself upon the rude couch, and exhausted nature had closed her eves in sleep.
Gaze on, thou cruel Golfa, and feast thy cruel eyes upon the sleeping maid, even now an angel guards her couch, and gives her happy dreams, in which thou hast no part. Gaze on, thou false-hearted villain, and gloat over the shameful deed thy heart is now rejoicing over, but the fates which permitted thou would’st carry out in all its vileness the moment the smith shall open yonder door, which never will be opened for thee. Gaze on, for never again shall thine eyes dwell upon such loveliness as now they behold. Gaze on, as thou rnutterest under thy breath, “If Elba only knew my game, wouldn’t there be a storm.” Gaze on, for while thou thus communes within thyself Mott and thy wicked wife, hidden from thy view, are watching thee and all thy movements. Her companion is pouring into her willing ear such a tale of thy intrigue with thy prisoner, that in thy wife’s false breast is growing an all-consuming thirst for vengeance. Untrue to thee herself, she cannot brook a rival, even in thy vile heart. So, whilst thine eyes drink in the smiles on yonder lips by angels brought thy wife and her companion are plotting thy destruction. Ay, plotting, how, after this day’s foul deed, thou mayest be put out of the way, and he, thou hast called thy friend, installed as master of thy house, thy wife, and all thy worldly possessions. Thy wife, as thou descends the ladder upon which thou host been standing scheming how best she can heap upon this innocent maid such a string of shameless indignities as almost make the very imps to shudder at her malignity, and thou, even thou, never, no, never could have dreamt of. But it is as the old song says.—
The devil but half knew his trade
Till ‘prenticed to a woman.
And thou, too, oh, shameless woman, scheme on, within thy wicked heart for just a little while. Scheme on, revel in all the unborn blushes thou longs to briug on yonder pure, sweet face. Scheme on, vile woman, and bask thou in the hate which surges in thy heart in all the vengeance thou dost long to wreak on yon fair maiden. Dwell on the things which once did bring to thine own fair cheek the hot red blood of shame, for once in thy young maidenhood thou wert as pure as she, but now, scheme on, seek not in hell, but search within thine own black soul some plan to still her heart with shame.
The bell sends forth its knell, which like sweet music to thine ear tells thee that one thou hast long hated is now about to suffer a cruel death. Ay speed thy feet, speed to where the stake is driven, for not a morsel of thy revenge would’st thou miss. Haste thee.
Effi and Rob at a safe distance lay hidden, waiting and watching all that transpired. Soon the noise of marrow bones, tin cans, and the blowing of horns, and other uncouth sounds proclaim that poor old Siba is being dragged forth. On she came, not resisting or offering one word of complaint, but quietly submitting, whilst her captors bound her fast to the stake.
Then Golfa called aloud.
“Have ye aught to say, ye old beldame, why ye should not be burnt as the law directs? Have ye any confession to make? Desirest thou to ease thy soul?” Then he, perjured judge waited to hear what the old dame might say, believing that she would crave his mercy.
“Hush!” she cried, “thou wicked Golfa, judgment is now about to overtake thee. Cast thine eyes about thee, for the signs of thy doom are now gathering quickly round about thee, and the shameless weean by thy side; and also him who persecuted poor Rosa until thou trapped her.” Then lifting her voice so that all those gathered about might hear her words, she shouted, “Hearken to my words all ye who have within your hearts a spark of pity for my sad plight, and who pray within your souls that my death may be a painless one and would that I were freed. Turn ye about, and haste you a goodly way apart, for those of the earth, and those of the air, are about to judge and execute these whose cup of sin is full to overflowing. Be ye quick and separate yourselves.”
“Stop her ranting tongue,” cried Golfa, in a towering passion, when he observed nearly all those gathered to see the witch executed quickly separate themselves. Greater was his passion when he saw that many of his own retainers and all his bonds men and women had joined the retreating crowd. “Curse ye for poltroons[mfm]utter cowards[/mfn],” he screamed. “I will scourge everyone of you before the sun turns its course this day. Ricco, set fire to the faggots and stay the old hag’s brawling.”
But as Golfa ordered the faggots to be lighted several ravens loudly creaked, and as Ricco lifted the burning torch, he dropped it instantly with a cry of pain, piteously calling, “I cannot see, I am blinded, the hornets have stung both my eye!”
“Hackker, you light the fire,” shouted Golfa, roaring with laughter as he witnessed Ricco’s antics of pain. But no sooner did Hackker seize the burning torch, than he, too, with a yell of pain, called, “I am also blinded. Oh, curse this day!”
“Gammer!” called Golfa, sternly, “pick up that torch and set the pile on fire, and let there he no fooling; I will reckon with you two fools presently.” But as Gammer stoopcd to lay hold of the smouldering torch, he beheld, lying in the grass, not on, but — nay he knew not how many, writhing hagworms3. Without a word, and not caring for the after consequences, he turned and fled.
“This is a conspiracy to disobey my orders” yelled Go!fa, his passion now beyond all bounds, “I will fire the old hag myself,” so saying, he hurried from his wife and Mott, who clapped their hands in approval of his determination, hoping he, too, might be stung. But as he left them, seven ravens began to caw loudly and circle overhead. Round and round they flew, in an ever narrowing circle, until Golfa seized this torch.
Then, in a moment, even before the mind could grasp what was happening, the air was blackened with counties myriads of savage hornets and wasps. Over the surface of the ground, and over every bush there rose and fell one mighty wave of living hagworms. The twain closed their eyes, they could not close their ears; but they never forgot those few awful moments. Long years afterwards, when something brought the dreadful scene to Rob’s mind, he again, in imagination saw those who were overcome by that vast wave of venomed vengeance, fall to the ground. Again their mingled cries of agony, prayers, and curses, rang loudly in his ears.
“Come,” said the dwarf, gently touching Rob on the arm. “It is over. Their cup was to overflowing. Let us release my dear mother, and then we must see to thy sweetheart. When both are free we will quit this place as speedily as we can, leaving, the ants to complete this day’s sad work.” Passing the body of Elba, as they hastened to’ Siba’s release, they gazed for an instant upon her once beautiful face. In her death agonies she had torn the light covering from her once lovely shoulders, but now that snowy bosom and queenly neck and and bewitching face were loathsome to behold. All were swarming with busy ants.
“What are they doing?” questioned Rob.
“They are busy performing their allotted task. Ere to-night’s sun shall sink in the western skies these three bodies — for all had fled — will be white skeletons, bleaching on the moor. These countless millions of ants by that time will have torn every scrap of flesh from their vile carcasses, and their cursed bones will be left to the crows to rot.”
“I would my son that it could have been otherwise, but for them to have lived meant misery to many, and they were long since past repentance.”
Quickly finding the smith, it was not long ere Siba was free, and Rosa was sobbing Rob’s breast. When she was sufficiently composed, she told them her simple story.
“Directly you were out of the way, Rob,” she said, “Mott and any stepmother commenced to treat me to a systematic course of persecution. Had it not been that both were truly bad, and striving to outwit each other, I do not know what might have befallen me. As it was, that woman guarded and protected me with wonderful skill, from falling into several traps which Mott laid to get me into his power. After you left, no mention was ever made about making me his lawful wife, and I believe if Mott would only have cancelled my stepmother’s indebtedness to him, she would have lent a willing hand in furthering any scheme he had cared to suggest. At last discovering that all plans were always cleverly frustrated, he hit upon another plan. It happened one day when hanging out some clothes that Golfa, his wife, and Mott in company rode past our cottage. Golfa begged a cup of water, for which he thanked me, and then rode away. I saw no more of him until sunrise yesterday morning. Being up by times, I was going to feed the poultry, when, much to my surprise, I saw Golfa riding towards me, loading a second horse. He beckoned of me to join him, and then explained that he had come thus early so that no one should know he had been in the neighbourhood. I am a friend of Mott’s,’ said he, ‘and I would not like him to know that I have played him an unfriendly action, but he has laid a foul plot for your abduction, my dear; he intends to set fire to your cottage this very night, and then in the confusion you are to be carried away to a place of safety. Of course,’ said he, being a friend of his, I could not do more than advise him not to carry out such a shameful trick, but he will not listen to reason. My wife and myself both feel in what a very dangerous position you are placed, so my wife has sent me to say if you care to accept her protection and come to her — she wants a maid — l am to offer you the situation, and take you back with me. What do you say?”
”In my innocence, and being surrounded with difficulties, I was delighted at his offer, and told him so.
” ‘That’s right,’ said he, drawing me to his side and kissing me before I was aware of what he was doing. Had I been wise I should then, after such an act on his part, have refused to go a step farther, but when he saw how startled I was he quieted me by saying not unkindly,
“Tut, tut, girl, I am old enough to be your father. Had I dreamt of harming you I would not have given you a fatherly kiss thus openly.” He spake so timidly, and I was so beset with difficulties and dangers on every hand, that I gave him my foot and let him lift me into the saddle. Again I must admit that my heart gave me another warning. He held my foot so long, and so praised its shape and smallness, that I bade him let us begone. After riding some miles he left me into at the cottage of a good dame to rest during most of the day saying that he had business which would detain him several hours. I know that this was done so that I might be smuggled into my prison after darkness had set in, and without the knowledge of his wife. I soon learnt that I had escaped the snares of one bad man only to fall bodily into the net of a still worse.
“It had been Mott’s prposal that I should be thus entrapped. This I gathered after they had both paid me a visit in my prison; and I heard them quarrelling whilst GoIfa locked the door. I cannot, dare not, repeat all I heard them say, but Golfa declared that for the present I was his prize. Mott threatened to disclose my presence in the house to Golfa’s wife, to which threat that worthy replied, ‘Do so, and for the rest of your life live under my displeasure, and you know what that means.’
“I need not dwell on the dreadful hours which followed. I felt that for the present I was comparatively safe. Neither durst harm me for fear of the other. This belief was strengthened by a few words which Mott whispered to me through the window. He swore than sooner than Golfa should harm me, he would boldly confess my presence to the wife. Just at present he was held from doing so, because he could not foresee what Golfa might do to him, and what Elba might do to me.”
“So that really you owe your freedom from harm to the fact that you were threatened by several bad people?” said Rob.
“I never lost hope after the little bird brought me your token, Rob; and when immediately afterwards I watched hornets blocking up the lock. I dared to sleep, and I slept soundly for hours.
Two days later they all stood in front of Rosa’s cottage. They found the door locked, and an empty dead feeling about the place.
On making enquiries, they learnt that the good folks in the neighbourhood, missing Rosa demanded to know what had become of her. The stepmother, not being able to give a satisfactory reply, was dragged forth, publicly whipped, and banished the neighbourhood. There was great rejoicing when Rob and Rosa became man and wife, and the good folk hearing that the landlord was staying in the district, begged from him a piece of land, on which they built a cottage for Siba and Elfi. And, as no owner could be found having any claim to the lost treasure, the old shoemaker was liberally rewarded, and Rob and Rosa became the wealthiest folk in the whole countryside, and they and their bonny children lived long, and were a blessing to all about them.
[THE END.]
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