Chapter 40

She turned away from the incensed fisherman; and proceeding to a short distance, we found a knot of persons gathered around a half-drowned wretch who owed his appearance again upon land to having been lashed on some lumber which the sea had just cast ashore. Almost fainting from cold and exhaustion, he was undergoing a severe questioning from the bystanders--every one wishing to know the name of the ship, whither bound, and the whole particulars of the disaster. We just came in time for his release; and I soon had the satisfaction to find the poor fellow in my quarters, before a comfortable fire, his clothes drying, and his benumbed limbs chafed until the circulation was again pretty nigh restored. After drinking a tumbler of grog he appeared to recover rapidly; and we found on inquiry that he was master of the vessel just wrecked on the coast. He shook his head on a further inquiry as to the fate of her crew. "A score as good hands," said he, "are gone to the bottom as ever unreefed a clean topsail or hung out a ship's canvas to the wind; I saw them all go down as I lashed myself to the jib." He groaned deeply; but speedily assuming a gayer tone, requested a quid and a quiet hammock. "My lights are nearly stove in,--my head hangs as loose as a Dutchman's shrouds; a night's sleep will make all taut again."

Old Bridget was gone to bed; and unless the sailor chose to occupy the straw pallet already in the possession of a guest whose mysterious arrival seemed to be the forerunner of nothing but confusion and disaster, there did not seem any chance of obtaining a berth save by remaining in his present situation. I told him of the dilemma, but Kate replied:--"We can just take the body fro' the bed; it winna tak' harm upo' the chest i' the fur nook. The captain will not maybe sleep the waur for quiet company."

He did not seem to relish the idea of passing the night even with so quiet a companion; but as it seemed the least disagreeable alternative, we agreed to pilot him to the chamber and help the miserable pallet to change occupants. The corpse we agreed to lay on some clean litter used for the bedding of the cattle. We conducted the stranger to his dormitory, which was formerly a hay loft, until converted into an occasional sleeping-room for the humble applicants who sometimes craved a night's lodging at the Sandy Holm.

The only entrance was by a crazy ladder, and so steep, that I was afraid our feeble companion would find considerable difficulty in climbing to his chamber. It was my intention to have prevented him from getting a sight of the ghastly object that occupied his couch; but pressing foremost, he ran up the ladder with surprising agility, gaining the top ere I had made preparations for the ascent. I mounted cautiously, giving him the light whilst I made good my landing; and he went directly to the bed. I had set my foot on the floor, and was lending a hand to Kate, who had still to contend with the difficulties of the way, when I heard a dismal and most appalling shriek. Starting round, I beheld the stranger gazing on the couch, his eyeballs almost bursting from their sockets, and his countenance distorted with horror and amazement. I ran to him as the light dropped from his grasp; catching it ere it fell, I perceived his eyes rivetted on the livid and terrific features of the corpse. My limbs grew stiff with horror; thoughts of strange import crowded on my mind; I knew not how to shape them into any definite form, but stood trembling and appalled before the dark chaos whence they sprung. Scarcely knowing what I said, still I remember the first inquiry that burst from my lips--"Knowest thou that murdered man?"

The words were scarcely uttered when the conscience-stricken wretch exclaimed, in accents which I shall never forget, "Know him!--yesterday he stood at my helm. I had long borne him an evil grudge, and I brooded on revenge. The devil prompted it--he was at my elbow. It was dark, and the fiend's eyes flashed when I aimed the blow. It descended with a heavy crash, and the body rolled overboard. He spoke not, save once; it was when his hated carcase rose to the surface. I heard a faint moan; it rang on my ear like the knell of death; the voice rushed past--a low sepulchral shout; in my ear it echoed with the cry of 'MURDER!'"

Little remains to be told; he persisted to the last in this horrible confession. He had no wish to live; and the avenging arm of retributive justice closed the world and its interests for ever on a wretch who had forfeited all claims to its protection--cast out, and judged unworthy of a name and a place amongst his fellow-men.

FOOTNOTES:

[48] Glazebrook's Southport.

THE BAR-GAIST.

"From hag-bred Merlin's time have I Thus nightly revelled to and fro; And for my pranks men call me by The name of Robin Goodfellow. Fiends, ghosts, and sprites, Who haunt the nightes, The hags and goblins do me know; And beldames old My feates have told-- So _vale, vale_; ho, ho, ho!"

--BEN JONSON.

"In the northern parts of England," says Brand, speaking of the popular superstitions, "ghost is pronounced _gheist_ and _guest_. Hence _barguest_ or _bargheist_. Many streets are haunted by a _guest_, who assumes many strange appearances, as a mastiff dog, &c. It is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon [Illustration: jart], _spiritus, anima_."

Drake, in his _Eboracum_, says (p. 7, Appendix), "I have been so frightened with stories of the barguest when I was a child, that I cannot help throwing away an etymology upon it. I suppose it comes from A.S. [Illustration: bupp], a town, and [Illustration: jart], a ghost, and so signifies a town sprite. N.B. [Illustration: jart] is in the Belgic and Teutonic softened into gheist and geyst."

The boggart or bar-gaist of the following story resembles the German _kobold,_ the Danish _nis_, and the Scotch _brownie_; but, above all, the Spanish _duende_, which signifies a spirit or sprite, supposed by the vulgar to haunt houses and highways, causing therein much terror and confusion. "DUENDE. _Espiritu que el vulgo cree que infesta las casas y travesea, causando en ellas ruidos y estruendos_"--LEMURES, LARVÆ. "To appear like a _duende_," "to move like a _duende_" are modes of speaking by which it is meant that persons appear in places where they are least expected. "To have a _duende_" signifies that a person's imagination is disturbed.

The following curious Spanish "Moral," the MS. of which has been kindly lent to the author by Mr Crofton Croker may not be deemed uninteresting as an illustration of the subject. We have accompanied each stanza with a parallel translation of our own.

DUENDE ENEMIGO DEL JUEGO.

DUENDE AN ENEMY TO GAMING.

_Cuento Morál._

_A Moral Tale._

Un _Duende_, grave Señor, Que estudió la astrologia, Se propuso la mania, De ser rico jugador.

A grave and learned Senior, who Practised astrology, Bethought him by his lucky stars He passing rich would be.

Todos los siete planetas, Formaban su gran consejo; Y antes de llegar á viejo, Ya no tenia calzetas.

The planets seven his council made, He hugged the glozing cheat; But ere the pedant's legs were old, No stockings held his feet!

Aburrido y sin dinero, Mui tarde se arrepintid, Y en un desban se metid A llorar su error primero.

Enraged and disappointed, he Waxed sour and melancholy, And to a vintner's garret trudged, There to bewail his folly.

Por su gran sabiduría, En duende se corivirtió, Y la guerra declaró, Al arte de fullería.

"I'll have revenge," he cried, then wrought So wondrous cunningly, That in a trice transformed he was, A brisk _Duende_ he.

La vecíndad asombrada, De sus fuertes alaridos, Corriendo despavoridos, Abandon an la Posada.

This pedant, now a "Boggart" made, No soul could rest in quiet; Nor rogue nor bully was his match For kicking up a riot.

Dueño absolute ya el duende, De la espantosa mansion, Se aunientó la confusion, Y el temor entre la gente.

At last none dared that garret drear, His dwelling, to come nigh; Sole master of his attic, he Reigned peremptorily.

Pero siendo tan demente El hombre que es codicioso, No faltó quien jactancioso, Despreciase al señor duende.

Not so the sharpers, who this house Had made their special haunt: "Señor Duende!--Humph!"--cried they "May suck eggs with his aunt!"

Unos cuantos jugadores, Que llaman de profesion, Eligieron la mansion Para exercer sus primores.

They and their worthy company, Of the black-limbed profession, Here cheated in a lawful way, By that best right--possession!

Mui luego la compañia, Numerosa vino á ser, Y el que Ilegaba á perder, Contra al duende maldecía.

The crowd increased. Some luckless wight His winnings at an end, he Swore by his trumps, 'twas owing to That rascally _Duende_!

La confusa gritería, Pronto al duende incomodó, Y al complot se apareció Que ápenas, cuarta tenía.

This roused him from his garret, where He heard the daily squabble; And lo, in human form, he stands Before the shirtless rabble!

En voz, como chirimía, Dijoles cortés y atento _Que habitaba el aposento_ _Donde su amo existia_.

He squeaked, "Your servant, gentlemen; I would not thus intrude, 'Pon honour, but your conduct is So very-very rude.

_Que en alta camara fiero,_ _Todo señor, reclamaba_ _El orden, y lo aperaba,_ _Aunque ageno de en fullero_.

"My master,--he who sits up-stairs I mean,--no jesting, gents,-- Expects that you'll be quiet, else He'll scold at all events."

No fue poca la sorpresa, Del mensage y la vision; Y aun con todo, un temerón, Quiso de ella hacer presa.

The gamblers stared, some tumbled down, Some gaped, some told their prayers But one, more daring, swore, i'fack, He'd kick the brute down-stairs!

Mas el caso se fustró, Sin saber como ni cuando, Pues por el ayre volando Nuestro duende se fugó.

But ere he felt th' uplifted foot He 'scaped,--how none could tell; But, sooth it was, this messenger No bodily harm befell!

El suceso maldecían Los unos por el temor, Y gritaban con furor Los que el dinero perdían.

The rogues, who saw him disappear, Waxed paler than before: Some said an _Ave_; some for fear, And some for folly, swore.

Vuelve por segunda vez, El mensajero, crecido Media vara, y atrevido, Les dice, menos cortés.

When suddenly amidst them all, Again the demon stands; A full half-yard in stature grown! Their business he demands.

_Que su amo, era absoluto,_ _De aquella encantada casa,_ _Y su paciencia era escasa,_ _Con todo fullero astuto_.

"I tell ye, villains, gamblers, thieves! His patience is but small, With such as you,--so master says, Who master will you all!

_Que les mandaba salir_ _De aquel lugar, con presteza,_ _Pues de no, su gentileza,_ _Los haría consumir_.

"Out of the house, ye rabble rout! Out of the house! I say, Or otherwise his honour will Consume you utterly!"

Del duendecito quisieron Apoderarse valientes, Mas se les fué entre los dientes, Y sin la presa se vieron.

Thought one, "I'll seize this varlet vile," And speedily arose; He caught him in his clutch--the sprite Vanished and tweaked his nose!

Ya el temor empezó á obrar Y entraron las reflexiones, Apoyando con varones, Que era Duende, á no dudar.

"San Jerome, save us, we are loo'd If this should be the sprite; The big _Duende_, best we bid His boggartship good night."

Como siempre al jugador, Lo sostiene la esperanza, Fundàron la confianza, En que un Duende es vividor.

But hope, the gambler's enemy, Beguiled them to their ruin; "These ugly sprites, they say, are rich, Yet yield nought without wooing.

Que su ciencia atrae dinero, Y medios paro adquirirlo, Y era cuerdo el admitirlo, Dandole el lugar primero.

"His skill may help us to repair Our cloaks, and eke our breeches; Best speak him fair. We'll worship Nick If he but grant us riches!"

Mas el duende que escuchaba La trama de los fulleros, Quiso en tales caballeros, _Vengàr,_ lo que suspiraba.

The sly _Duende_, like a mouse, Hearkening behind the wall, Did now resolve he quickly would The greedy rogues bemaul

En efecto, agigantado, Con negro manto talár, Cornamenta singular, Ufías largas y barbado.

A mighty giant, lo he comes. Wrapped in a cloak of sable; With horns, hoofs, nails, and beard yclad, He jumped upon the table!

Un garrote enarbolado Y brotando espuma y fuego, Les dijo: _Yo devo al juego_ _Mi desgracia y este estado._

A cudgel of some seven years' growth He brandished. Fire and smoke Shot from his lips, while thus he spake;-- "I'll gripe you gambling folk.

_Los fulleros me han quitado_ _Con mi dinero, la vida,_ _Y pues que sois homicida_ _De todo hombre inocente!_

"To gaming my disgrace I owe, With money went my wife; 'Tis such as you the murderers be,-- This night shall end your life!

_No quede vicho viviente,_ _En toda culta nacion,_ _Que ejérza la profesion_ _De fullero y vagamundo_.

"In every nation, called refined, Or gamblers or their wives, Or wealthy wight shall ne'er be found, Who shakes the bones and thrives."

Y dando un grito profundo, Su garrote descargando, A todos fué despachando, Sin dejar uno en el mundo.

With that a loud and horrid yell He gave. And cudgel flew Broadside amongst them; when, like vermin, he Dispatched the hungry crew!

No extinguió, sin duda, el Duende, Toda la mala semilla, Pues hay muchos, como el Duende, Sin camisa, y sin capilla.

But woe is me, they were not all destroyed. For many still, by these cursed arts decoyed, Shoeless and shirtless, miserable sinners, Are seen, snuffing, with empty wind, their dinners!

In the _Dunske Folkesagen_ appear one or two circumstances relative to the freaks of a _nis_, the goblin of the Danish popular creed, similar to the pranks detailed in our Lancashire legend. Fancy, however sportive and playful with materials already in her possession, is of a much less creative character than is generally supposed, even by those most susceptible to her influence. It is surprising how few are the original conceptions that have sprung from the human mind. Popular superstitions--the great mass of them spread over an immense variety of surface, climate, manners, and opinions--might be supposed to exhibit a corresponding difference in originality and invention. But here we find the same paucity of incidents, varying only in character with the climate which gave them birth; the leading features being evidently common to each. The Scandinavian and the Hindoo, the European and the Asiatic, construct their legends on the same basis; the same stories, and even the same train of events, proving their common origin.

Mr Crofton Croker, a name familiar to all lovers of legendary lore, has kindly communicated the following tale. In substituting this, in place of what the author might have written on the subject, he feels convinced that his readers will not feel displeased at the change, and assures them it is with real gratification that he presents them with an article from the pen of the writer of _The Fairy Legends_.

Not far from the little-snug smoky village of Blakeley, or Blackley, there lies one of the most romantic of dells, rejoicing in a state of singular seclusion, and in the oddest of Lancashire names, to wit, the "Boggart-hole." Rich in every requisite for picturesque beauty and poetical association, it is impossible for me (who am neither a painter nor a poet) to describe this dell as it should be described; and I will therefore only beg of thee, gentle reader, who peradventure mayst not have lingered in this classical neighbourhood, to fancy a deep, deep dell, its steep sides fringed down with hazel and beech, and fern and thick undergrowth, and clothed at the bottom with the richest and greenest sward in the world. You descend, clinging to the trees, and scrambling as best you may,--and now you stand on haunted ground! Tread softly, for this is the Boggart's clough; and see in yonder dark corner, and beneath the projecting mossy stone, where that dusky sullen cave yawns before us, like a bit of Salvator's best, there lurks the strange elf, the sly and mischievous Boggart. Bounce! I see him coming; oh no, it was only a hare bounding from her form; there it goes--there!

I will tell you of some of the pranks of this very Boggart, and how he teased and tormented a good farmer's family in a house hard by, and I assure you it was a very worthy old lady who told me the story. But first, suppose we leave the Boggart's demesne, and pay a visit to the theatre of his strange doings.

You see that old farm house about two fields distant, shaded by the sycamore-tree: that was the spot which the Boggart or Bar-gaist selected for his freaks; there he held his revels, perplexing honest George Cheetham--for that was the farmer's name--scaring his maids, worrying his men, and frightening the poor children out of their seven senses, so that at last not even a mouse durst show himself indoors at the farm, as he valued his whiskers, five minutes after the clock had struck twelve.

It had long been remarked that whenever a merry tale was told on a winter's evening a small shrill voice was heard above all the rest, like a baby's penny trumpet, joining in with the laughter.

"Weel laughed, Boggart, thou'rt a fine little tyke, I'se warrant, if one could but just catch glent on thee," said Robert, the youngest of the farmer's sons, early one evening, a little before Christmas, for familiarity had made them somewhat bold with their invisible guest. Now, though more pleasant stories were told on that night beside the hearth than had been told there for the three preceding months, though the fire flickered brightly, though all the faces around it were full of mirth and happiness, and though everything, it might seem, was there which could make even a Boggart enjoy himself, yet the small shrill laugh was heard no more that night after little Bob's remark.

Robert, who was a short stout fellow for his age, slept in the same bed with his elder brother John, who was reckoned an uncommonly fine and tall lad for his years. No sooner had they got fairly to sleep than they were roused by the small shrill voice in their room shouting out, "Little tyke, indeed! little tyke thysel'. Ho, ho, ho! I'll have my laugh now--Ho, ho, ho!"

The room was completely dark, and all in and about the house was so still that the sound scared them fearfully. The concluding screech made the place echo again;--but this strange laughter was not necessary to prevent little Robert from further sleep, as he found himself one moment seized by the feet and pulled to the bottom of the bed, and the next moment dragged up again on his pillow. This was no sooner done, than by the same invisible power he was pulled down again, and then his head would be dragged back, and placed as high as his brother's.

"Short and long won't match,--short and long won't match,--ho, ho, ho!" shouted the well-known voice of the Boggart, between each adjustment of little Robert with his tall brother, and thus were they both wearied for more than a hundred times; yet so great was their terror, that neither Robert nor his brother--"Long John," as he ever afterwards was called--dared to stir one inch; and you may well suppose how delighted they both were when the first grey light of the morning appeared.

"We'st now ha' some rest, happen," said John, turning on his side in the expectation of a good nap, and covering himself up with the bed-clothes, which the pulling of Robert so often backwards and forwards had tumbled about sadly.

"Rest!" said the same voice that had plagued them through the night, "rest!--what is rest? Boggart knows no rest."

"Plague tak' thee for a Boggart!" said the farmer next morning, on hearing the strange story from his children: "Plague tak' thee! can thee not let the poor things be quiet? But I'll be up with thee, my gentleman: so tak' th' chamber an' be hang'd to thee, if thou wilt. Jack and little Robert shall sleep o'er the cart-house, and Boggart may rest or wriggle as he likes when he is by himsel'."

The move was accordingly made, and the bed of the brothers transferred to their new sleeping-room over the cart-house, where they remained for some time undisturbed; but his Boggartship having now fairly become the possessor of a room at the farm, it would appear, considered himself in the light of a privileged inmate, and not, as hitherto, an occasional visitor, who merely joined in the general expression of merriment. Familiarity, they say, breeds contempt; and now the children's bread and butter would be snatched away, or their porringers of bread and milk-would be dashed to the ground by an unseen hand; or if the younger ones were left alone but for a few minutes, they were sure to be found screaming with terror on the return of their nurse. Sometimes, however, he would behave himself kindly. The cream was then churned, and the pans and kettles scoured without hands. There was one circumstance which was remarkable;--the stairs ascended from the kitchen, a partition of boards covered the ends of the steps, and formed a closet beneath the staircase. From one of the boards of this partition a large round knot was accidentally displaced; and one day the youngest of the children, while playing with the shoe-horn, stuck it into this knot-hole. Whether or not the aperture had been formed by the Boggart as a peep-hole to watch the motions of the family, I cannot pretend to say. Some thought it was, for it was called the Boggart's peep-hole; but others said that they had remembered it long before the shrill laugh of the Boggart was heard in the house. However this may have been, it is certain that the horn was ejected with surprising precision at the head of whoever put it there; and either in mirth or in anger the horn was darted forth with great velocity, and struck the poor child over the ear.