Beadle's Dime Library No. 109 — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

z.. he ae a ce =— - 5 -, ; - mm ee ee ee ew weet = _——— $e 18 every part of the ruin, very complacently went to sleep in a secluded, glen, about half-way be- vuween the home of Hurtel of the Red Hand, and Castle Cor. At last one of the number awoke, and, ob- serving that the sun was casting long shadows, deemed it time to awaken his companions, and warn them that it was time to return and re- port to the earl, not what they had, but what they had not done. ‘** Arouse ye, my honeys, or ther shadows o’ night will be afther crapin’ upon us, and thin look out for Mither Zebel the Witch.” His words brought all upon their feet in a twinkling, and uneasy glances were hastily cast around, for they had been dreaming of the dreaded old woman. ‘Will now, mavourneens, it’s a loikely lie we must be afther tillmg the masther.” ‘You're right, my darlint; what shall it be?” “Tm afther bein’ spokesman, my darlints, and I'll say to the masther: *** Masther dear, we wint to Castle Dith, an’ we wint from ther bottom to ther top, ’ach one of us dividin’ himsilf so as to kape a goodeye over iverything; but, masther dear, though we was not afther diskiverin’ the young gintlemin so foine, we sawthe ould beldame of a she- divil, sir, an’ we gave her sich a hot time, thet she runned up to the tall tower an’ jumped clane. off, disappearing loike in a flame o’ red smoke,’ ” “That’s a beautiful lie, it is, Barney, my Garlint, but it’s naded it is, an’ may God forgive yer it, an’ ef He don’t ther praste will.” **[’m afther wishin’ we’d hev gone for Father O’Hagerty, and had him go with us, and thin the ould Witch would be afther hidin’ her ould white hid in—” ‘* Who is it you are talking about, fools?” With the stern question there suddenly bound- ed into the midst of the intended circle of shirkers, none other than the very subject of their conversation. But, had it been a bombshell of the present age, dropping among them, it would not the more effectually have scattered them, for in every direction went the frightened Irishmen, not one of them looking out for his fellow-man, but attending strictly to the business of making himself scarce with the utmost dispatch. ‘**Cowards! hold! or I will lay my curse on ye,” she cried in loud accents, and two of those nearest to her, and who heard the full venom of her words, came to a sudden halt, and with their backs still toward her, but glancing over their shoulders, prey stood muttering prayers and crossing themselves fervently. ** What do ye bere, fools?” ‘**Oh! we was afther stopping a bit, sweet ae eh, _leddy, to bould a consultation.” ‘fam Zebel the Witch of Castle Death,” she said in a ringing voice, “Oh faith, and we know thet, Leddy Witch,” answered one of the trembling men, “Then if you do not tell me true, Evil you shall never eschew.” **Oh murther and the Mither o’ Moses! we are did min intoirely, Dinnis.” “Vis, Corwin, she'll be afther puttin’ ther spell on us,” cried the other. **{ know your business, fools, so speak out.” ** Oh, it’s much that yer kriow, my jewil.” **You have been to Castle Death in search of the young fisher lad, who has become a gentle?” **Oh, do you moind that, Dinnis? she knows where we have been,” evasively said Corwin. ‘She knows a dale, mavourneen,” uncompro- misingly answered Dennis. ** But you found not the gentle there?” ‘Do you moind that, how she tills it all, Corwin?” ‘‘{ do, mavourneen.” “But you saw strange sights, and heard sounds in the old ruin?’ ‘**So strange, old mither, that we all crossed oursilves, belavin’ you to be there.” ‘Liars! you have not been near the castle; you thought to deceive me, but you cannot, and woe betide you for the little game,” she said, severely. ‘*Och hone, Dinnis, it’s gone we are now in- tirely,” groaned Corwin, crossing himself vigor- ously all the while. “The Lord’s will be done,” muttered Dennis, muttering pater nosters. ‘‘Pve a mind to touch he with my Evil Wand,” and she held forth the stick menac- ingly, and down upon their knees went both men, Dennis muttering; ‘* "he rapide | Cross protict us.” i ae z their fright for a moment, the Witch suddenly pointed in the direction of Castle Cor, and, as though she were starting them upon a foot-race, cried in a loud tone: “Go!” And go they did, for they were off like deers _and it did indeed become a foot-race, with Dennis slightly leading, and Corwin praying to him not to leave him, and ever and anon glanc- ing over his shoulder expecting to see the Witch in pursuit. - arcane nd old Zebel, rejoicing in the fear of others, laughed mockingly and cried: “Ob! a right joyous thing it is to make ~ —-—--+-—- - - _— - -- -- — oe ee eee —— — _ = —_ . ~* -_——_—— —« pa : : —— others suffer, ha! ha! ha! Faith have they in their religion and their prayers, yet let one come whom they believe allied to the Evil One, and they tremble and whine like the veriest curs under the master’s lash. ‘ ** By the Cross! I would not be surprised if they ran all the way to Castile Cor.” And the Witch was right, they did; and more, the rest of the party, who had so rapidly dis- persed when surprised by the woman, had met | on the highway shortly after, and were not tar- rying as they journeyed homeward, suddenly discovered Dennis and Corwin coming on like the wind, andjwith one accord they bounded for- ward at a pace that was marvelous, for well- | fed, lazy loungers about the castle. And if the old Witch could have heard the stories they told about her, she would have be- lieved that she was the Evil One himself, But the champions, in the lying tournament were Dennis and Corwin, as soon as they found strengthand breath enough to talk. CHAPTER XXX. LADY GRACE’S ADVENTURE. Hap Zebel the Witch, who rejoiced in fright- ening superstitious people, and enjoyed the mis- ery of others, known what was transpiring at Cor Castle, she would have been less jubilant as she went toward her weird home, or retreat, and felt ill at ease. But not possessing the powers she laiu claim to, and which, two centuries ago, were firmly believed in, Zebel reached the old ruin, and fol- lowing a habit she never neglected, looked cau- tiously around her, ere she slowly ascended the castle wall, by means of the rough projections of the stones. At the hight of thirty feet she came to a win- dow, from which the glass had disappeared, and into this she passed, and found herself in a small chamber that displayed an air of comfort not expected, when one knew that the castle had been uninhabited for years. It was evidently the room intended for the priest, or father confessor of the castle, when such a luxury was needed by the master, for it opened into what had once been the chapel, but the entire flooring of which had fallen in upon the floor below, leaving no mode of egress, or ingress, except the way by which the woman had come. A rich velvet rug was upon the floor of the little room, a divan that served as a bed, several cooking utensils upon the small hearth, and then a perfect museum of curiosities, from a human skull to a cimeter of rare workman- ship. Taking from a box some edibles, the Witch set about preparing her evening meal, which was of the most frugal kind, and eaten more from necessity, to judge from her manner, than from any pleasure she took in the repast. Seating herself in the window, which was in the wing overlooking the bay and Castle Cor, the lonely and strange woman commenced, as was her custom, to commune with herself aloud, An hour or more she sat thus, and the sun was almost resting upon the horizon, and the evening balmy and delightful, yet exerting no influence over her spirits, which were wild and wayward. uddenly she started, and bent her head in the attitude of listening, for a strange sound had come to her ears. ** Burn the accursed hag!” Was it a wonder that even her brave face turned pale at such words? **She’s a witch, and should die!” ‘** Burn the old rookery, with her init.” *¢ Death to the Witch!” And similar cries were heard, and the voices grew nearer and nearer until around the wing of the castle, she beheld from her retreat the Earl of Belmont, accompanied by a cavalcade of nobles, and followed by a hundred or more of the peasantry, armed with sticks, muskets and whatever else they could seize for the expedi- tion against Zebel the Witch. ; here was no mistaking the cries, no mistak- ing the intention of the crowd; they meant death to the weird woman, and death of the worst, most horrible kind, for their passions once aroused, she knew that they would burn her at the stake for a witch with the utmost cheerfulness, The Earl of Belmont and some of the gentry might attempt to send her to prison; but the peasants would never listen to reason, now that they had an opportunity to free the country from one they so greatly feared, and what they would do with her she well knew. | With that immense crowd she knew her curses and her pretended charms and incan- tations would avail nothing; and it was no won- der the poor, guilty, hunted creature sunk down upon the floor of her little chamber, and trem- bled in agony of spirit. That she was held responsible for the disap- pearance of Kenton Cavanaugh she well knew, for his promise to meet her there the night be- fore, his skiff having been found at the castle stairs, her ambiguous words to the two mai- Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag. | S*< dens, and, in fact, worse than all, that the oung man could nowhere be found, was against er. Into the old ruin spread the crowd, but in all their search they kept in large parties, so great was their terror of the old hag, and at last she heard a wild cry from the vaults, where some had penetrated with lanterns. Their shouts and words told her what had nappa. ** They have found the blood on the pavement from that wretch the boy killed; lucky for me I threw the body into the sea and let the tide carry it off,” she said, in a trembling voice; but the ‘moment after she cried, as other words reached her: “No, no, it was wrong in me to throw the body into the sea, for now they would little be- lieve my story of the pirate vessel being here, and that he went with it. Bah! they would not believe me anyhow,” and again she sunk down by the window and listened. Around the castle had been stationed a cordon of sentinels, those of the crowd who had been armed with muskets, and she knew that escape was impossible, so must rely upon the secresy of her chamber, whose presence no one would suspect, believing that the chapel, the floorin of which had fallen in, occupied the whole of that wing. As the sun went down and the shadows in- creased, even the nobles accompanying the Earl of Belmont huddled more closely together, and the servants stood in a compact mass together, those on the outer edge of the crowd envying those who were in the center. At last Zebel distinctly heard the words of the earl; ‘** We will return now; but in the morning we will. come back, and the old Witch shall be found if we take the castle down rock by rock.” A wild cheer greeted the earl’s words, and then they all moved away, at first slowly, but more rapidly as they went along, as those in the rear wished to get in front, and those in ad- vance cared not to get behind. With p= joy old Zebel watched them de- art, and then said savagely: ‘‘ Ay, depart, ye cnaves of Satan, with my curse, and it will be a ala day for you when you burn Zebel the Vitch,” and she shook her hand menacingly at the departing crowd, now hidden by the gloom, Quietly she set about preparations for taking her departure, for she knew to remain there was certain death, and go she must; but where? ‘* Homeless, kindredless, hunted down anda witch, oh! where can I go?’ broke from her pal- lid lips in pitiful cry. Suddenly she started, and stood trembling in fear, as she had made many another tremble. ** Zebel!” The name was called out in clear, ringing tones, yet she made no answer. ** Zebel!” “Great God! can it be an angel?’ and drop ping upon her knees, she drew out the gold ecru- cifix she still carried in her bosom, and began to kiss it wildly, and do what she had not done for years—pray. ‘* Zebel! it is I—Lady Grace.” Instantly the woman was herself again, and looking from the window beheld a horsewoman, and alone. ‘*Why have you come here, girl?’ she asked sternly. ‘'To save you, for to-morrow the people will surely burn you at the stake,” answered Lady Grace with pity in her tones. ‘*And how does the fate of Zebel the Witch affect Lady Grace of Greyhurst Castle?’ scorn- fully asked the woman. _ ‘* Years. ago, when a little child, you passed by Glenshield Castle, where I was visiting, and you came to the rescue of my little brother and myself, who had upset our boat in the cove and were drowning.” ‘Ha! I remember! and you are that little gil saved, for the boy drowned?” eagerly said ebel ‘Yes, you saved my life, but my poor little brother went down before my eyes; often have I wished to repay that debt, but only yesterday did I know who it was that 1 owed my life to, for you disappeared just after the accident,” ‘And how do you know now that I was the one??? * Yours is not a face to forget when once ‘* And you would save me now?” ‘Yes; you can disguise yourself in this cloth- a have brought you, and come on to the arbor where you saw Lady Kate and myself to-day; there you will find this horse; he is mine, so take him and seek safety in flight, for by daybreak he will carry you far, far from here, for he is as fleet as the wind and as lasting as a hound. y For a moment the woman hesitated, for she deemed it a trap to insnare her; but banishing the thought, when she remembered that Lady Grace came alone, and by night, and that she did really owe her her life, she descended the rough wall of the castle and approached her. ‘Lady Grace of Greyhurst, you are a noble woman, and you have taught old Zebel the Witch that thé world is not wholly bad,” , Coma iEbooks-co ? . ae —. ‘or 2. ae. . 1h. SS