The Wizard of West Penwith, a tale of the Land's-End, etc

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THE AWFUL RIDE. THE «,...— i WIZARD OF WEST PENWITH, a &&U of tfie 3Latt&'0=-2Eti0 ; DY WiLLiAyvi Bentinck Fof^faf^ Author of " PENTO WAN," "PENGERSICK CASTLE," "KYNANCE COVE,"&c, &c. PENZANCE: W. CORNISH, THE LIBRARY, 1871. PEEFACE. In writing my Cornish Tales I have always endeavoured to pourtray the Cornish character in all its native wit and humour, for which the genuine west-country miners are so proverbial. And I have generally taken for the foundation of my Stories incidents which have reaUy happened in the localities wherein the actions of my little dramas have been laid. The scene of my present story is laid in the neighbourhood of the Land's-End, and most of the characters were well-known there in days gone by ; — the names only being fictitious. The fall of the horse over the cliff is stiU in the remembrance of some old people in the neighbourhood ; and the circumstance is related by the Guides who shew the beauties of the Land's-End scenery to strangers.

The marks of the horse's hoofs in the grass at the edge of the cliff are preserved to this day. The Wizard (or Conjuror as he was called) was a notorious character at St. Just, some fifty years ago ; — and the horrid murder related in these pages; and the mistaken identity of the guilty parties are also veritable facts. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were well-known characters, and are drawn from real hfe. This brief sketch of some of the scenes and characters to be found in this little volume may perhaps add an interest to it, and induce a large number of the lovers of Cornish lore to honour it with a perusal. Plymouth, March, 1871. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. Mr. Freeman 3 II. The Wreck near the Land's-End 8 III. Alrina 12 IV. The Unexpected Meeting 16 V. John Brown and his favorite mare Jessie 21 VI.

The Family Party 25 VII. Murder most foul 30 VEIL The Wizard 36 IX. Love and Mystery ... 40 X. Alrina's troubles increase 42 XI. Frederick Morley obstinately determines to ride the mare 45 XH. The awful ride 47 XJJJ. Its consequences 50 XTV. Mrs. Brown tells the Conjuror a bit of her mind... 53 XV. The mysterious stranger at the Penzance Ball 56 XVT. Josiah's astonishment at the effect produced by the display of his Treasure-trove 60 XV 11. The borrowed feathers of the peacock fail to conceal entirely the plumage of the jackdaw ... 64 XVIII. The birds have taken flight 67 XIX. The mysterious encounter 71 XX. Aristocratic connections ... 76 XXI. The Love-chase 81 XXII. Alrina's first Love-letter 88 XXIII. The Secret CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE XXTV. Man is born to trouble and disappointment as the sparks fly upwards ... 9° XXV.

Chapter I. Mr

FREEMAN. Very near the most westerly point of Great Britain, and not very far from the promontory caUed Cape CornwaU, you may see, as you ghde along the coast in your pleasure-boat of a calm summer's evening, a pretty httle fishing-cove, in shape like a horse-shoe, — the two extreme points being formed by the projecting rocks on either side of the entrance, — the interior, or curved part, immediately under the main land, having a beautiful beach of white sand, on which boats can land with safety, when piloted by those who know the coast outside ; for the little cove is guarded by hidden rocks, and is as safe in rough weather against invasion by the uninitiated, as if it had been fortified by a range of weU-appointed batteries. Above this beach the cliffs rise graduaUy, and various zigzag foot paths are formed by the constant tread of the sailors and others who frequent the cove in going to and coming from the main land.

About a mile inland is a village of some importance, inhabited by sailors of various kinds, and miners and small farmers who occupy a few acres of land, and fill up their spare time by working at the neighbouring mines, either as mine labourers, or as carriers with their horses and carts. This part of the coast of CornwaU is almost studded with mines, whose lodes, for the most part, run out under the sea ; and although they are, consequently, very expensive to work, yet many of them have given large and continuous dividends to the adventurers. As many of these rich mines were discovered by accident, it may easily be imagined that the smallest indication of a metallic lode in the neighbourhood causes great excitement, and often leads to the expenditure of large sums of money in forming companies and searching for the riches, which in very many instances are never found.

The village of St. Just was not, at the period when our story commences, the important place that it is at present ; — it could even then, however, boast of a tolerably comfortable inn in the square, and an inferior public-house in the outskirts of the viUage. B On a dark, tempestuous, winter's night, there sat in the kitchen or pubtic room of the inn, a goodly company, who had assembled to see the old year out and the new year in — and more than this ; for they would also on this night witness the termination of one century, and the commencement of another. A huge fire was burning on the hearth, and two or three of the older men had ensconced themselves in the chimney-corner. In those days the fire was made on the flat stones in the chimney in these old houses, with wood and sticks, or peat ; and there was room round it, for those who did not mind the smoke, to sit and enjoy a close proximity to the fire, while the others sat round outside the fireplace, having a small table before them, on which was placed the foaming eggy-hot, and the hot beer and sugar, • made more potent by the addition of an unlimited quantity of brandy.

The wind was howting dismally in the open chimney, and ratthng the doors and windows, as if angry at being shut out. As the night advanced the storm seemed to increase ; but the comforts of the bright fire and warm room, and the good cheer before them, made the party feel the more happy and exhUarated, from the reflection that they were sheltered from the storm without. The song and jest went round, and many a thrilling story was told by the elders in the chimney-corner, which made some of the younger men draw closer to the fire and take an extra glass of the warm liquor with which the table was supplied ; for superstitious fear was indulged in by all, more or less, in those days, and both old and young, rich and poor, loved to hear a tale of horror, although it invariably made them afraid of their own shadows, until daylight appeared again to dispel the vapours of the night, and the toils of the day left no room for idle thoughts or fancies.

In the innermost recess of the chimney-corner, almost hidden by the smoke, sat a sedate looking man, who appeared so absorbed in his own thoughts, that he did not seem to take much interest in the tales that amused and interested his companions so much, except that, when a tale of more than usual horror was told, a slight smile would steal over his countenance, and he would change his pipe from one side of his mouth to the other. In years he might have been about fifty, but in appearance he was ten years older at least ; not from any natural defect or want of the usual stamina and vigour generally displayed by men of his age, but from an eccentric habit he had contracted of affecting the old man, — for what reason was best known to himseU. His habits and mode of life were very different from those of Comishmen generally ; — he had come into the neighbourhood some years before in a mysterious manner but how he came, or where he came from, no one seemed to know.

He had acquired somehow a good deal of useful knowledge, and there fore he had the power frequently of working upon the superstitious fears of his neighbours; and, although he did not pursue any particular trade or caUing, he did not seem to want for money, for he lived comfortably and paid liberally for his supplies ; and, although he was reserved and unsociable as a general rule, yet he liked meeting his neighbours in the public room at the inn, where he could sit in the chimney-corner and smoke his pipe, and hsten to their conversation, which he seldom joined in ; and when he had gathered from them aU the information they could impart, he would occasionaUy gratify them by telling some thrilling story. It was generaUy betieved that he had something on his mind which troubled him at times, but what it was no one could teU.

There he sat, as usual, on this tempestuous night, smoking his pipe and listening to the conversation of his companions. At length one of the party, addressing him, said, — " Come, Maister Freeman, we've all had our turn ; now you teU es one of your stories, — they be clain off, they be." " WeU," said he, taking his pipe out of his mouth, and knocking out the ashes on his hand, " I'U teU you a tale ; but remember, mine are true stories. The one I am about to relate happened in your own neighbourhood. Your superstitious fears wiU, perhaps, make you afraid to visit the spot again, if I teU it on such a terrible night as this, after the stories you have already heard." " No ! no ! " exclaimed his audience, " out weth et, whatever 'tes, Maister." " WeU, then," he began, " you aU know the ruins of the old chapel above Cape CornwaU, caUed Chapel Cam Brea, and the httle hillocks that surround it hke graves in the churchyard."

A shudder passed round the room at the mention of this weU known spot, for it was beheved by most people that those ruins of the old chapel were haunted by evti spirits ; so the httle circle drew their seats nearer to the chimney, and instinctively looked round, as if they expected to see some sprite or pixey enter through the key hole at the bare mention of so uncanny a spot at this hour of the night." " Those httle mounds or hillocks," continued Mr. Freeman, " are said to be the graves of the Druid priests and ancient kings of Cornwall, and it is also said that all their riches were buried with them ; but it was never known whether this was so or not, for no one had had the courage to disturb the remains of these holy men. I had no such scruples, — so one moonlight night, soon after I came here to reside, I took my pickaxe and shovel, went up to the old ruins, and selected the largest mound and began my work with a hopeful mind, for I believed that I should be rewarded in the end by a rich booty.

The earth on the top was soft and easy to work, but as I got down it became harder. I worked with a will for several hours, and got down several feet before the day began to dawn. It was a lonely spot, in the dead of the night, to be working in; — I could hear the waves as they dashed against the high cliffs under Cape CornwaU, and I sometimes fancied I heard voices calling to me out of the waves. I must confess, my courage nearly failed me, more than once ; but I took several pulls at my brandy-bottle, and thought of the treasure underneath, and worked on. " When the day began to dawn I left my work, intending to come the next night and finish it. I knew that no one would venture there if they could avoid it, even in the daytime, but I did not wish to be seen working there ; — the sight of an open grave in that spot would, I well knew, scare people away, even if anyone was bold enough to approach it during the day.

A few hours' work more, I thought, would bring me to the bottom, and then I should reap my reward. So the next night I took my tools again and repaired to the spot, when, to my utter astonishment, I found the grave fiUed in, and aU my labour lost. " In vain I looked about for some clue to the mystery ; I could see no one ; so I set to work again, and soon threw up the loose earth, and came down to the hard ground. I worked harder than any man ever worked for his daUy bread, and at last my pick touched some thing hard, which I fancied at first was a rock. I carefully cleared the earth round it, and found that it was a large stone slab, and, from the sound, I was convinced it was hollow beneath. The moon was shining brightly, and threw its hght right into the grave, so that I could see the stone distinctly, and could discern figures cut on it.

Here, then, was the coffin, no doubt ; and it doubtless contained the coveted treasures. I tried to raise the cover, but it baffled aU my skill and strength ; — I found that the pit would have to be made much larger, and even then it might require the united strength of two or three men to get the cover up. I was then in the grave, which was deep enough to hide me entirely from the view of anyone on the surface. Whtie I was thus deliberating what I should do, I heard a loud shriek just above my head. I got up, with some difficulty, expecting to see some unfortunate traveUer transfixed superstitiously to the side of the grave, with his hair standing on end, and his knees knocking together with fear and terror ; but there was no one to be seen. Again I was obhged to abandon my work for the time, and again I returned the next night and found the grave fiUed in as before.

They say ' the third time is lucky,' said I to myseU, — so, nothing daunted, I went to work again, for I had now proof positive that there was a hoUow stone coffin underneath, which no doubt contained the coveted treasure. " Who the intruder was I neither knew nor cared, except that I did not like the trouble of going over my work so many times, but now I was determined to complete it. " I got down to the stone slab again, and this time I had lengthened the grave considerably at each end, and I thought I might be able to raise the lid. I drove the point of my pick under the stone, and was about to raise it, when I heard the same shriek I had heard on the previous night, — and I felt at the same time a shower of earth falling all round me. " ' SeU-preservation is the first law of nature,' and so, to escape being buried alive, I scrambled out of the grave as fast as I could ; and on looking over the heap of earth, thrown up round the sides of the grave, I saw a figure moving swiftly away, — but whether it was a man or a woman, or an imp of darkness, I could not tell, for my toe slipped out of the notch I had made for a footstep, and I fell headlong into the grave again ; but, fearing another shower of earth, I scrambled out the best way I could, and went home, determined to give up my search after riches ; for I felt sure that, as I had failed the third time, it was useless to attempt again."

" Zackly like that," said the landlord, who had been busily sup plying his guests with more liquor at intervals, during the recital of the tale ; — " who wor she, I wondar ?" " Who should she be but one of the pixies ?" rephed a tall, stout, well-built young man, who had been listening with breathless attention to the story. " Hould thy tongue, 'Siah Trenow," said an elderly man, rising from his seat in the chimney-corner, and taking a long puU at the jug of hot beer and sugar which the landlord had placed on the table ; — " thee'st nevar knaw nothen. I'U tell 'ee, na, tes like as this here. How could a pixie handle a showl for to showley in the stuff again, I should like to knaw ; and where could a pixie get a showl from ? " " What wor aw tike, so fur as you could see, Maister Freeman ?" continued he, turning round to where that gentleman had been sitting a minute ago, — when, to his astonishment, he saw that the seat was vacant.

" Why he's gone like the snoff of a candle, soas 1" " That's zackly hke he, na," said the landlord ; " he'U teU a story till he do bring 'ee up to a point, and then lev 'ee to gees the rest ; esn't et so, Peggy ? " " I'U tell 'ee, soas," said the young man who had been addressed as ' 'Siah Trenow,' but whose proper Christian name was ' Josiah,' " he do knaw bra' things. Why, he ha' got a gashly g'eat room up there that nobody can go in but he, where he do count the stars, so they do say." " Iss fie," said the landlord, whose name was Brown ; " many people can tell about the conjuring and things, up there." " Hush, Brown," exclaimed his wife ; " you do knaw that when we lost so many pigs you wor glad enough for to go to Maister Freeman for to knaw something about them ; and he tould 'ee, so you said, and you b'Ueved every word he tould 'ee, — so don't you bark nor growl.

His dafter, Miss Reeney, tould me last week that she shud think that Old Nick wor up there sometimes weth her fe-a-thar, they do keep snch a caparous, — and I've got my thof ts, too, soas ! " " Come ! come ! Mrs. Brown," exclaimed 'Siah Trenow, rising up in an excited manner ; " don't you bring Miss Reeney's name in weth her fe-a-thar's doings, or else I'U " " Arreah ! thon," replied Mrs. Brown ; that's the way the maggot do jump, es et ? Iss sure ! Miss Reeney es a bra' tidy maid ; an' f 'raU she do prink herself up so fine sometimes, and b'en to boarding school, and aU that, and do knaw bra' things, she ha' got nothin' to do weth her fe-a-thar's conjuring-room upstairs, I do believe in my conscience, soas ; and ef 'Siah ha' got a mind to her, there's wus than she a bra' deal ; — but he do hold his nose brave an' high, soas, don't aw?"

" Miss Reeney esn't the only woman that do hve in that house, you knaw," said the old man who had spoken first, with a knowing wink. " No, sure, there's Miss Freeman herseU," said Mrs. Brown, pursing up her hps ; " she's a good catch, they do say." " That's very weU," said Mr. Brown, laughing at his wffe's wit. "Brown," said that good lady, "mind your own business; — what have you got to say about Miss Freeman, I shud like to knaw ? " This remark shut up poor Mr. Brown entirely ; and whether this discussion of the merits and demerits of Miss Freeman and her niece Alrina (familiarly called Reeney) would have proceeded much further, it is difficult to say ; for just at that moment a man, who had evidently been out for a considerable time in the storm, burst into the room, and said there was a vessel wrecked off Pendeen Point.

Chapter II. The Wreck Near The Land's-end

The sound of a wreck was sufficient, at any time, to rouse the most lethargic ; and old and young rose at once, and left the comfortable fire and warm mixtures, and crowded round the new comer to hear the particulars. AU he could teU them, however, was that there was a vessel in distress off the Point ; he and several others had heard the gun. She was not a wreck yet, the man said, but it could not be long before she must strike, — for the weather was terrific, and the wind was blowing right in ; so he ran up to the vitiage to give the alarm. There was not a moment's hesitation among the listeners, — everyone prepared to go down to the Point at once. Some took ropes, and some took baskets, or bags, or whatever came to hand ; and each man got his lantern, and away they started to the scene of distress.

The wind was blowing a fearful hurricane, and the rain was falling heavtiy, beating into the faces of the foremost, and almost taking away the breath of the older and weaker of the party. As they proceeded, others came out of their houses and joined them, — women as weU as men. On they went through the storm, with their hats and bonnets tied down with handkerchiefs or pieces of string, to keep them from being blown away. Noble creatures ! thus to brave the storm on such a night as this, for the sake of saving the lives and relieving the sufferings of their feUow-creatures in distress. To save hfe, however, was not the only object these poor people had in view ; nor was it, I fear, the principal one with a great many. When a vessel was wrecked on the Cornish coast, in those days, it was believed by most of the lower orders, that aU that was washed ashore, became the undoubted property of anyone who was fortunate enough to pick it up ; and so a wreck was looked upon as a God-send, and everyone took care of himseU, and sometimes returned with a rich booty.

At length they arrived at the Point, or as near it as it was prudent to approach in this dreadful storm. The night was too dark for them to distinguish the vessel ; but as the gun was fired at intervals, the flash enabled them to see that she was not far from the rocks, on which she might strike at any moment, and aU must perish ; for no boat could go out to their rescue, nor could a boat from the vessel hve a single moment in such a sea. Although the watchers remained some hundreds of yards from the Point, the sea dashed up every now and then against the high cliff, and drenched them with its spray ; but still they continued to watch — their lanterns giving out a dim tine of light as they stood closely packed together, sheltering one another from the wind and rain. Another gun was fired, and the watchers saw that the vessel was close upon the breakers.

A dreadful shriek was now borne towards them by the wind, which was blowing towards the shore, and now they knew that all was over and that the vesselhad struck, and was most Ukely dashed in pieces. Nothing more could be done tiU daytight appeared ; so many of the watchers sought the shelter of the rocks to wait for it, in order to begin their work ; for with that wind, and the tide beating in, the contents of the vessel must wash on shore very quickly, The crew must aU have perished, — of that there was no doubt. The dreadful shriek they had heard was that of the drowning crew. The only anxiety now was concerning the valuables which might come in with the tide. As the day dawned, the storm abated a httle, and, towards morning, many of the villagers were seen approaching the Point; — among them, Mr. Freeman was conspicuous.

He came along feebly, keeping the even tenor of his way, — now speaking to one, and then to another, as he was overtaken and passed on the road by the more energetic and youthful of the wreckers, who were all too intent upon the gains in prospect to pay much attention to an infirm man, although they knew not in their haste and thoughtlessness that their actions were watched and noted down in the memory of one who did not often forget a slight. Long before it could properly be said to be daylight, the approaches to the little cove were covered with people, watching for the prizes which they expected every wave would wash in. The beautiful white sand was covered with foam, and frequently a huge wave would come dashing in and break beneath the very feet of the most daring and reckless of the watchers, who had approached to the verge of the rocks which bounded the innermost circle of the cove.

No one, as yet, could venture on the sand with safety, and it was yet too dark for the watchers to see far before them, for the daylight on that tempestuous morning was a long time making its appearance. A long and eventful year had just terminated, and the new year seemed very unwilling to take up what the old year had left it to do ; but the laws of nature must be obeyed, and so the new year's morning came at last, and, with it, the prizes so much coveted by the wreckers. Timber, casks, and boxes (some empty and some full) came washed in to the very feet of those who were standing on the lowest rocks ; but, before they could reach them, they were carried out again by the receding tide. There were some adventurous enough, however, to make a grasp at the prizes as they came rolling in ; but they would have met with a watery grave, had they not been held back by the more prudent.

As the tide ebbed, it left the httle cove comparatively free from danger, and then many prizes were seized and carried away by the eager finders. Mr. Freeman having no wish or intention, apparently, to appro priate any of the unfortunate sailors' property to himself, wandered about from one place to the other, watching for the bodies that he knew must be washed on shore soon, in order to ascertain, if possible, by the appearance of the satiors, or from any papers they might have about them, the name of the ship, and her cargo and destination. In the course of the day several bodies were washed ashore ; but, even in this short time, they were so disfigured by the sharp-pointed rocks against which they had been dashed by the angry sea, that there were no traces left in any of them of the " human face divine," and even their clothes had been torn off by the mercUess rocks and waves.

In the course of his wandering along the coast, Mr. Freeman surprised several parties dividing and disputing about the property which had been washed on shore in different parts. Here would be seen, perhaps, half-a-dozen men quarreUing about the possession of a cask of wine or brandy, and, in the melee, the top would be knocked in, whilst, in their eagerness to get at its contents, the cask would be overturned, and the whole contents spilt on the sand. In another place might be seen haU-a-score women squabbling about the possession of a cask of fruit or provisions. At length, in turning a sharp point of rock, he came suddenly on a man and two women who were kneeling on the sand between two rocks, intently examining the contents of a large sea-chest which they had broken open. Mr. Freeman stood behind a rock for a few minutes, concealed from their view, and watched their proceedings, as, one by one, they took the things out of the chest, with the evident intention of dividing the spoil.

He had not before interfered with any of the wreckers in their unlawful plunder, but he now stepped forward and commanded them to replace all the things in the chest and put on the cover. The two women started to their feet at once (for there was a superstitious dread among the people generally at being " iU-wished" by " The Maister" U they thwarted him) ; while the man remained kneeling over the chest, holding in his hands the last article which he had taken from it, in seeming doubt as to whether he had better put it back or bid defiance to the apparently feeble form before him, when Josiah Trenow jumped over a rock into the Uttle cranny, and asked what was the matter. " That chest," said Mr. Freeman, " must be taken care of ; I have reasons which I shall not make known at present. If you wiU get it taken to some safe place, Josiah, I shall feel much obliged to you.

In my own house it will be safest, I think." " By all mains, sar," repUed Josiah ; " the best place I do knaw es your awn house, Maister. So come, boy," continued he, addressing the man, who was still kneeling by the side of the chest, and looking with longing eyes at its contents, which seemed very valuable, " you and I'U carr'n up." However reluctant the man was to relinquish the prize, he had not the foolhardiness to oppose two such powerful antagonists. In stature and physical strength and courage, Josiah Trenow was the acknowledged champion of the parish, and very few men Uked to be pitted against him, either in the ring or in more serious combat ; whilst Mr. Freeman's weU-known abihty in foreteUing the future and relieving those who were possessed of evil spirits, and even ill wishing people himself (as they believed), rendered him an object of dread to the superstitious and weak-minded, of which there were not a few in those days. Josiah had not much difficulty, therefore, in procuring sufficient assistance to carry the chest to Mr. Freeman's house.