Tregeagle's Head; a Romance of the Cornish Cliffs ... With ... illustrations, etc

Front matter

TREGEAGLE'S HEAD. LIST OF WORKS BV SILAS K. HOCKING, f.r.h.s. In Crown 8vo, Cloth Gilt, Bevelled Boards, and Gilt Edges, Price 2s. Gd. AGGREGATE SALE, 475,000. TREGEAGLE'S HEAD : A Romance of the Cornish Cliffs. AVith Original Illustrations by T. M. Hemy. {Fifteenth Thousand.) REEDYFORD ; or, Creed and Character. With Original Illustrations by F. Earnakd. (Fijth Thousand.) FOR ABIGAIL : A West Country Story. AA'ith Original Illustrations by AV. S. Stacey. (Fifteenth Thousand.) CROOKLEIGH : A Village Story. AVith Original Illustrations by AV. S. Stacey. (Fifteenth Tliousatid.) REA1 GRIT. AVith Original Illustrations. (Twentieth Thousand.) CRICKET: A Tale of Humble Life. AVith Illustrations. (Fifteenth Thousand.) DICK'S FAIRY: A Tale of the Streets. With Original Illustrations. (Twenty-fifth Tltojisand.)

SEA-AVALF : A Tale of the Sea. With Original Illustrations. (Tweutyfifth Thousami.) IVY: A Tale of Cottage Life. AVith Illustrations. (Forty fifth Thousand.) HIS FATHER; or, A Motkei's Legacy. AVith Original Illustrations. (Fortieth Thousand.)^'. < .. HER BENNY : A Story of StreerLife. Fully Illustrated. (Seventieth Thousand. ) CALEB CARTHEW; A Life Story. AVith Steel Portrait. (Tweuteth Thousand.) ALEC GREEN ; A Story of Cornish Life. AVith Illustrations. (Forests th Thousand.) *%* ALEC GA'EE -V is also issued iu a cheafi edition, small crown Svo, sewed picture cover, is. ; or cloth giit, is. 6d. In Royal 16mo, Cloth Gilt, Price Is. OUR JOE. AVith Illustrations. (Twentieth Thousand.) POOR MIKE : The Story ot a Waif. (Thirly-fi/th Thousand.) CHIPS : A Story of Manchester Life. Original Illustrations.

(Sijctyfijth Thousand.) In Fcap. 800, Cloth, Price 1s., or Gilt Edges, Price Is. ed. SOCIAL MODELS : A Series of Addresses on Social Themes. LONDON AND NEW YORK: FREDERICK AVARNE & CO. "But no one paid heed to Dicky; every eye was fixed upon a moving but headless figure out on the headland." — P. 15. TREGEAGLE'S HEAD % Romance us the Csjnuslj Cliffs. BY SILAS K. HOCK™, F.R.H.S., AUTHOR OF " "HEK BENNY," "IVY," "FOB ABIGAIL," etc., etc. WITH ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS BY Z M. HEMY. LONDON AND NEW YORK : FREDERICK WARNE AND CO. 1890. Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London & Bunoay. DEDICATION. My dear Ernest, This little book having grown out of a suggestion of yours, I dedicate it to you. Probably you have forgotten the circumstance ; but some time ago you paid me the someAvhat doubtful compliment of Avishing I would " Avrite a book that boys Avould like — a book with adventures in it, and escapes, and all that."

Chapter I. Introductory

"Yet over all there hung a cloud of fear, A sense of mystery the spirit daunted, And said as plain as whisper in the ear, The place is haunted." — Hood. Jack Dunstan and Harry Penryn went out together on Tregeagle's Head. Several hours later Harry returned alone. He did not say Avhat had become of his companion; indeed he appeared anxious to avoid all allusion to the subject. When he got home he shut himself up in his father's study, and remained there till Farmer Dunstan came across to the Vicarage to know Avhat had become of his son. Tregeagle's Head — as every one knoAvs who has sailed round the Cornish coast, or tramped its seaboard — is a huge rocky promontory, that pushes itself at least a mile out into the Atlantic surf, and remains at all states of the tide standing deep in the Avater.

In shape it is not unlike a giant's head, especially if you can get a profile view sailing up or down the channel. Right and left, as well as far out in front, it is safely guarded by an army of small rocky islands. At high Avater these rocks cannot be seen, but Avhen the tide is Ioav they stand up out of the Avater like a regiment ■2 TREGEAGLES HEAD. of black dragoons, and break the Atlantic rollers into a myriad shreds of gleaming foam. Strange stories are told even to-day about Tregeagle's Head. But at the time of which we Avrite — and that was long before the present century opened — every one believed it to be haunted. In stormy weather, when the night lay thick upon the angry sea, and tbe rocky sentinels tore the long billoAvs into shreds, and churned them into foam, the spirit of Tregeagle might be heard calling into the darkness, and shrieking out his despair in notes so fearsome, that people felt their blood curdle in their veins.

The Rev. Leslie Penryn — who was not a superstitious man — pooh-poohed these stories, and called them silly trash ; said it Avas far more likely that the cries came from droAvning sailors whose bark had got entangled among the rocks around Tregeagle's Head, and Avho were perishing Avith none to save. But the fishermen of Pentudy on one side and of Porthloo on the other would have none of it. They knew better. Had not their fathers and grandfathers told them hoAV the restless spirit of Tregeagle had been doomed to dAvell in the gloomy caverns Avhich honeycombed the great headland ; to make ropes of sand, and stem the roaring tide, until by long centuries of penance he had purged aAvay his guilt, and secured rest for his long tortured soul ? What more reasonable to suppose, therefore, that when the nights were dark and Avild, and the raging storm scattered his ropes of sand like dust, and the angry sea Avrecked his labour, and hissed defiance in his ear — Avhat more reasonable, that he should Avail out the misery and despair of his tortured soul.

There Avere dozens of people in Pentudy and Porthloo Avho had not only heard strange cries cominoacross the sea from Tregeagle's Head, but had seen strano-e lio-hts flickering about, as though many other spirits than thai of Tregeagle's dAvelt in its caves. And one or two INTRODUCTORY. 3 people declared that they had in the daytime seen smoke issuing from its crown. But the majority of the fisher-folk were unable to give credence to this last statement. Yet Sam Trewalsick, one of the most daring and reckless felloAvs on the whole coast, Avas of the opinion that there might be some truth in it. " You never know," he said, " Avhat those ghostes is up to. My b'leef is, the oal head is crammed full ov 'em. Me an' our Billy have heerd some strange things when we've been coastin' purty near them sent'nels."

" An' I reckon," said Dan Polslee, a little wizened man with lantern jaws and large hungry-looking eyes, " that you've a sail'd as near them rocks as any ov us." "I've a sail'd nearer 'em than I ever intend to do again," said Sam, sweeping the little croAvd of upturned faces with a meaning glance. " It's best to give 'em a purty wide berth," said two or three voices in chorus. " And for why ? " said Sam, with a savage frown. " Aye, give us your views," said Dan, edging his Avay nearer the centre of the group. " Foaks say as 'ow you've not on'y heerd things but seed things as Avell ; ez there any truth in it ? " " Well," said Sam, emptying his mouth of a quid of tobacco and indulging in sundry preliminary oaths, " I ain't no talkin' man, and I ain't no narvus man, but some things there ain't no denyin'."

" That's true," Avas the general response. " And I don't care the Avuth of a pilchard what that passon over to Restormel says about it," Avent on Sam. " I know what I've heerd an' Avhat I've seed, an' I teli'e, boys, I wouldn't go on Tregeagle's Head arter dark for all the gold of the Ingies." "Nor me nuther," said Dan, Avith a shrug of his shoulders, and a curious leer of his hungry eyes. " Me an' our Billy," Avent on Sam, without heeding the interruption, " made up our minds one day that we 'ud defy Tregeagle an' oal his himps, the oal boilm on 'em. So the tide being 'igh, an' most of the sent nels under water, we hoisted sail an' made for't.' At this point Sam returned the quid to his mouth, while a visible shudder ran through his frame. The effect of this on his little audience Avas almost electrical.

Sam Trewalsick Avas not the man to be " sheared " by shadoAvs. It must have been a fearful sight that the memory of it could affect him so. " I'd rather not tell it, boys," he said after a long pause. " But you may depend I keep as far away from Tregeagle's Head as possible." " Oh, but you'd better tell," suggested Dan. " We be all ' daggin ' to hear." " Fact is," said Sam, shrugging his brawny shoulders and indulging in a feAV more oaths, " words ain't big enough to tell it. There ain't nothin' to liken it to. You've seen the mouth o' the cave from the sea ? " " Iss, iss," Avas the response. " Well, far up the cave is a fire. A hawful fire, like a smeltin'-house oven — a fire as don't give no light, but burns blue, wi' strakes of yeller an' green in it, that curls and twists around like ' brakety ' sarpents, and hiss wi' forked tongues red-hot.

And all round, danc in' an' squirmin' Avith three-claAv'd pikes in their hands, such imps as never afore Avas seen — all shapes, all sizes, all colours, jabberin', fightin', squealin'. Boys, you ain't no idee." " That's true," said Dan, Avho Avas spokesman for the rest. "But that ain't all," said Sam. "If me an' Billy hadn't loAvered our sail sudden it 'ud a been all up wi' us." v " Hoav d'ye make that out, Sam ? " asked two or three voices. " Well," said Sam, taking the quid out of his mouth again, and indulging in more profane language, " that's INTRODUCTORY. 5 jist Avhere I'm floored. I can't explain — I can on'y tell jist Avhat happened. We'd got opposite the cave, an' fairly near, Avhen we feel'd ourselves pulled, drawed, sucked like very mad. There Aver'n't no Avind stirring sca'ce, for nobody 'ud go near the sent'nels in windy weather; but our sails filled out, or were sucked out, in a moment, and Ave found ourselves going like light ning straight for the mouth of the cave.

You may bet we got out of that current as soon as possible, and Ave ain't been near it since." After this deliverance there was a long pause. Sam deliberately spat on the ground, then pushed his hands deep into his trousers pockets. Then Barnicoat Tabb, or Barney, as he was always called, after a preliminary cough, remarked that "his grandfather had seed somethin' like it. And his own opinion was, that the fire Avent out for years an' years, then blazed up again." " My b'lief is it's a kind o' burnin' mountain," chimed in Tommy Mudge. " But 'ow about them himps ? " queried Dan. " They of course be after Tregeagle," said Tommy. " Everybody knows that if he ceases work for a minit till his time's up, the devil will have him. But while he keeps at it they may squirm around 'im, but they can't touch 'im."

To this deliverance there was a general nodding of heads. It was in harmony with the universal belief respecting the fate of Tregeagle. " Any road," Sam remarked as a parting shot, " there may be somethin' in the stories 'bout the smoke coming out o' the head. But you'll not catch me tryin' to find out Avhere it comes from." " Nor me nuther," said Dan, Avith a curious leer. And then the little company broke up to go their several ways. In this way superstition Avas kept alive, and stories grew with the frequent telling, and any man who was bold enough to express a doubt regarding their authen ticity was looked upon as an infidel, or something Avorse. As yet newspapers were unknown, railways Avere undreamed of. Even the stage-coach did not come near Porthloo and Pentudy ; and for an inhabitant to receive a letter Avas an event to be talked about weeks and months after.

The Aveather, pilchards, and the mysteries of Tregeagle's Head were the principal topics of conversation. Now and then some rumour of what was doing in the outer world reached their ears, but they paid little heed to it as a rule. They lived in a little Avorld of their own — a world made fearsome by their OAvn fancies, and darkened by gloomy superstitions. With the inhabitants of Restormel, scarcely more than two miles aAvay, they had little or nothing in common. Restormel Avas the principal village in the parish of St. Orme, and out of sight of the sea. A quaint, quiet, picturesque spot, rich in timber and all kinds of vegetation, sheltered from the Atlantic gales by a steep hill groAvn thick with pines, and equally sheltered on the east by the Avooded slopes of Carn- Duloe. Restormel boasted a fine old church, a cosy and commodious vicarage, and three or four good residences, the principal one of which Avas occupied by Farmer Dunstan.

The vicar, though somewhat stern and forbidding in manner and aspect, was very popular in Restormel, but Avith his parishioners at Porthloo and Pentudy he was, as Ave have already hinted, at a decided dis count. He had as good as called them fools, and that Avas an offence they Avere not likely to foro-et or forgive. He had told them to their face that Tregeagle was a " myth," whatever that might mean • that Nanny Flue, a reputed Avitch who lived iu a little hut on the slope of Carn-Duloe, had no more INTRODUCTORY. 7 power over men's lives or property than he had ; that charms were folly and worse, and that ghosts did not exist. Nor Avas that all. He had even hinted that they Avere coAvards, because they did not man their fishing boats— Avhen on stormy nights they heard low cries of agony and despair coming across the sea from the direc tion of Tregeagle's head — and go to the rescue of those who were perishing in the storm.

"I tell you these stories about Tregeagle are all bosh," he said angrily. " My fear is that the race of wreckers has not died out yet. But I shall keep my eyes open, and any man I discover engaged in such a nefarious and dastardly practice will have to swing for it." And Avith a toss of his Avell-posed head the Rev. Leslie Penryn marched aAvay. But his Avords rankled in their memories and in their hearts. To be called fools and cowards, with a hint that they might be wreckers, was rather more than such human nature as theirs could stand. " What do 'e know 'bout it ? " they said in angry, sullen tones to each other. " He ain't no native of Restormel. He'd better mind 'iz oan business, an' look arter that big boay o' his. Keep 'iz eyes oppen, Avill 'e ? He'd better be careful ; other folks can keep their eyes oppen as Avell as 'e." So it came about that the fisher folk disliked and mistrusted their vicar, refused to attend church, turned a deaf ear to his instructions, and hugged their super stitions more tenaciously than ever.

He had been vicar of Restormel fifteen years. Harry, his son, was four years of age when he came; he was now a tall, muscular felloAv of nineteen. Gladys, his daughter, Avas five years younger than Harry. The day she was born the mother died, and ever since a housekeeper had presided over the domestic arrangements of the vicarage. Gladys was the apple of her father's eye, but Mrs. kill yet Gaved, the housekeeper, gave nearly all her love to Harry. „ ■, "If anything should happen to Harry, she was often heard to declare, " she was quite sure it would Kill her." And now something had happened, but as yet no one knew Avhat. EXPLANATIONS. 9

Chapter II. Explanations

" The man of pure and simple heart Through life disdains a double part ; He neA^er needs the screen of lies His imvard bosom to disguise." — Gay. Mrs. Gaved opened the door in response to Farmer Dunstan's knock. " Is our Jack here ? " he asked hurriedly. " No, he is not," she said, starting back a little, for the farmer's tone and manner alarmed her. " Nor Harry either ? " he queried. " No, I think not," she answered ; " at any rate, I've not seen him." The farmer drew a sigh of relief, then added — " They ought to have been back hours ago. I Avonder Avhat they can be after." " Are you sure they are together ? " Mrs. Gaved asked, for she knew the young men had not been very friendly with each other for a considerable time past. " Quite sure," was the reply. " They patched up their quarrel yesterday, and this afternoon they started together for Tregeagle's Head, of all places in the Avorld.

I wish to my heart they Avould come back, for I'm getting anxious." " Oh, I dare say they are all right," Mrs. Gaved B answered. "They are not like children; they know how to take care of themselves." "Yes, that's true," said the farmer; "but Im fidgety all the same." 1 " What are you fidgety about ? " asked a sweet childish voice from the doorway of the dining-room. " Is that you, Gladys ? " the farmer asked cheenly._ " Yes, it's I," was the answer ; " but what's fidgeting you, Mr. Dunstan ? " "Those boys," he answered; "they Avent out hours ago on Tregeagle's Head, and haven't returned yet." " Oh, yes," she said, " Harry has been home a very long time." " Home ? " questioned Mrs. Gaved and the farmer in a breath. " Yes, he came home just as it Avas growing dusk. He came in at the side door, and went at once to the study."

" Why did you not let me know ? " Mrs. Gaved asked sharply. " Because he said he did not want to be disturbed, as he Avanted to read," Avas the ansAver. Both Mrs. Gaved and the farmer drew a sharp breath that Avas almost a gasp. Perhaps the same horrible suspicion flashed through the mind of each at the same time. Mr. Dunstan was the first to recover himself. "I must see him at once," he said, and he marched straight past Mrs. Gaved to the study door, Avhere he paused for a moment, then turned the handle and entered. Harry Avas seated on a Ioav chair, Avith his elboAvs on the table, and an open book before him. Tavo candles were lighted, and were placed one on each side the volume he was reading. He rose instantly when the door opened, gave a little start at sight of the farmer, then advanced to meet him Avith extended hand, EXPLANATIONS. 11 Mr. Dunstan, however, ignored the friendly sign ; he was tingling to the finger-tips with excitement, and with a dread he could not shape into words.

But by a manful effort he repressed his feelings, and asked in tones unnaturally calm — " Where is my boy Jack ? " " Is he not home ? " Harry asked, in a voice equally calm and passionless, but a close observer would have noticed an unusual tremor of the lips Avhile he spoke, while a momentary pallor swept like a flash across his swarthy face. " If he were at home I should not come here seeking him," the farmer ansAvered, in tones that betrayed his feelings in spite of his effort to be calm. " I am sorry he has not returned," Harry ansAvered, meeting fearlessly the farmer's steady gaze. "I hope be has not been caught by the tide." " Caught by the tide ? " Mr. Dunstan questioned quickly. " Hoav ? — where ? — in what way ? " " Well, he started to walk round Tregeagle's Head ; it was Ioav tide, you knoAV, and he said he could get round on the rocks."

" Madness — folly ! I'm sure he attempted no such thing," thundered the farmer, letting go all restraint under the force of a terrible suspicion. " Sir ? " questioned Harry, stepping back a pace, and looking at the farmer with flaming eyes. " Yes, you may say ' sir,' " roared Mr. Dunstan ; " but do you think any one will believe a story like that ? " "It's little concern of mine Avhat people believe," Avas the quiet but defiant answer. " I am simply speaking the truth." "God grant you may be," said Mr. Dunstan, quailing a little before the fearless gaze of the young man. "But go on." "I have little to add," was the ansAver. "We went first to the top, and had a race across the turf, in which he came out first ; then we wrestled and I threw him ; then Ave went doAvn to the beach on Pentudy side, and walked out as far as we could get, and I never saw a loAver tide."

" Aye, it's full moon to-night," assented the farmer. "Well, then Jack proposed we should attempt to walk round the head upon the rocks. He said it had been done, and could be done again, and he was going to do it." " And you let him ? " questioned the farmer angrily. " I could not prevent him," was the ansAver. " Did you try ? " " Well, I said I thought the game Avas not worth the candle, and that Ave should be foolish to run any risks ; but he Avould not have it that there was any risk at all." " Well, and Avhat then ? " " Then he started out alone. He said he intended to make the acquaintance of Tregeagle, and have a peep into his cave if he had time." " What time Avould that be ? " " About a quarter to six. He said the tide would be at its lowest at six, and that it Avould be the loAvest tide for the year."

"Well?" " I Avatched him till he Avas out of sight. He seemed to have no difficulty in getting from rock to rock, and soon after he started he called back that he Avould be back at Restormel as soon as I should." " And why did you not come across to see if he had returned ? " " I really don't know — I had no anxiety on his account; and besides, I had no particular Avish to be seen at your house again to-day." The farmer heaved a long sigh, and stood for several seconds Avith bent head, and eyes fixed upon the ground. " If Avhat you say is true," he said at length, raisino- EXPLANATIONS. 13 his eyes and looking hard at Harry, " I fear my poor boy is lost. Oh ! Jack, Jack ! " and the farmer's voice ended in something like a sob. " I hope he's safe someAvhere," Harry answered, after a pause. " He can SAvim like a shark and climb like a squirrel; and as for fear — well, he doesn't knoAV what it is."

" That may be true enough," Mr. Dunstan ansAvered ; " but if he Avere safe he'd have been back before this." " He may have been caught by the tide, as I suggested," Avas the reply ; " he may be now perched upon some ledge of the cliff, waiting for the tide to ebb again. Hadn't Ave better get ropes and go in search of him ? " " A very good suggestion, if we can get anybody to go with us ; but Avho likes to go on Tregeagle's Head after dark ? — tell me that ! " " It's not a question of liking, but of duty," Harry answered. " Ah, yes, you can talk of duty now," the farmer said bitterly. "If you had minded your duty when you were Avith him all this might have been pre vented." For a moment the young man's eyes blazed, but he made no further ansAver. Half an hour later a dozen men, bearing along with them large coils of rope, and headed by the tall form of the Vicar, might have been seen marching with long, hurried strides in the direction of Tregeagle's Head.

Mr. Penryn had returned from visiting some of his sick parishioners just as farmer Dunstan Avas taking his leave. It only required a feAV words for him to take in the whole situation, and then he started Avith the farmer to beat up recruits for the expedition. He had tramped nearly a dozen miles that afternoon over his broad parish, and was noAV almost faint with fatigue. But he forgot his own weariness in presence of an emergency like this. Moreover, he Avas not so dense but that he could see hoAv his own son was implicated. If anything had happened to Jack Dunstan— if he were drowned, for instance — how easy it would be for suspicion to fall on Harry. The tAvo boys— for they were still boys to him —had not been friends of late, as every one kneAV. Jack had shot Harry's dog, and Harry had vowed vengeance on the slayer of his favourite.

True they had patched up their quarrel, though that was not generally known; and people were very quick in putting Avhat they called two and tAvo together. A cold perspiration burst out over the Vicar, and stood in big drops upon his forehead as he thought of this. But he had a resolute will and a stout heart, and after a few moments he put the feeling aside. There Avas no time to be Avasted in speculating about what might be. " Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," he mut tered to himself, and Avith this reflection he entered the first house in the village. There Avas no great eagerness, hoAvever, to join the expedition. Many of the men had only just got in from the fields and stack-yards, for the harvest was late this year ; and a Aveary tramp out on Tregeagle's Head, Avith the chance of falling over cliffs, Avas not a very taking prospect.

Besides, Tregeagle's Head AA'as not the place one cared to go after nightfall. They might not believe all that the fisherfolk of Pentudy believed, but they believed very much more than they cared to confess; and if any place in the parish Avas haunted, there could be no doubt it Avas Tregeagle's Head. When they knew that the Vicar himself Avas going to lead the expedition they Avere someAvhat reassured. They knew he never Avent out without a copy of the EXPLANATIONS. 15 Prayer-Book in his pocket, and that in itself was sufficient to exorcise even the devil. It was a glorious night; the moon was at its full, and not a single cloud flecked the heavens. The spirit of the wind lay still as if asleep. Now and then it Avhispered faintly in the pine wood, or dreAV a deep breath, like a long-drawn sigh, that shook the pine-needles for a moment, then slept again in utter silence.

On turning the slope of the hill they came in sight of the sea, Avhich lay like a great silver sheet in the light of the moon. Here they paused for a feAV moments and listened. If any one were calling for help his voice Avould be distinctly heard on a night like this ; but only the Ioav moan of the sea as it surged among the rocks and caves broke the stillness of the hour. " I'm afraid it's all up Avith my poor boy ! " moaned Farmer Dunstan. " If he were clinging to the rocks anyAvhere he Avould be calling for help." " Let us not give up hope till Ave are compelled to," said the Vicar, kindly; and then the little company marched on again in silence. Suddenly they halted Avith a simultaneous exclam ation, — " See ! see ! What's that ? " The next moment Dicky Tredinnick had fallen upon his knees, and Avas muttering with chattering teeth, " Our Father, 'chart in 'ebben," as fast as his tongue could give utterance to the Avords.

But no one paid heed to Dicky, every eye was fixed upon a moving but headless figure out on the headland. It did not seem to Avalk, but glided with a graceful motion across the spongy turf, then paused, stretched its ghostly figure to its full height, then slowly sank into the earth. For several seconds after the apparition had disappeared there reigned the most perfect silence, then each member of the little company drew a long breath, as though a great load had been suddenly lifted from their hearts. Mr. Dunstan was the first to speak. " It's a token," he said, " my poor boy is dead. We need not go any further. Hoav he has come by his death, Heaven only knows; but it is said only the ghosts of those Avho have come to their death by unfair means ever walk the earth. But time will reveal the secret; " and he looked hard at Harry, who stood pale, silent, and unmoved.

"Come, friend Dunstan, no hints or insinuations, please," said Mr. Penryn, sternly. " You are like other folk, frightened at a shadow." "I can't help my thoughts," said the farmer, in subdued tones. "You can help expressing them, at any rate," was the reply. " But come, let us be marching, we can learn nothing by standing here like frightened children." " Not a step furder for me," chattered Dicky Tredin nick. " I Avouldn't go on that 'ed to-night for a million poun's." " Nor me nuther," said Davey Polgooth. " Nor me ! " " Nor me ! " came from the lips of tAvo others. " CoAvards and children," said the Vicar, contempt uously. " I really thought the Restormel folk had got beyond such nonsense." " But Ave caan't git ovver Avhat AA^e've seen wi' our OAvn eyes," said Dicky, Avith his teeth still chattering.