Part 60 (1/2)

”I knew thou wert in some way protected,” she cried furiously. ”And so it is a piece of gold-with magic characters upon it, eh?” she added, suddenly changing her tone; ”Let me look at it.”

”Thou seest it plain enough,” rejoined Richard. ”Now, stand aside and let me pa.s.s, for thou perceivest I have power to force an entrance.”

”I see it-I see it,” replied Mother Demdike, with affected humility. ”I see it is in vain to struggle with thee, or rather with the potent lady who sent thee. Tarry where thou art, and i will bring Alizon to thee.”

”I almost mistrust thee,” said Richard-”but be speedy.”

”I will be scarce a moment,” said the witch; ”but I must warn thee that she is-”

”What-what hast thou done to her, thou wicked hag?” cried Richard, in alarm.

”She is distraught,” said Mother Demdike.

”Distraught!” echoed Richard.

”But thou canst easily cure her,” said the old hag, significantly.

”Ay, so I can,” cried Richard with sudden joy-”the talisman! Bring her to me at once.”

Mother Demdike departed, leaving him in a state of indescribable agitation. The walls of the tower were of immense thickness, and the entrance to the chamber towards which the arched doorway led was covered by a curtain of old arras, behind which the hag had disappeared. Scarcely had she entered the room when a scream was heard, and Richard heard his own name p.r.o.nounced by a voice which, in spite of its agonised tones, he at once recognised. The cries were repeated, and he then heard Mother Demdike call out, ”Come hither! come hither!”

Instantly rus.h.i.+ng forward and das.h.i.+ng aside the tapestry, he found himself in a mysterious-looking circular chamber, with a ma.s.sive oak table in the midst of it. There were many strange objects in the room, but he saw only Alizon, who was struggling with the old witch, and clinging desperately to the table. He called to her by name as he advanced, but her bewildered looks proved that she did not know him.

”Alizon-dear Alizon! I am come to free you,” he exclaimed.

But in place of answering him she uttered a piercing scream.

”The talisman, the talisman?” cried the hag. ”I cannot undo my own work. Place the chain round her neck, and the gold near her heart, that she may experience its full virtue.”

Richard unsuspectingly complied with the suggestion of the temptress; but the moment he had parted with the piece of gold the figure of Alizon vanished, the chamber was buried in gloom, and, amidst a hubbub of wild laughter, he was dragged by the powerful arm of the witch through the arched doorway, and flung from it to the ground, the shock of the fall producing immediate insensibility.

CHAPTER XII.-THE MYSTERIES OF MALKIN TOWER.

It was a subterranean chamber; gloomy, and of vast extent; the roof low, and supported by nine ponderous stone columns, to which rings and rusty chains were attached, still retaining the mouldering bones of those they had held captive in life. Amongst others was a gigantic skeleton, quite entire, with an iron girdle round the middle. Fragments of mortality were elsewhere scattered about, showing the numbers who had perished in the place. On either side were cells closed by ma.s.sive doors, secured by bolts and locks. At one end were three immense coffers made of oak, hooped with iron, and fastened by large padlocks. Near them stood a large armoury, likewise of oak, and sculptured with the ensigns of Whalley Abbey, proving it had once belonged to that establishment. Probably it had been carried off by some robber band. At the opposite end of the vault were two niches, each occupied by a rough-hewn statue-the one representing a warlike figure, with a visage of extraordinary ferocity, and the other an anch.o.r.ess, in her hood and wimple, with a rosary in her hand. On the ground beneath lay a plain flag, covering the mortal remains of the wicked pair, and proclaiming them to be Isole de Heton and Blackburn, the freebooter. The pillars were ranged in three lines, so as to form, with the arches above them, a series of short pa.s.sages, in the midst of which stood an altar, and near it a large caldron. In front, elevated on a block of granite, was a marvellous piece of sculpture, wrought in jet, and representing a demon seated on a throne. The visage was human, but the beard that of a goat, while the feet and lower limbs were like those of the same animal. Two curled horns grew behind the ears, and a third, shaped like a conch, sprang from the centre of the forehead, from which burst a blue flame, throwing a ghastly light on the objects surrounding it.

The only discernible approach to the vault was a steep narrow stone staircase, closed at the top by a heavy trapdoor. Other outlet apparently there was none. Some little air was admitted to this foul abode through flues contrived in the walls, the entrances to which were grated, but the light of day never came there. The flame, however, issuing from the brow of the demon image, like the lamps in the sepulchres of the disciples of the Rosy Cross, was ever-burning. Behind the sable statue was a deep well, with water as black as ink, wherein swarmed snakes, and toads, and other noxious reptiles; and as the lurid light fell upon its surface it glittered like a dusky mirror, unless when broken by the horrible things that lurked beneath, or crawled about upon its slimy brim. But snakes and toads were not the only tenants of the vault. At the head of the steps squatted a monstrous and misshapen animal, bearing some resemblance to a cat, but as big as a tiger. Its skin was black and s.h.a.ggy; its eyes glowed like those of the hyaena; and its cry was like that of the same treacherous beast. Among the gloomy colonnades other swart and b.e.s.t.i.a.l shapes could be indistinctly seen moving to and fro.

In this abode of horror were two human beings-one, a young maiden of exquisite beauty; and the other, almost a child, and strangely deformed. The elder, overpowered by terror, was clinging to a pillar for support, while the younger, who might naturally be expected to exhibit the greatest alarm, appeared wholly unconcerned, and derided her companion's fears.

”Oh, Jennet!” exclaimed the elder of the two, ”is there no means of escape?”

”None whatever,” replied the other. ”Yo mun stay here till Granny Demdike c.u.ms fo ye.”

”Oh! that the earth would open and s.n.a.t.c.h me from these horrors,” cried Alizon. ”My reason is forsaking me. Would I could kneel and pray for deliverance! But something prevents me.”

”Reet!” replied Jennet. ”It's os mitch os yer loife's worth to kneel an pray here, onless yo choose to ge an throw yersel at th' feet o' yon black image.”

”Kneel to that idol-never!” exclaimed Alizon. And while striving to call upon heaven for aid, a sharp convulsion seized her, and deprived her of the power of utterance.