Part 35 (1/2)
The waiting-maid being a comely la.s.s, and he a handsome man, she forgot her duty to her mistress, when Marec--as the custom was with gallant youths--pressed her to drink from his tankard to sweeten it. The cordial and charms, that were intended to move his affections in the lady's favour, ended in his strolling on the sea-sh.o.r.e with her handmaid. The step-dame, unable to rest, wandered down on the beach, where she espied the loving pair in amorous dalliance. Her love turned to hate; without being seen by them, she returned and pa.s.sed the night in planning revenge.
In the morning early the enraged lady sought an interview with her doting old husband, and told him that she wished to return to her father's house, because she was pining for fresh air, but dared not leave her room when his son was in the castle for fear of being insulted by his unbecoming behaviour; in fact, she gave the old lord to understand--by hints, which might mean little or much--that Marec then discovered such a pa.s.sion for her as she failed to inspire before her marriage.
Pengersec raved, and swore he would be the death of him before many hours were pa.s.sed; at length, however, his fit of anger having moderated, he a.s.sured his wife that he would get him taken so far away that it would be long ere he returned to trouble her, if ever he did.
This being agreed on, the lady somewhat pacified returned to her own apartment, and summoned her woman to attend her. Venna had no sooner entered the chamber than her mistress pinned her in a corner, held a knife to her breast, and vowed to have her heart's blood that instant--for her treachery in enticing her young master to the sea-sh.o.r.e--unless she drank the contents of a phial which she held to her lips.
”Have patience, my dear mistress,” said she, ”and I will either explain to your satisfaction what seemeth false dealing and disloyalty, or I'll drain this bottle of poison to the last drop.” Venna then told her mistress that she was only following her aunt's instructions to get Marec into her toils, and--if other means failed--induce him, in the dead of night, to visit her chamber by the outer stair from the garden.
The woman also proposed to make other arrangements, of which her mistress approved.
Then the pair devised how to get rid of the old lord speedily, for--having excited his jealousy--they feared he might kill his son, or send him from the country without delay.
They little thought, however, when they had decided to poison him in the evening at his supper, that all their infernal plans were overheard by the priest and steward, who had long suspected the step-dame and her woman of hatching some plot against the young master.
In Pengersec castle, as in many dwellings of that time, there were private pa.s.sages, contrived in the thickness of its walls. Such places, being known only to the master and his confidential servants, were frequently forgotten; yet the priests, who were skilled builders and great devisers of mysterious hiding-holes, mostly knew where to find them.
From behind a perforated carving, in stone or wainscot, the lady's wicked designs were found out. At supper, the old steward, as was his custom, stood behind his master to hand him the tankard of ale, that he drank with his venison pasty, and a goblet of strong waters, that stood in a buffet--prepared and spiced by the lady for her husband--beside one for herself, to take with the sweet waffels with which they finished their repast. The hall being but dimly lighted by the fading twilight and a fire on the hearth, the steward managed to distract the lady's attention, when removing the tankard, by letting it fall and spilling what remained in it on her robe, so that, without being noticed, he exchanged the two drinking-vessels' contents, and the lady took the poisoned draught which she had prepared for her spouse.
But it had little or no effect on her for the time, because, to guard against a mischance of this kind, she had long accustomed herself to imbibe poisons, in increasing doses, until she could stand a quant.i.ty that would be fatal to one not thus fortified.
After supper the priest informed Marec of the snares laid to entrap him, and of the step-dame's murderous attempt on his father.
The lady despaired of accomplis.h.i.+ng her designs, as Marec showed by his behaviour, that he regarded her with loathing. One day, when she was more gracious to him than usual, and made advances not to be misunderstood, looking on her with contempt, he said, ”Know, sorceress, that I detest thee and abhor thy shameful intentions, but thou canst neither hurt me by thy witchcraft, nor with the blight of thy evil eyes.” She made no reply, but left the hall and soon after told her spouse that his son had most grossly insulted her. ”Indeed,” said she, ”I had to defend myself with all my might to preserve my honour, and threatened to plunge a dagger into his heart unless he desisted and left my apartment.” Her fabricated story so provoked the old lord that he determined to dispose of his son without delay.
That evening, the weather being stormy, Marec and Uter noticed, from Pengersec How, a vessel taking a course which would bring her into dangerous ground; the young men launched their boat, rowed towards the s.h.i.+p, and signalled that there were sunken rocks ahead.
Night was now fast closing in, and the land could scarcely be discerned through the mist, when the young men beheld something floating at a little distance. On approaching it, they saw it to be a drowning seaman quite exhausted, and unable to keep any longer on the surface; they pulled with might and main and were just in time to save him. Having reached Pengersec Cove, they bore him to Marec's chamber, stripped off his wet clothing, rubbed him dry, placed him in bed on sheep-skins, and lay on either side that the warmth of their bodies might help to restore him. At length his breathing became regular, and, without speaking, he went off in sound sleep.
The rescued sailor awoke much restored and just as well as need be, though surprised to find himself in a new berth with strange s.h.i.+pmates--as he thought his two bed-fellows. He tried to get out of bed and have a look round, when Marec well pleased to see him so far recovered--related how they had taken him into their boat the previous evening, when he was seemingly at the last gasp.
The seaman--who was called Arluth--then said, that he recollected having fallen from the ”tops” into the water, and endeavouring to keep himself afloat, in hopes of being seen from his s.h.i.+p and rescued; but of what followed he had no remembrance. He also informed them that he was the son of a captain of an eastern s.h.i.+p, which frequently traded at Cornish ports; fearing his father might be in great distress, from thinking him drowned, he wished to get on board his s.h.i.+p as soon as possible.
Uter fetched, from the butlery, beef, bread, and beer; when the sailor and his master sat beside each other he remarked that they looked like twin brothers, from their close resemblance.
Having breakfasted, they took horses and--followed by the dogs--started for Market-jew.
When they came out on uncultivated ground, Marec proposed to hunt as they went along, that the seaman might have some game to take aboard.
They had gone but a little way when a white doe started from a thicket and ran towards the hills--followed by the hounds in full cry. The sailor's horse being an old hunter, took after them, and the rider, being an indifferent horseman, lost all control over his steed, which bore him after the hounds near to the top of Tregonning hill, where the doe disappeared and the dogs were at fault.
The sailor alighted near the same carn where Pengersec had been thrown from his horse many years agone. He had no sooner put foot to ground than lightning struck the rocks close by and they toppled over. Then he heard a voice--as if from the ground--that said, ”Fear not, Arluth, beloved son of mine, to seize thy forefather's sword and with it win thy kingdom.”
There was no one nigh him; but, on glancing towards the carn, he saw near it a beautiful white hare, which gazed lovingly on him for a moment and then disappeared amongst the rocks. On going to the spot, where the rocks had been severed, he found a naked sword with sparkling jewels in its hilt, and the blade shone like flame.
Arluth, having recovered from his surprise, took up the sword, and, looking round, he saw Marec and Uter near him. Surprised that it should be discovered in such a place, and at what the seaman told him, Marec said, that as he had found the magic weapon, he was destined to achieve great things.
Arluth again thought of his father and s.h.i.+pmates, who, not knowing if he were dead or alive would be in great trouble; he begged his companions to let him hasten to Market-jew, and their horses soon took them thither. On parting the sailor said he hoped to see his friends again; they proposed to visit him in the evening; saw him embark in a boat and pull off to his s.h.i.+p. The good captain was overjoyed to see him after having mourned for him as dead.
Arluth related how he had been rescued; drew the sword from his belt and told the captain where he had found it, with what he had seen and heard on the hill. The captain having examined it, said, ”The time is come for me to declare that the only relations.h.i.+p I bear thee is through my regard and loyalty to the murdered Queen, thy mother.” He then related to Arluth how the Queen had lost her kingdom and magic sword, through her ill-requited love for Pengersec; and how he had saved him when an infant. In conclusion the captain said, ”Thou wilt now understand, my son--let me still call thee so--how that the young lord of Pengersec, who rescued thee last night, is thy brother. Thy name, too--which was given thee by thy mother, as soon as thou wast born--belongs to this country's tongue. The Queen, having heard Lord Pengersec thus called by his Cornish followers who attended him to her land, took that t.i.tle to be one of his names, and liked it best for thee.”