The Poniard's Hilt; Or, Karadeucq and Ronan. A Tale of Bagauders and Vagres

  CHAPTER II.

  FAIRIES AND HOBGOBLINS.

  The January snow and hail are falling in torrents; the wind moans; at adistance the sea roars and dashes inshore as far as the sacred stones ofKarnak. It is only four o'clock in the afternoon, and yet it is night toall intents and purposes; the warmly stalled cattle are locked in; thegates of the farmyard are closed tightly out of fear of prowling wolves;a large fire shoots up its flames in the fireplace of the hall; oldAraim is seated in his armchair, at the chimney-corner, with his largegrey dog, its head streaked with the white of old age, stretched out athis feet. The old man is at work on a net for fishing; his son Jocelynis fashioning a plough handle; Kervan is adjusting new thongs to a yoke;Karadeucq is sharpening the points of his arrows on a flint-stone. Thetempest will last till morning if not longer, because the sun went downlike a ball of fire behind thick black clouds that wreathed the isle ofSen like a dense fog. Whenever the sun sets in that fashion and the windblows from the west the tempest lasts two, three, sometimes four andfive days. The next morning Karadeucq will be out on the beach to shootsea-gulls while they graze with their wings the still raging waves. Itis the lad's amusement--my pet is such a skilful and expert archer!

  The sea roars from the distance like rumbling thunder; the house rocksin the gale; the hail is heard clattering in the chimney. Roar, tempest!Blow, sea gale! Drop, both snow and hail! Ah! How good it feels to hearthe ice-laden blast thunder, when one sees his family merrily gatheredin the house around a blazing fireplace! And then, the young lads andtheir sister whisper things to one another that make them shiver andsmile at once. For it does, indeed, look as if during the last centuryall the hobgoblins and all the fairies of Gaul have taken refuge inBritanny. Is it not a positive pleasure to hear tell during a tempestand by the fire those wonders to which one gives a lingering credence ifone has not seen them himself, and more so if one has seen them?

  This is what the young folks are saying to one another. My grandsonKervan starts the ball rolling as he shakes his head:

  "The traveler who has lost his way and who should happen to passto-night by the cavern of Pen-March will hear the hammers clang--"

  "Yes, the hammers that beat in time while the devilish hammerersthemselves sing their song, the burden of which ever is: 'One, two,three, four, five, six, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday--'"

  "And it is said they even add 'Thursday,' 'Friday' and 'Saturday,' butnever 'Sunday,' the day of the mass--of the Christians."

  "And the traveler may prize himself happy if the little Dus do not droptheir false coiners' hammers and start to dance, compelling him to joinin their reel until death closes upon him."

  "What dangerous demons those Dus must be, dwarfs no taller than barelytwo feet high! Meseems I see them, with their hairy and shriveled faces,their cats' claws, their goats' hoofs and their eyes flashing fire. Thebare thought of them is enough to make one shiver."

  "Look out, Roselyk! There is one under the bin. Look out!"

  "How imprudent you are, brother Karadeucq, to sport in that way over theDus! Those hobgoblins are spiteful things. I tremble when I think ofthem."

  "As for me, were I to come across a band of these customers, I wouldcapture two or three brace of them, I would tie them together by thelegs like partridges--and off I would make with them--"

  "Oh! You, Karadeucq, are not afraid of anything."

  "Justice should be done the little Dus. Although they do coin falsemoney in the cavern of Pen-March, they are said to be excellentblacksmiths, and matchless in the shoeing of horses."

  "Yes, you may rely on that! From the moment a horse has been shod bythose devilish dwarfs, he shoots fire out of his nostrils; and as torunning--as to running without ever stopping for breath--either night orday--to even take a look at his rider--"

  "Children, what a tempest! What a night!"

  "Fine night for the little Dus, mother! They love storms and darkness!But it is a bad night for the poor little Korrigans, who love only themild nights of the month of May."

  "Certes, I am dreadfully afraid of the hairy and clawy dwarfs with theirpurses full of false coin dangling from their belts and theirblacksmith's hammers on their shoulders. But I would be still moreafraid if I were to run across a Korrigan, only two feet high, combingher hair, and looking at herself in some secluded fountain, in the clearwater of which she is admiring those blonde tresses that they are soproud of."

  "What! Afraid of those pretty little fairies, brother Kervan! I, on thecontrary, have often tried to meet one of them. It is said positivelythat they assemble at the fountain of Lyrwac'h-Hen, which lies in thethickest of the large oak forest that shades several druid stones. Ihave gone thither three times--and all the three times I saw nothing--"

  "Luckily for you that you saw nothing Karadeucq, because it is said thatthe Korrigans never meet for their nocturnal dances except near thesacred stones. Woe to him who sees them!"

  "I gather that they are expert musicians and that they sing likenightingales."

  "It is also said of them that they like to pilfer food like cats. Yes,Karadeucq, you may laugh--but you should believe me; I am no fibber,"observed his sister indignantly. "I have heard the rumor that at theirnocturnal feasts they spread upon the sward, but always near a fountain,a cloth white as snow, and woven of the dainty thread that we find insummer on the meadows. In the very center of the cloth they place acrystal cup that shines so brightly, so very brightly, that it servesthe fairies for a torch. People add that a single drop of the liquid inthe cup would make one as wise as God."

  "And what do the Korrigans eat on that table cloth as white as snow? Doyou know, Karadeucq, you who love them so much?"

  "The dear little darlings! It can not be costly to nourish their rosyand transparent bodies that are hardly two feet high. Sister Roselyksays they are gourmands. What is it they eat? The juice of nightflowers, served upon gold grass blades?"

  "Gold grass blades? That superb grass that, if you step upon it, putsyou to sleep and imparts to you the knowledge of the language ofbirds--"

  "And what do the Korrigans drink?"

  "The dew of heaven in the azure shell of wrens' eggs--what boozers theyare! But at the slightest sound of human feet--off they vanish. Theyvanish into the fountain and return to their crystal and coral palace atthe bottom of the water. It is to the end of being able to escapequickly the sight of men that they always stay near the water. Oh, thepretty little fairies! I would give my best bow and twenty arrows, Iwould give all my fishing nets, I would give ten years, twenty years ofmy life to see a Korrigan!"

  "Karadeucq, my son, make not such impious vows on such a stormy night asthis--it may bring ill luck--I have never heard the enraged sea roarlike this--it sounds like thunder--"

  "Good mother, I would brave murky darkness, tempest and thunder to see aKorrigan!"

  "Hold your tongue, rash boy, hold your tongue--do not say such words!"

  "What a bold and venturesome lad you are, my boy!"

  "Grandfather, you should join us in scolding my brother Karadeucqinstead of encouraging him in his dangerous wishes. Do you not know--"

  "What, my blonde Roselyk?"

  "Alas! grandfather, the Korrigans steal the children of poor mothers andput little monsters in their place. The song so has it--"

  "Let's hear that song, my little Roselyk."

  "It runs this way, grandfather:

  "Mary is very sad; she has lost her little Laoik; the Korrigan snatched him away.

  "As I went to the spring for water I left my Laoik in his cradle; when I came back to the house, my little one was gone far away.

  "And in its place the Korrigan left me this monster--with a face as red as a toad's; he scratches and bites.

  "And all day he wants to be nursed, and yet he is seven years old--and yet he wants to be nursed.

  "Mary is very sad; she has lost her little Laoik; the Korrigan snatched him away!

  "That is the song, grandfath
er. And will brother still want to meet thewicked things, these Korrigan fairies who snatch away babes?"

  "What have you now to say in defense of your fairies, my pet?"

  "Grandfather, my sweet sister Roselyk has been imposed upon by eviltongues. All mothers with ugly urchins for children declare that theKorrigans substituted a little monster for their darling."

  "Well answered, my grandson!"

  "And, on my part, I maintain that the Korrigans are, on the contrary,sweet and serviceable. Do you know the valley of Helle?"

  "Yes, my dare-devil."

  "One time the finest hay in the world was to be got in that valley--

  "'Hay from Helle, perfumed hay.'"

  "Well, that was thanks to the Korrigans--"

  "Indeed? Tell me how--"

  "When the time for mowing and haymaking came around, the Korrigansarrived and camped on the crests of the rocks around the valley to watchover the meadow. If during the day the sun parched the grass too much,the Korrigans caused a plentiful dew to drop. When the grass was mowed,they scattered the clouds that might have interfered with the making ofhay. A foolish and wicked bishop wanted to chase away the pretty andkind fairies. He caused a large heather fire to be kindled early onenight all over the rocks; when these were sufficiently hot, the ashes,were all carefully removed. At their regular hour, and suspectingnothing, the dear Korrigans came to hold watch over the meadow, but theyinstantly burned their feet on the hot rocks. They then wept and cried:'Oh! Wicked world! Oh! Wicked world!' Since then they never morereturned to the place, and as a consequence, ever since, the hay hasbeen either rotted by the rain, or burned by the sun in the valley ofHelle. That is what comes of being unkind to the Korrigans. No, I shallnot die happy if I do not see at least one of them--"

  "Children, children, put no faith in such witcheries; above all neverwish to witness any. It brings bad luck--"

  "What, mother, simply because I desire to see a Korrigan, somemisfortune will befall me? What kind of misfortune?"

  "Hesus only knows, wild boy! I wish you would keep still; your talkfrightens me."

  "What a tempest! The house shakes!"

  "And it is on such a night that Karadeucq dared to say he would give hislife to see a Korrigan."

  "Come, dear wife, your fears only show weakness."

  "Mothers are weak and timid, Jocelyn. We must not tempt God--"

  Old Araim stops working for a moment at his net; his head drops on hischest.

  "What is the matter, folks? You seem to be in a brown study! Do youfear, like Madalen, that danger may threaten Karadeucq just because, onsuch a tempestuous night as this, he wishes to see a Korrigan?"

  "I am not thinking of the fairies; I am thinking of this frightfulstorm, Jocelyn. I read to you and your children the narrative of ourancestor Joel, who lived about five hundred and odd years ago, if not inthis very house, at least in the neighborhood of where we now are. I wasthinking that on a somewhat similar stormy night, Joel and his son, bothgreedy after stories like the inquisitive Gauls that they were--"

  "Did the trick of stopping a traveler at the pass of Craig'h, bindinghim fast, and carrying him home to tell stories--"

  "And the traveler happened to be the Chief of the Hundred Valleys--ahero!"

  "Oh! Oh! How your eyes sparkle as you speak, Karadeucq."

  "If they sparkle, grandfather, it is because they are moist. Whenever Ihear you speak of the Chief of the Hundred Valleys tears come to myeyes."

  "What is the matter with Erer, father? The dog growls between his teethand pricks up his ears."

  "Grandfather, do you hear the watchdog bark?"

  "Something must be going on outside of the house--"

  "Alas! If it is the gods who wish to punish my son for his audaciouswishes, their anger is swift--Karadeucq, come near me."

  "What! Madalen--there you are weeping and embracing the boy, as ifreally misfortune threatened him. Come, be more sensible!"

  "Do you not hear the dogs barking louder and louder? And there is Erernow running to the door. There is something wrong going on outside--"

  "Fear not, mother; it is some wolf prowling about. Where is my bow?"

  "Karadeucq, you stay here--"

  "Dear Madalen, be not in such fear for your son, nor you my sweetRoselyk for your brother. Perhaps it is better not to challenge thehobgoblins and fairies on a stormy night, but your fears are idle. Thereis no wolf prowling about here; if there were, Erer would long ago havebitten off the panel of the door and rushed to the encounter of theunwelcome guest--"

  "Father is right--it may be a stranger who lost his way."

  "Come, Kervan, come brother, let's to the gate of the yard."

  "My son, you stay here by my side--"

  "But, mother, I cannot allow my brother Kervan to go out alone."

  "Hark! Hark! It seems to me I hear a voice calling--"

  "Alas! mother, some misfortune threatens our house--you said it--"

  "Roselyk, my child, do not add fuel to your mother's fright. What isthere astonishing in a traveler calling from without to have the dooropened to him--"

  "His cries are not human--I am frozen with fear--"

  "You come with me, Kervan, seeing that your mother wishes to keepKaradeucq near her. Although this is a quiet neighborhood, hand me my'pen-bas,' and take yours along, my boy."

  "My husband, my son, I conjure you, do not go out--"

  "Dear wife, suppose some stranger is outside in such weather as this!Come Kervan!"

  "Alas! I tell you the cries that I heard are not human. Kervan! Jocelyn!They will not listen--they are gone--Alas! Alas!"

  "My father and brother go out to face danger, and I remain here--"

  "Do not stamp your feet that way, bad boy! You are the cause of all thisevil with your impious wishes--"

  "Calm yourself, Madalen--and you, my pet, do not put on, if you please,the air of a wild colt that seeks to snap his reins; just obey yourmother."

  "I hear steps--they are drawing near--Oh! grandfather!"

  "Well, my dear Roselyk, why tremble? What is there frightful in thesteps that are approaching? Good--do you hear them laughing aloud? Areyou now at ease?"

  "Laughing!--on such a night!"

  "It is frightful to hear, is it not, my sweet Roselyk, especially whenthe laughers are your own father and brother? Well--here they are. Well,my children?"

  "The misfortune that threatened our house--"

  "The cries that were not human--"

  "Will you be done laughing? Just look at them! The father is as crazy asthe son! Will you speak?"

  "The great misfortune is a poor peddler who lost his way--"

  "The voice that was not human was his voice--"

  And father and son laughed merrily, it must be admitted, like people whoare happy to find their apprehensions unfounded. The mother's fears,however, were not so quickly allayed; she did not join the laughter; butboth the boys, the girl and even Jocelyn himself, all cried outjoyously:

  "A peddler! A peddler!"

  "He has pretty ribbons and fine needles."

  "Iron for arrows, strings for bows, scissors to clip the sheep."

  "Nets for fishing, seeing that he comes to the seashore."

  "He will tell us the news of outlying places."

  "But where is he? Where is the good peddler that Hesus sends to us tohelp enliven this long winter's night?"

  "What a happiness to be able to see all his merchandise at one's ease!"

  "But where is he? Where is he?"

  "He is shaking off the ice that his clothes are frozen stiff with."

  "Good mother, now see the misfortune that threatened us because I wishedto see a Korrigan!"

  "Be still, son! To-morrow rests with God!"

  "Here is the peddler! Here he is!"