Captain Kyd (Vol 1 of 2)

de succeed

m pain is l

t bosom's

he pang that

nce left th

last for e

Gi

he did so, they were encountered and stopped by some one who unexpectedly met them as they were galloping past the lonely pile. Curious to know who they were and what could be their business at that late hour, he entered the deep shadow o

orward direction in which she moved, her sole object seemed to be to reach some point for which she aimed in the least possible time. The scared owl hooted aloud at her approach, and flew, with a heavy flap of his thick wings, deeper into the wood; the hawk left his nest with a shrill cry; the deer fled from her path! On, on she bounded and leaped mocking their notes of terror, like a demon pursued. At times, when she crossed an open glade, where the m

ing upward her open palms, "dost see a knife? Ha, ha, ha! ye are out there. I am too much for ye. No, I know ye well, with your winking and your blinking at each other, and how, in the darkest night, one of you always keeps watch, to spy the murders done in the absence o' the sun; and then y

, and then muttered, in a tone and manner which, more than words

erency. "If I can find him ere the myrmidons of Lady Lester can reach him, should she send for him, Castle More will ne'er own other lord than he who, but for my foul tongue-may it wither in my thro

altering step traversed the gallery to her subterraneous abode, which, after Lester's angry and fruitless pursuit of her, she had left for Hurtel's tower,

wall with a small stick, the end of which immediately emitted a blue flame, and, after a fierce, hissing noise, shot up into a bright blaze. This, to the peasantry who

ed at it for a while with a look of vengeful satisfaction, and then placed it in her bosom; afterward she took a rusty poniard from a crevice in the wall, carefully felt its point, which was ground to a keen edge,

rection of Castle Cor: as they came nearer, she recognised them as the chief forester and the seneschal from Castle More. She permitted them to gallop along the road till they were within a few feet of her, when she suddenly stepped forth

lp

emen Mark turned fr

, in a lofty tone. "Whithe

not tell

h shall ca

bide ye,

your jour

" said the seneschal, pitching his voice to the

her; "our young masther, Lord Robert, is not m

interrupting him in his turn; "it's jist this, ould Mither Eelpsy; Lord

ng the crathur?" interrupted the forester. "I wil

Robert had told the truth in saying that he openly published his own shame. "Hold with your

he speaker, aside, making the sign of the cross on his breast. "It's the great dal

d, impatiently taking hold of

intleman o' the world, Mark Meredith, the ould fisherma

idding?" sh

jewil!" answere

ock that thus says Elpsy, the sorceress:

ress she'll be in,"

o' the world that's upon

afther bringing back to her that s

at all at all," said Ja

it's find the lad we must!" cri

her, 'll maybe till us where he may be jist a

you came. If she ask you where the lad is, t

s thruth, Elpsy, hinney! It'll break

ut a lord! That I should live t

rk Lady wid dis heavy sorrow t

ards the direction in which they had come. "Ride, ride," she added, in a commanding but wild tone, "nor l

us!" they both ejaculat

g the world's thruth," added Jarvey, as if by flattery he would d

t to the fore! Faix, it's my thanks ye have, ould Elpsy, for't, an' its yer due, were ye the ould divil

r looking behint," replied Jarvey, s

eir obtuse minds probably scarce comprehending the nature of the loss Lady Lester had met with

of the forest, when, clapping her hands, she broke into a peal of frantic m

still have been its master. Ho, ho! have I not done it! Now it remains for me, ere he can learn the secret of his birth, to send him where low and highborn are all on a level! This! and, if this fail, this," she said, grasping first the vial and then the dagger, "shall do my will! It's

peak in such fear

his sudden, and, as she at first believed, supernatural appearance, for the moment deprived her of her speech; she dropped the hand that h

d the resolution to ask, advancing a step tow

hadow of yonder bastion, waiting

e interrogated, with an eagerness of voice

answere

not spoken

N

are Mark Meredith, the grandson of ol

self of late, and are a little fevered. Go down to our hut, if you can walk so far, and you will find a meal of fish there, of my own

ually, as he spoke she relaxed her hand from its grasp on the poniard, which, on discovering him, she had instinctively concealed in the folds of her scarlet cloak, and extended it towards him in a grateful manner. But the expre

t hast thou to do

ester! Detain me not, Elpsy; I h

sends

lady of B

mes

Tis in this se

for which t

t

ctions-no

le More, lest my young lord and I sh

ing e

this anxiety of manner? What has come ov

but direct and instant replies. At first she gave him no answer; her face worked convulsively, and she seemed to be cont

e that he never shall become! He must not see Castle More. He must die rather! Mark, come to me," she said, in a hollow and unearthly tone; "I

chfulness, and the tone of her invitation by no means increased his confidence. He did not, indeed, suspect any attempt upon his life by her; but,

ell thee! Ha, ha! as fair and sweet as I told the Lord Robert yestere'en! Wilt not come

rd over her head till she shrieked with pain, and, with a cool and determined exertion of his whole strength, cast her from him so violently as to hurl her to the earth. She sprang to her feet like a cat, and, with a yel

ttle time the loss of blood restored her to consciousness; it also had the effect of subduing her high fever of excitement, and making her comparatively calm. She permitted

uth, at length, "why

plied, slowly shaking her he

wronge

me

, evil woman, that driv

and I, boy, can never live in the

then, on my life, for soon the deep sea

ords!" she asked, wi

d me nobility of birth, to give it

hanging on his words wi

to the world, to see if I cannot mak

purpose, boy?

y linked my fortunes with the yacht that t

" she eager

I thought o

ld n

rt him to suff

d, her face lighting up wit

sole

it a heavy purse. Shaking it with a gratified air, she the

ere are three hundred guilders told-'twill give the old man food and raiment for a

, yet both tempered with the doubt to which he gave ut

atter

fear 'tis the price of s

ven or hell, is now accursed on earth. There is no more evil in it than in every piece of gold that the earth contains

that he had loved to contemplate; he even gave a thought to Grace Fitzgerald: all that an aspiring mind like his, at such a time, could be influenced by, had its effect upon him. She narrowly watched his countenance, read rightly his thoughts, and, feeling assured of his acceptance of it, mentally congr

to her to

e another; that you never breathe to mortal ear the

resolved on it, Elpsy. I have one great m

tter. You p

erfu

old for thy gran

anks, kind

tion. I have two fav

h an eagerness that evinc

old no speech with any o

, after an inst

lt never set foot o

wear it," he said,

ar it!" she cried, in a

d thee obedience, woman? I yield

?" she asked, wi

ev

ectedly assumed disconcerted her

return here under thy own,

farewell, Elpsy; I must

More!" she exclaimed,

ith a message, an

me, I will b

lace it in Lord Rober

will bear it safely

Elp

n the morrow," she said, in a determin

s duty to Grace Fitzgerald and her cousin, and

you to delive

es

to resign the precious treasure, there appeared to have arisen a new bar to Elpsy's purpose. At length he made a compromise with

the hands of Rober

se shall

if you are

thou gavest me to make me ill. He shall have

etter keeping than your life now gives hope of. Will you call at

. Now go! Take my blessing-'twill do thee no har

Kinsale in the morning, and 'tis said th

e on board, nor let the rising su

. Don't forget t

lives. Now fare thee well, and-re

teadily in the direction of Castle More, her soul exulting in the master-stroke of policy she had effected. When he was no longer visible, she stopped, and, opening the packet, by the light of the moon c

not have a taste of what is left me? Shall I not yet tell her who and what he is? Oh, will it not be joy to my soul to witness her ravings! I'll do't! I'll do't! There's something left yet to live for! There's mischief yet to do in the earth. But I must first watch this sprout of Lester-this fisher's boy! I shall not have to touch his life if he'll get off before he learns his true rank; but I'll follow him like his shadow, nor will I take eyes off him till the ship he sails in goes

down to the seaside and along the beach, till she saw him, just as the day broke, lift the latch of the door of his humble cot and disappear within. She then sought a recess in the cliff in the rear of the hut, where, secreting herself in a clump of low bushes that grew about it, she remained concealed until some time after sunrise, when she saw him reappear accompanied by the fisherman, and beheld both go together to the beach

silver coin, which thou wilt scarce find at the Cove ayond. What price gave these warsmen for th

of his boat in a crevice in the rocks so as to secure it against being borne off by the ebbing tide; "it's no a sale o' the fi

t ceased, or, rather, changed to a flood of tender epithets, eloquent with the depth of Irish sorrow, which he applie

row, father Meredith

I will none of it!" he cried, with sudden vehemence, drawing the purse she had given Mark from his

e. "I know the purpose of thy visit to yonder king's ship. I know whom thou hast left there. Thou hast done well and wisely i

man!" he said, with a heavy moan

content thee with this gold. 'Tis a friendly gift, old father. 'Twill save thee from labour so long as thy life shall last. I will come and gossip with thee o' evenings, and, hey! sirs," she cried, skipping on before him with fantastic gambols, as he placed his slender oars on his shoulder, "won't we pass the time

come back,

ilor, and with piles o' wealth. Faith, sirs, I would not wonder if he should build thee a castle wi

to my hut and break thy fast, avourneen! He was ever o'er lofty, and had notions above his class. He was unhappy, the creature,

sherman's face; but, seeing nothing to confirm

nd teach him his place. He will make a better sailor than lord. Ha, ha, ha! will

ip as well as an admiral, the crathur! Ah, woman, he could do an officer's duty this day as well as the keptain o' the yacht yonder. He seemed to take to a seaman's life nat'rally, and it was ever discontented he was in the skiff. He l

with the favourable train of the old fisherman's garrulous praises o

n the ship sails a-sea with him-the light o' my eyes! the core o' my heart! Och, hone! Sad will be the day to the soul o' me, Elpsy,

standing his oars up beside it, placed his hand upon the latch. "Take the gold freely; it is thine!" she a

ief, which at his age is always superficial, having, like a child's,

l the masts of yonder yacht are shut fro

sought to impress the fisherman by her manner alone, and strod

illow, leaving it in the sole possession of her ardent thoughts. With the first blush of day, her face scarce less roseate than the morning sky with the consciousness of her object, she rose and threw open her lattice, and turned her face, with earnest expectation, towards the forest-path which led northward towards Castle More

y of a thought! I will for

light, would also shut themselves up and leave her to repose. But she now thought more vividly and acutely than before. It at length occurred to her that the

he said, unclosing her eyes, and

ed on the forest path, and her ears acutely set,

ent. "Yet he may soon be here! Hark! is not that his

at her dress as she drew it together across her bosom, she discovered, w

ld!" she said, blushing with confusion and innocent shame. "'Tis fortunat

horizon beneath which thou canst go down and disappear. Patient, long suffering, ever hoping to the last, she steers by thee her bark of love through sto

chamber and hastened below. For what purpose she hardly knew-impulse alone prompted her footsteps. She hastened through the hall, and descended into the castle yard, and directed her

er thoughts hitherto, and she for the first time had discerned that she was really doing what she s

though I scarce have any consciousness how that was! What a simple creature I have made of myself. I am afraid of my own ridicule. Oh love, l

ival. No signs of the banquet remained-all, save the curtains of the tent, and one or two rustic sofas within it, were removed. She seated herself on one of these, and raising the north side of the tent-hangings by one of the silken cords attached to them, was enab

onciliation. Oh, why does he linger so! Well, Robert, I have been taught a lesson in a knowledge of my own heart by th

glittering tear, like a drop of dew sh

she said, dropping her aching eyes, whic

hast spoken truly!

voice that spoke these words sounded clos

sing and speaking betw

dy," added the sorce

uld you,

yse

med the maiden, shrink

he gazed on the face of the fair girl, her eyes gloating with a diabolic

uman, thou art, what terrible meani

st Robert

eave me," said Kate, her brow glowi

to observe her emotion, said, with the sardonic

messenger to Castle Mor

, startled at her knowledge of what she believed

tals," she said, in the elevated tone of mystery and supernatural power she

th a thrill of aversion, "and have power to do evil, which

kling laugh, that caused the maiden, with all her firmness,

the mighty; to be sought out by the noble, and have the homage of the low! Oh, it's a brave thing, this holding sway over

tremble before t

It is the reward held out to us that we

s that good spirits dare not enter the abodes of the prince of evil. Woman, thou art fearful; thy spells sinfu

ceress, with a writhing

xclaimed the maiden, appalled by the emphasis she

xedly ere she replied, and then advanc

es

onounced this monosyllable, "I know thou art wicked and full of evil; but thou canst not hav

h which she was addressed, and, banishing her d

re mortal do barter away their souls when they obey the devil within. I h

able gaze; "if you have sinned, there is forgiveness to be had of Heaven! It is not too late to secure your soul's future happiness. I know there is much that is kind and humane in you

her harsh features became convulsed, and the maiden thought she saw a tear fall from her eyes

l furnish for thee a neat cottage not far from Cormac, the forester's, and thou shalt have the comforts about thee thy old

fear-stricken. "There is no God-no heaven for me! Yes, I am bought, body and soul! Talk not to me of your Christ! For a moment I was carried back to childhood as you spoke," she continued, with a sudden change of manner; "for I have been once innocen

f her manner, with the look and attitude of one who suddenly beholds the lion which he has tamed start suddenly from his playful embrace, and assume all at once the savage ferocity o

rembling through every fibre of her body, as Elpsy, after speaking, continue

the way, and speaking with more mildness even than

M

e el

wh

g Lord of

ooks-thy language-t

love

u hast to say, and quickly," she cried,

ry action-yea, Robert of Lester is thy second self. Ha, ha, ha! Did

llamont the secret of his birth that she might triumph in her humility and wretchedness, Elpsy's fertile mind soon taught her how be

humble in birth, thou wouldst scorn him," she added, with the manner of one who i

ne, he would still be Lester, and noble to me!" she said,

due to the maiden for the kindly interest she had so recently expressed in her welfare; in repayment of which, with all the malicio

would have a cowherd'

hat inherent nobleness, that is the birthright of his nature, would shine out thro

, chained to a galley, wou

him to this degradation-then should I

were c

id, with flashing eyes. "But why this dark a

bey. I will probe her yet deeper!" she muttered.

for her feelings were highly wrought up, and, excited to expectation of something evil by the manner of her inter

proven he

ay

will wound

I know thou canst lay

laying a deliberate str

an! away!

d that he is not

d listen to thy foul a

wbo

ive me way out, or I will alarm the castle,

n the woman laid her hand firmly on her wrist and detaine

prove him to thee to be a lowborn bastard-the son of

h all thy wicked arts to aid the

d do it! Woulds

es

bas

I tell

f a lowbor

, so long as honour and truth w

thou love

each misfortune he br

ant-or bastard, he would still b

ide, and let m

invention. 'Tis a shield that turns aside all my shafts. I think I now know her weakness, and so will put i

e said, wi

ride from th

ed-pri

, lets his pride grow till it

el

, and leagues himself with pirates; and, out of revenge to thee,

tone of disdain for what she deem

mile, that troubled and perplexed her. "B

so much interest in him, let me pass that I may meet him, for I hear his horse's feet in the forest," she said, with the contempt of incredulity, yet tremblin

hear more. Himself thou wilt nev

ked, grasping her by the shoulders

hy coldness-his pride stung-his self-love wounded-his feelings la

do you speak but a tithe of the truth, w

ucanier being by chance in shore, he threw

one word more!

came hither

t tell the truth or no," she crie

-was henceforth only worthy the scorn and contempt of the noble heart she had broken," spoke the false witch

I shall not fall. No, I will not fall! If-if he can scorn me-I-nay-do

triumph, gazed on her pale cheek, and watched the irregular and long-drawn heaving of her bosom. Her success had been complete, and she experienced a joy kindred to that of a fiend's when he beholds the f

r bosom, she drew from her bosom a small vial, and, removing the stopper, stooped over her and moistened her lips and nostrils. The volatile essence of the evapor

e-is he-oh-I cannot speak what I would-I remember-ah! I remember all. She told me so! Woman!" she all at once shrieked, "is thy t

n. Oh, if I had been noble too, as well as fair, in my youth, I had been a bride instead of-but I will not wound thine ears, maiden, with a word thou canst never know the meaning of. It is

to Catharine of Bellamont. Hark, there is the sound of horses' feet! He comes!

grimly and

orses advancing at speed. In a few seconds they beheld emerge from the forest, not the for

r eyes gleaming with the unpleasing smile habitual to her, wh

hy words, whether false or tru

ilion. He was a gentleman of noble presence, with a dark, intelligent face, and dignified features. The resemblance between himself

ned from India. Nay, then, weep on my breast, silly one, if you will. What, Elpsy here too!" he exclaimed, now for the first time seeing the witch standing within the door of the pavilion-"I see it all. She has been alarming you

will go-but not at thy bidding I depart," she added,

ease, my dove, that moan. Her charms are sand-her words false-her prophecies the wild

rl?" she said, interrogativel

her made miserabl

thou do not

you?" he

k plume!" she add

uck by her manner and the menacing tones in

that led to the seashore, she rapidly traversed the lawn, and, wavin

r wounded affections by unfolding to him the true cause-a task, in her present state of mind, impossible for her to perform, and one which, at any time, would have been a sad trial to her maidenly sensitiveness. In a few moments she became

the lonely hours that would find her, after they were gone, in the solitary chamber, mourning over her crushed and blighted love. Yet a faint ray of the light of hope shone through the darkness of her heart, and the faintly-cherished belief t

OF V

TANT WORKS LA

ER & BR

JOURNAL OF

Years in Europe; with Selec

avis, Author of "Memoi

S TO M

ney, Author of "Lett

THE TRUTH OF THE

f "Evidence of Prophecy," &c. Four

r, a Tour beyon

; Sketches of the Prairies, Rivers, Ancient Mo

T, in the Words o

viour. For the use of young Persons. Illustrated w

uvenile Budget Opened. By D

n; Illustrated with Engravings a

, in five acts. By

OF LORD CH

on, &c. To which is prefixed a

D CHRISTIAN CHARACTER; AND THE CU

of "Inquiries concerning the Intellectual

L OF CO

e. Exemplified and arranged for the Use of Students. By Thomas Wyatt, M.A. Illustrated b

Story of

lichampe," "The Yemas

RVE: MORALS

iet Mar

EDWARD LYTTON

Eugene Aram; The Last Days of Pompeii; The Pilgrims of t

D PRIVATE

in England in the year 1836. Pa

IN GREECE, TURKEY,

of Travel in Egypt, Arabia

d Engravings.

F A. GORDON PYM

utchery on board the American brig Grampus, on her

T OF WEST

, Author of "Society

N, THE

Ta

"Pelham," "Alice,

CAN SCHOO

of the American Society for th

or, th

Esq., Author of "La

STORY OF

L.D. [Vol. III.-Fam

OF MRS.

g Part Four of Hen

RO

Esq., Author of "Ri

IN, FRANCE,

835. By Heman Hum

DY OF

y E. L. B

S IN E

aly, Switzerland, Germany, and the

LL: a

sq., Author of "The

OTICA

rary, Moral, Religious, an

Messrs. Ho

anetary System displayed; illustrating the P

With Engravings. [Fa

N EGYPT, ARABIA PETR?

With a Map and E

K OF CI

a Portrait. [Mrs. She

TORY OF

Esq. With Illustrat

THE SIEGE

. Bulwe

Or, the Wizar

"Burton," "Lafi

LASSICAL WORKS FOR S

be regarded as specimens of the whole series

rammar of the Latin Language, together with appropriate Exercises

rammar of the Greek Language, together with appropriate Exercises

Language, for the Use o

th the Choral Scanning of the Prometheus Vinctus of ?schylus, and the Ajax and ?dipus

of Cataline, with an English Commentary,

se; with English Notes, critical and explanatory, Plans of Battles, Seiges, &c.,

sh Commentary, and Historical, Geographi