The Wizard of West Penwith
m. The mare had eaten her warm mash, and Mrs. Brown had procured the assistance of Josiah Trenow to give her a good rub-dow
a rub-down for a month. Look here's a great strong arm, sir," he continued,
ombat with him," replied Mr. Morley, sm
gy! Polly! Polly! Why the women are all run a
Josiah; "what news have
lled it. "Sit down, sir, if you please. Why, a good many people seed the boy and the mare go up, an' a fine passle seed the mare come down again all o
nough," said Mrs. Brown, coming
dy wor in this world," said Josiah; "he's in
'Siah," said Mr. Brown; "
are's shoulder, and yet he do keep that mare in good condition, with her summer's coat up all the year round, like the squire's hunter, and better too, I b'lieve. He's mighty f
t?" said Mrs. Brown; "dear lor'! I should think
ley, and he changed the subject by ordering a glass of brandy
as he went to get the brandie
anything else, for, like him who called spirits from the vasty deep, poor Mr. Brown was not very much distressed or astonished if they didn't come. While they were
t?" asked
's ill-wished as much as ever the boy es. Something frighte
fore. I worked my arms off, purty nigh, afore she begun for to
own; "the mare es ill-wished, I do b'lieve;"-so he
te, and Mr. Freeman's house wa
, the maid said. What did
him 'pon private busine
him there in the dark, as she had orders to do to all
nd then all would be well. All these mysterious sounds-coming sometimes from above, and sometimes from one part of the room he was in, and sometimes from another, when everything was shrouded in darkness-were calculated to strike terror into a stronger mind than poor Mr. Bro
again. He remained standing just inside, having a screen of thick black cloth hanging before him, to prevent his seeing what was in the room. He thought his las
ost things are. Are you prepared to go through the ordeal necessa
mulous voice: "I'll do anything. I do know that y
n to what is now to be spoken." And down flopped poor Mr. Brown on his knees, and awaited the orde
have a gentleman sta
es; and a very nic
r) "He admir
own) "H
or) "He mus
! a wild harum-scarum like he to ride th
d look over the point, and the spell will be taken off which now hangs over the mare, and the boy will be restored. If not,
eggy! What shall I do? No mort
und, and a thin vapour filled the room, through which he saw the conjuror standing, dressed in a black gown, and white wig, surrounded by ornaments composed of what seemed to be silver,
w minutes, the door was opened as before, and Mr. Brown was pushed
weakminded, and make them believe that he knew more of their affairs than he really di
o-do farmers, it was well known, paid one of these emperics annual salaries to keep the evil eye from their cattle. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that poor Mr. Brown should place implicit reliance on what such a notable man as "The Maister" should tell him, and determine to have "The Maister's" commands carried out to the very letter, if it were possible that it could be done. If he had been commanded to ride the mare to