The Lancashire Witches: A Romance of Pendle Forest

ith such force that it sank more than three feet. The next moment he plucked it forth, as if with a great effort, and a jet of black water spouted into the air; but, heedless of this, he

not relax their speed. Once more the staff sank into the ground, and a third black fountain followed its extraction. By this time, the royalist soldie

sing forward. "We were not misinformed. He has been watchin

" laughe

ded Assheton. "The villain shall be gibbeted on the spot wh

striking spurs into his charger. But ere he could execute his purpose, Demdike had s

oice of thunder, "or you

from a yawning rent under it burst forth with irresistible fury, a thick inky-coloured torrent, which, rising almost breast high, fell upon the devoted royalist soldiers, who were ad

ms, or the quickly stifled shrieks and groans that followed, mixed with the deafening roar of the stream, and the crashing fall of the stones, which accompanied its course. Down, down went the poor wretches, now utterly overwhelmed by the torre

and which rapidly collected here, embedded them and held them fast, so that the momently deepening water, already up to their chins, threatened speedy immersion. Others were stricken down by great masses of turf, or huge roc

e raging flood. Vainly did he extend his hand to such of his fellows as were swept shrieking past him. He could not lend them aid, while his own positi

lanche. The stone wall for a moment opposes its force, but falls the next, with a mighty splash, carrying the spray far and wide, while its own fragments roll onwards with the stream. The trees of the orchard are uprooted in an instant, and an old elm falls pros

g up a small pool, till the latter bursts its banks, and, with an accession to its force, pours itself into a mill-dam. Here its waters are stayed until they find a vent underneath, and the action of the stream, as it rushes downwards through this e

rs and rushes on furiously as before, joins its forces with Pendle Wa

n in Paslew's veins; for he thought it the work of the powers of darkness, and that he was leagued with them. He tried to mutter a prayer, but his

d it filled him with new dread. But he could not check the sound, neither could he stop his ears, t

till the black torrent rushed on impetuously a

fully gratified. You wi

acrifice her at thine own impious rites. But see, there is one po

Abbey. Thou hadst best also save Richard Assheton, who yet clings to the great stone below, as if he e

e the consequence to myself w

thee hanged at thy own door!" he dashed down the hill to the spot where a small object, distinguishable ab

addyll?" cried the

e for the wrong I intended you, an

d the abbot, dismounting, and disenc

stream, extended it towards the drowning man, who instantly lifted up his hand to grasp it. In doing so Braddyll lost his balance, but, as he did not qu

ried Paslew, as he pla

from thee," shouted a voice

e latter was in great danger from the surging torrent, and the stone on wh

bbot, as thou thyself shall be hol

replied Paslew. "I will deliver the

caught it, the stream swung him round with such force that the abbot must either abandon him or advance further into the water. Bent on Assheton's preservation, he adopted the

e borne down to the foot of the hill, the monks, the herdsmen, and the men-at-arms having given them up as lost. But they yet lived-yet floated-though greatly injured, and almost senseless, when they were cast into a pool formed by the eddying waters at the foot of the hill. Here, wholly unabl

the other, sink

and stunning sounds seemed to burst his ears.

with aching limbs and throbbing head, upon a couch in a monastic room, with a richly-painted and gilded ceiling, with shields at the corners em

dreaming?"

bedside; "thou hast been saved from one d

ing up and pressing his hand

thee. The Earl of Derby is master of the abbey; thy adherents are dispersed; and thy brethren are driven forth. Thy two partners in re

land and possessions-to the king, if

bey will be forfeited to the crown, and they shall be sold, as I have told the

hed in the flood!"

wert not destined to die by water. As I have said, thou shalt

"It is like the voice of one whom I knew years ago, and thy feat

d the other, with a look of gratified venge

and marching with uncertain steps to a little oratory adjoining, which