VARNEY, THE VAMPYRE; OR, THE FEAST OF BLOOD. CHAPTER CLXVIII [sic] [Chapter 176] THE GRAZIER'S RELATION, AND HIS FIRST TERRORS. -- THE EFFECTS OF GOOD CHEER AND THE SUDDEN INTERRUPTION TO A PLEASANT PARTY. The landlord was not long gone for the October; he came back with a placid smile and a smacking of his lips, when he shut the door behind him, and then deliberately placing the candlestick down, he said, handing them the tankard, -- "There, gentlemen, if you find any better brewed than that in the three adjoining counties, why, you may take measure for my coffin, for I won't live after I am told there is any so good anywhere else." "We will not take your word, landlord," said one of the highwaymen, putting the tankard to his lips, which act produced an approving nod from the jolly landlord, who said, with much encouragement, -- "That's right; never trust nobody; that's my motto, and I chalks it up over the fire-place, and acts upon it-- try for yourself, and then you won't be deceived. What's your opinion upon that now, sir?" "Never drank its equal, ever here." "I thought you'd say so; it comes out of a particular cask-- one as I puts by for myself; but you have ridden hard, and I thought a brew of an extra strike would be an acceptable drink." "You are right. It is cold and very wet. I'm as tired as if I had ridden far-- the wind has blown me about so." "Ah, don't you hear how it roars in the chimney?" "So it does. What do you think of the brew, Ned-- ain't it first rate?" "Indeed it is: I never had any equal to it. I tell you what, landlord, it will make an excellent night-cap, for a man who has taken a glass or two of this, would not be better able to keep his saddle." "No; it's lucky we intend putting up for the night here; you have beds." "Yes, good, and well aired." "That is capital. Well, your chicken-pie is good, landlord, your ham good, and the October excellent; and now--- what's that?" At that moment there was a sound of horses' feet galloping furiously towards the houses; and they had not listened long before they came close to the door, and then there was evidently a sudden pull up. "Hilloa! what is that?" said his companion. "I think it is somebody pulled up at the door," said the landlord; "whoever they are they have come in haste." The two highwaymen half rose, but a look at each other caused them to resume their seats, and in another moment there was a loud shouting, and a call for the ostler; but there was no one at hand. "Where is that Jim got to-- I must go and see after him, at all events-- he won't come if I don't." So saying, he walked away whilst the guests remained silent watching the actions of the two highwaymen. "It is but a single horseman," said the first. "No," said the other; "but still he may be mischievous; and yet I can hardly think he would venture here at such a time; besides, it can't be known; we are much better here than anywhere else." "I think so; we have nothing to fear." "Nothing." At that moment the landlord retired; and, at the same time, the door was suddenly opened, and the grazier entered the kitchen. He glanced around him, much confused. The fire and light, no doubt, had some share in that; but he stared, and appeared terrified, and all splashed over. "Where's the ostler?" he cried out. "Here I be," said the worthy behind. "Look after my horse; he is very hardly ridden. See to him, that's a good fellow," said the grazier.["] "Yes; I'll see to 'un," said Jem, who departed with the animal. "Landlord-- landlord!" "Yes; here I am, Master Green-- here am I!" "Give me something strong; I'm half dead. I'm cold, and I'm frightened, and that is the truth. Where's the fire?" "Why, Master Green, I never saw you in this state before. Give me your hand, Master Green. I'll show you the fire," said the landlord, holding out his hand to Green. "Why, you are cold-- what has happened?" "You shall hear-- you shall hear," said the half-terrified Green. "Only give me a toss of brandy, and get me a supper, and then I shall be able to tell you more about it. At present I can say nothing." "Well, that is pretty well for a man that can't speak," said the landlord. "You are getting better, Mr. Green." "I hope I shall; the fire is comfortable." "Here's some good brandy; take a gill, man. It won't hurt you on such an occasion as this. I have seen you do as much before; but, as for supper, why I can't say much. These two gentlemen have had the only thing I had in the house, and, save the ham, I doubt much if there will be any left." "If the gentlemen will join us, he is welcome to take a share of what we have," said one of the highwaymen. "Here will be enough for us all, I dare say, sir, if you do not object to our company." "Thank you-- thank you," said Green. "I will accept of your offer gladly; for I have had a long ride, and have had much that is uncomfortable to put up with, to see and to fear. Lord have mercy on me say I!" "Well, what is the matter, Mr. Green?" "Why," said Mr. Green, as he, between his words, poked in large mouthfuls of food, and now and then washed it down by the aid of the October. "You all of you know the highwayman's corner, about fifteen miles from here?" "Yes," said the landlord, "I know it well; there's a chap hanging up in chairs there, now, at this present day, that is, if nobody hasn't run away with it, or it hasn't been blown down." "Exactly. Well, that's the spot; there's been another dreadful murder been done there. Oh! it was dreadful." "Well, did you see it?" "Yes; I did." "What! the murder!" said both highwaymen at once. "No; the body-- I only saw the body." "Where was it lying?" "Stop, stop a bit-- not so fast," said Mr. Green, who was eating very fast indeed, but paused a moment. "You must not ask too many questions at once, because I have one way of telling a tale, and you'll spoil it." "Well, go on your own way." "Well, then, listen. I was coming along at a rattling pace, I can tell you, for I was late, and tired, as it was. When I had reached the gallows, I looked up at the body swinging in the wind, and creaking and screaming on its rusty swivels; but I had scarcely done so, when my horse shyed, and very nearly landed me in the mud, but I contrived to keep my seat, though not without trouble." "What! at the dead man?" inquired one of the highwaymen. "Aye," replied his companion. "I am sure they ought not to put men up there like scarecrows, to frighten horses with; for my part, I never pass it but my horse snorts and bolts, and I am obliged to be wary." "I don't know much about that. I have come by without my nag being any the worse. At all events, I thought there was something in his shying at the gallows, and I tried to push him by, but he would not go." "What did you do?" "Why, I was obliged to get down," said the grazier. "Thrown?" "No, no." "Forced to get down, you mean," said the highwayman. "Why, in some sort of way I did feel myself compelled to get down, because the brute wouldn't go a-head, and I saw something on the ground as the clouds cleared away a little, and showed me that there was something suspicious in the middle of the road, very much like a bundle of clothes." "Indeed!" said the landlord, "what was it?" "I'll tell you, in course. Now, you see, I saw the animal would not move, so I got off to see what was the matter." "Forced off," adde the highwayman. "D--n it, man, what can it matter; then I got off," said the grazier, getting into a passion, and then, after a pause, which he employed in taking a long pull at the October, and then wiping his lips, he continued, -- "What is the matter now?" thought I; "so I went to the object, and found it was a man rolled up in a cloak in the middle of the road, dead." "Dead?" "Aye, dead as a door nail." "Lor!" said the highwayman. "Why, then he must have been murdered, I suppose?" "You may take your davy of that," said the grazier; "but I tried to wake him up, but he was not to be disturbed, so I dragged him to the bank, where I left him." "Where was he hurt?" "Shot right in the side, or stabbed, I don't know which, but that's where the blood came from, so I was sure he was dead; but when I removed the cloak from his face, I saw he had as ugly a set of features as a man can desire-- a long, peculiar face, large, but thin nose, an awkward set of teeth, with one or two projecting in front, and oh! such eyes, that is when he opened them." "Opened them," said the highwayman; "both?" "Opened them," repeated the landlord; "why, did you not tell me he was dead?" "Aye; but when the moonlight came upon him, he opened his eyes. Oh! what eyes-- why, they were like a pair of enormous great fish eyes-- cod's eyes, that had become suddenly lighted up, or the moonlight reflected back from the bottom of a new tin saucepan, and then you have 'em." "The devil," said the highwayman; "and what did you do?" "Why, I came away as fast as I could. I wasn't to be done by a dead man. I didn't wait to see more than that. He turned round and stared at me. He was so horrible, that I got upon my horse the best way I could, and came on here as fast as the animal would come." "The body, I dare say, rolled over, and you thought it moved of itself." "I know better; besides, it opened its eyes." "The moon shone on them, and you thought he looked at you. You were terror-stricken, and that is the truth of it." "Then I know better," said the grazier, doggedly; "it ain't anything of the kind. I know it ain't a matter that happens every day, and that's why you don't believe it, and don't understand it, but I know I'm right." "House, here, house! ostler!" shouted a loud, authoritative voice without the door of the inn, which caused them all to start and listen for a repetition of the same sounds to prove that they were not illusory. -+- Next Time: The Mysterious Stranger's Arrival. -- The Consternation of the Guests. -- The Grazier's Terrors, and Powers of Identity. -- The Landlord's Daughter. +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ | This Varney the Vampyre e-text was entered by members of the | | Science Fiction Round Table #1 (SFRT1) on the Genie online | | service. | | The Varney Project, a reincarnation of this "penny dreadful" bit | | of fiction, was begun in November of 1993 by James Macdonald and | | should take about four years for re-serialization. | | These chapters are being posted once a week to the Round Table | | Bulletin Board and are also being placed in the Round Table File | | Library. | | For further information concerning Varney e-texts, please send | | email to: | | h.liu@juno.com | +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ ============================================================================== The Varney Project Chapter 176 Ver 1.00 05/10/1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ General notes on this chapter Source: H.Liu entry from the Arno edition, 1970, text is reprint of 1847 edition Drop capital: No Figures in source: 1 Page numbers in source: 727-729 Sections: 1 Approximate number of characters: Number of paragraphs: Comments: Chapter appears mis-numbered as CLXVIII. The two highwaymen enjoy the hospitality of the landlord of the Golden Pippin. They eat, drink and make merry, until interrupted by the panicked arrival of the grazier, Mr. Green. He relates the events which occurred; the discovery of the body and it's reanimation in the moonlight. Just as he nears the end of his frightful narration, another arrives at the outside of the inn and loudly announces his presence. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Modification History Version Date Who What changes made -------- -------- ------------- ---------------------------------- 1.00 05/10/1997 H.Liu Initial gold version, rough proof read. ==================================End of File=================================