The Black Tor Part 14

Dummy was his only child, so-called on account of his being a particularly silent, stupid-looking boy. But old Dan said he was not such a fool as he looked, and Dan was right.

Dummy hailed his young master's coming with quiet satisfaction, for Mark was almost the only being to whom he ever said much; and as soon as he saw him come to where he was at work, he walked with him to a chest, and took out a flint and steel and a good supply of home-made candles, without stopping to ask questions; and then lighting one, he handed it to Mark, and led off into the part of the mine where the men were not at work.

"Aren't you going to take a candle, Dummy?" said Mark.

"No, master; I can manage."

"I believe you can see in the dark, like a rat or an owl. Can you?"

"Not very well, Master Mark; but I can see a bit. Got used to it, I s'pose."

"Well, why are you going down there?" asked Mark.

"'Cause I thought you'd like to see the place I found while you were at school."

"Ah! Is it worth seeing?"

"Dunno. It's big."

"Been dug out?"

"Nay. It's a big split as goes up ever so far, and goes down ever so far. Chucked bits down; and they were precious long 'fore they hit bottom. There's a place over the other side too, and I clum round to it, and it goes in and in, farther than I could stop to go. Thought I'd wait till you came home."

"That's right, Dummy. We will not go to-day; but start early some morning, and take a basket and bottle with us."

"Ay, that's the way. Water's warm in there, I think."

By degrees, from old acquaintance and real liking for the dull heavy lad, who looked up to him as a kind of prince, Mark dropped into telling his adventures over the ravens, while they trudged along the black pa.s.sages, with Dummy leading, Mark still carrying the candle, and the lad's huge long shadow going first of all.

The miner's son listened without a word, drinking in the broken disconnected narrative, as if not a word ought to be lost, and when it was ended, breaking out with: "Wish I'd been there."

"I wish you had, Dummy. But if you had been, what would you have done?"

"I d'know, Master Mark. I aren't good out in the daylight; but I can get along on the cliffs. I'd ha' come down to you. I should just like to ketch any one heaving stones down upon you. I wonder that young Darley didn't kill you, though, when he'd cotched you. We should ha'

killed him, shouldn't us, sir?"

"Don't know, Dummy," said the lad shortly. "Let's talk about something else."

Dummy was silent; and they went on and on till Mark spoke again.

"Well," he said, "found any good bits of spar for Miss Mary?"

"Lots, sir. One big bit with two points like a shovel handle. Clear as gla.s.s."

There was another silence, and then Mark spoke again.

"What's going on?"

"Witches, master."

"Eh? What?"

"Things comes in the night, and takes lambs, and fowls, and geese."

"You mean thieves."

"Nay, not like thieves, master. Old Mother Deggins saw 'em the other night, and they fluttered and made a noise--great black witches, in long petticoats and brooms. It was a noise like thunder, and a light like lightnin', she says, and it knocked her down night afore last; and she won't live in the cottage no longer, but come next to ours."

"Somebody tried to frighten her."

"P'r'aps. Frightened two of our men too. They was coming back from Gatewell over the hills; and they see a light up by Ergles, where there aren't no lights, and they crep' up to see what it was, and looked down and see a fire, with a lot of old witches in long gowns leaning over it, and boiling something in a pot; and they think it's babies."

"Why do they think that?"

"I d'know, master. Because they thought so, I think. Then, as they were looking, all at once there was a ter'ble squirty noise, and a rush like wings; and there was no fire, and nothing to see. Glad I warn't there. Wouldn't go across the moor by Ergles for anything."

"But you're not afraid to come along here in the dark."

"'Fraid, Master Mark? No: why should I be? Nothing to hurt you here."

"You're a queer fellow, Dummy," said Mark.

"Yes, master. That's what father says. I s'pose it's through being so much in the mine."

"I suppose so. But you don't mind?"

"Mind, Master Mark? I like it. Wish you was at home more, though.--I say--"

"Well?"

"If ever you go to fight the Darleys, take me, Master Mark."

"I shall not go to fight the Darleys, Dummy. They may come to fight us, and if they do, you shall come and help."

"Hah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the rough-looking boy. "I'm pretty strong now. If they come and meddle with us, do you know what I should like to do, Master Mark."

"No: hammer them, I suppose."

"Nay; I should like to drive 'em all down to the place I'm going to show you."

"Well, where is it?"

"Oh, ever so far yet. 'N'our away."

Mark whistled in surprise.

"Not tired, are you, sir?"

"Tired? No; but I didn't think you could go so far."