The Buccaneer - A Tale

We cannot now intrude upon the privacy of either Lady Frances or

Constantia; we must content ourselves with simply stating that Colonel

Jones took his departure, leaving, at Lady Frances's request, a guard of

six soldiers at Cecil Place--a precaution he felt justified in adopting

when he had taken late events into consideration, and was made

acquainted with the miserable condition of Sir Robert's mind, to whom

also he undertook to send immediate medical advice. The servants,

particularly Lady Frances's women, assembled in the great hall, and with

many tears, real and unfeigned tears, lamented the loss of poor

Barbara--talked of the mystery of her birth, and the sudden and almost

supernatural appearance of her father. Greatly did they blame themselves

for permitting him to remove the body, "not knowing," as they said, "but

he would give it heathenish and not Christian burial."

After a little while they conversed upon the malady that had overtaken

their master, and then hints and old tales were thought of, and almost

forgotten rumours of Sir Herbert and his revelries repeated; and as the

lamps burned still more dim, and the embers of the fire dropped one by

one into that grey and blue dust that heralds their perfect decay, the

legends of the isle were rehearsed--How Sir Robert de Shurland, a great

knight and a powerful thane, being angry with a priest, buried him alive

in Minster churchyard; and then, fearing the king's displeasure, and

knowing he was at the Nore, swam on a most faithful horse to his majesty

from the island, to crave pardon for his sin; and the king pardoned him;

and then, right joyfully, he swam back to the land, where, on his

dismounting, he was accosted by a foul witch, who prophesied that the

horse which had saved him should be the cause of his death; but, in

order to prevent the accomplishment of the prophecy, he slew the

faithful animal upon the beach;--how that some time afterwards he passed

by the carcass, and striking a bone with his foot, it entered the flesh,

which mortified, and the tyrant died; in testimony whereof the tomb

stands in Minster church until this day, in the south wall, under a

pointed arch, where he lies, leaning on his shield and banner, and at

his feet a page, while behind him is carved the horse's head that caused

his death:--and, moreover, how his spirit is seen frequently leaping

from turret to turret of the house of Great Shurland, pursued by a

phantom steed! Of such like legends did they talk. Then they thanked God

that their lady was not likely to be Sir Willmott's wife, and spoke of

Dalton and his daring, and many of the old servants shuddered.