CHAPTER CCVII.
[Chapter 224]
THE FATE OF SIR GEORGE. —THE CROSS ROAD.
Sir George, when he saw the crowd of persons, seemed to have some
undefined idea that they were enemies, but this would not have been productive
of any serious consequences, if it had not most unfortunately happened that a
most formidable weapon was within his grasp.
That weapon consisted of one of the long iron crowbars which had been
successfully used by his own sons in order to force a passage to the family
vault, where such horrors had been witnessed.
Suddenly, then, seizing this weapon, which, in the hands of a ferocious
man was a most awful one, he swung it once round his head, and then rushed
upon those he considered his foes.
He dealt but three blows, and at each of those one of the assailants fell
lifeless in the church porch.
To resist, or, to attempt to contend with a man so armed, and apparently
possessed of such preternatural strength, was what some of the party wished,
and accordingly a free passage was left for him, and he rushed out of the
church into the night air shouting for vengeance, and still at interval,
accusing himself of being a vampyre, as most dangerous theme to touch upon,
considering the then state of feeling in that little district.
Anxiety for the safety of Sir George induced his sons and Mr. Bevan to
rush after him, regardless of all other consequences, so that the church, the
vaults, and everything they contained, were left to the mercy of a mob
infuriated by superstition, rendered still more desperate by the loss of three
of their number in so sudden and exampled a manner.
They opposed no obstacle to the leaving of those persons, who thus for
dearer considerations abandoned the old church, but they rushed with wild
shouts and gesticulations into the building.
"The vampyre, the vampyre," cried the blacksmith, "death to the vampyre—
death and destruction to the vampyre."
"Hurrah!" cried another, "to the vaults this way to Sir George Crofton's
vault."
There seemed to be little doubt now, but that this disorderly rabble
would execute summary vengeance upon the supposed nocturnal disturber of the
peace of the district.
Ever and anon, too, as these shouts of discord, and of threatening
vengeance, rose upon the night air, there would come the distant muttering of
thunder, for the storm had not yet ceased, although its worst fury had
certainly passed away.
Dark and heavy clouds were sweeping up from the horizon, and it seemed to
be tolerably evident that some heavy deluge of rain would eventually settle
the fury of the elements, and reconcile the discord of wind and electricity.
Several of the rioters were provided with links and matches, so that in a
few moments the whole interior of the church was brilliantly illuminated,
while at the same time it presented a grotesque appearance, in consequence of
the unsteady and wavering flame from the links, throw myriads of dancing
shadows upon the walls.
There would have been no difficulty under any ordinary circumstances in
finding the entrance to the vault, where the dead of the Crofton family should
have lain in peace, but now since the large flagstone that covered the
entrance to that receptacle of the grave was removed, it met their observation
at once.
It was strange now to perceive how, for a moment, superstition having
led them on so far, the same feeling should induce them to pause, ere they
ventured to make their way down these gloomy steps.
It was a critical moment, and probably if any one or two had taken a
sudden panic, the whole party might have left the church with precipitation,
having done a considerable amount of mischief, and yet as it is so ususal with
rioters, having left their principal object unaccomplished.
The blacksmith put an end to this state of indecision, for, seizing a
link from the man who was nearest to him, he darted down the steps, exclaiming
as he did so, —
"Whoever's afraid, need not follow me."
This was a taunt they were not exactly prepared to submit to, and the
consequence was, that in a very few moments the ancient and time honoured
vault of the Crofton's was more full of the living than of the dead.
The blacksmith laid his hand upon Clara's coffin.
"Here it is," he said, "I know the very pattern of the cloth, and the
fashion of the nails, I saw it at Grigson's the undertaker's before it was
taken to the Grange."
"Is she there—is she there," cried half a dozen voices at once.
Even the blacksmith hesitated a moment ere he removed the lid from the
receptacle of death, but when he did so, and his eyes fell upon the face of
the presumed vampyre, he seemed rejoiced to find in the appearances then
exhibited some sort of justification for the act of violence of which already
he had been the instigator.
"Here you are," he said, "look at the bloom upon her lips, why her cheeks
are fresher and rosier than ever they were while she was alive, a vampyre my
mates, this is a vampyre, or may I never break bread again; and now what's to
be done.["]
"Burn her, burn her," cried several.
"Well," said the blacksmith, "mind its as you like. I've brought you
here, and shown you what it is, and now you can do what you like, and of
course I'll lend you a hand to do it."
Any one who had been very speculative in this affair, might have detected
in these last words of the blacksmith, something like an inclination to creep
out of the future consequences of what might next be done, while at the same
time shame deterred him from exactly leaving his companions in the lurch.
After some suggestions then, and some argumentation as to the probability
or possibility of interruption—the coffin itself, was with its sad and
wretched occupant, lifted from the niche where it should have remained until
that awful day when the dead shall rise for judgement, and carried up the
steps into the graveyard, but scarcely had they done so, when the surcharged
clouds burst over their heads, and the rain came down in perfect torrents.
The deluge was of so frightful, and continuous a character, that they
shrank back again beneath the shelter of the church porch, and there waited
until its first fury had passed away.
Such an even down storm seldom lasts long in our climate, and the
consequence was that in about ten minutes the shower had so far subsided that
although a continuous rain was falling it bore but a very distant comparison
to what had taken place.
"How are we to burn the body on such a night as this?"
"Aye, how indeed," said another; "you could not so much as kindle a fire,
and if you did, it would not live many minutes."
"I'll tell you what to do at once," said one who had as yet borne but a
quiet part in the proceedings; I'll tell you what to do at once, for I saw it
done myself; a vampyre is quite as secure buried in a cross-road with a stake
through its body, as if you burned it in all the fires in the world; come on,
the rain won't hinder you doing that."
This was a suggestion highly approved of, and the more so as there was a
cross road close at hand, so that the deed would be done quick, and the
parties dispersed to their respective homes, for already the exertion they had
taken, and the rain that had fallen, had had a great effect in sobering them.
And even now the perilous and disgusting operation of destroying the
body, by fire or any other way, might have been abandoned, had any one of the
party suggested such a course—but the dread of a future imputation of
cowardice kept all silent.
Once more the coffin was raised by four of the throng, and carried
through the church-yard, which was now running in many little rivulets, in
consequence of the rain. The cross-road was not above a quarter of a mile
from the spot, and while those who were disengaged from carrying the body,
were hurrying away to get spades and mattocks, the others walked through the
rain, and finally paused at the place they though suitable for that ancient
superstitious rite, which it was thought would make the vampyre rest in peace.
It is hard to suppose that Sir George Crofton, his sons, and Mr. Bevan
were all deceived concerning these symptoms of vitality which they had
observed in the corpse of Clara; but certainly now, there was no appearance of
anything of the kind, and the only suspicious circumstances appeared to be the
blood upon the lips, and the very fresh-like appearance of the face.
If it were really a fact that the attack of Varney the Vampyre upon this
fair young girl had converted her into one of those frightful existences, and
that she had been about to leave her tomb for the purpose of seeking a repast
of blood, it would appear that the intention had been checked and frustrated
by the presence of Sir George and his party in the vault.
At last a dozen men now arrived well armed with spades and picks, and
they commenced the work of digging a deep, rather than a capacious grave, in
silence.
A gloomly and apprehensive spirit seemed to come over the whole
assemblage, and the probability is that this was chiefly owing to the fact
that they now encountered no opposition, and that they were permitted
unimpeded to accomplish a purpose which had never yet been attempted within
the memory of any of the inhabitants of the place.
The grave was dug, and about two feet depth of soil was thrown in a huge
mound upon the surface; the coffin was lowered, and there lay the corpse
within that receptacle of poor humanity, unimprisoned by any lid for that had
been left in the vault, and awaiting the doom which they had decreed upon it,
but which they now with a shuddering horror shrunk from performing.
A hedge-stake with a sharp point had been procured, and those who held it
looked around them with terrified countenances, while the few links that had
not been extinguished by the rain, shed a strange and lurid glare upon all
objects.
"It must be done," said the blacksmith, "don't let it be said that we got
thus far and then were afraid."
"Do it then yourself," said the man that held the stake, "I dare not."
"Aye, do," cried several voices; "you brought us here, why don't you do
it—are you afraid after all your boasting."
"Afraid—afraid of the dead; I'm not afraid of any of you that are
alive, and it's not likely I'm ging to be afraid of a dead body; you're a
pretty set of cowards. I've no animosity agaist the girl, but I want that we
shall all sleep in peace, and that our wives and children should not be
disturbed nocturnally in their blessed repose. I'll do it if none of you'll
do it, and then you may thank me afterwards for the act, although I suppose if
I get into trouble I shall have you all turn tail upon me."
"No, we won't—no, we won't."
"Well, well, here goes, whether you do or not. I—I'll do it directly."
"He shrinks," cried one.
"No," said another; "he'll do it—now for it, stand aside."
"Stand aside yourself—do you want to fall into the grave."
The blacksmith shuddered as he held the stake in an attitude to pierce
the body, and even up to that moment it seemed to be a doubtful case, whether
he would be able to accomplish his purpose or not; at length, when they all
thought he was upon the point of abandoning his design, and casting the stake
away, he thrust it with tremendous force through the body and the back of the
coffin.
The eyes of the corpse opened wide —the hands were clenched, and a
shrill, piercing shriek came from the lips —a shriek that was answered by as
many as there were persons present, and then with pallid fear upon their
countenances they rushed headlong from the spot.
—
