Bevis Part 13

"I remember," said Mark. "But John is a dreadful story. I don't believe it."

"No, no more do I. Still we ought to be careful. Let's creep down and look first."

They got down the hillside with difficulty, it was so steep and slippery--the gra.s.s being dried by the sun. At the bottom there was a streamlet running along deep in a gully, a little pool of the clearest water to dip from, and a green sparred wicket-gate in a hawthorn hedge about the garden. Peering cautiously through the gate they saw an old woman sitting under the porch beside the open door, with a black teapot on the window-ledge close by, and a blue teacup, in which she was soaking a piece of bread, in one hand.

"It's a witch," whispered Mark. "There's a black cat by the wall-flowers--that's a certain sign."

"And two sticks with crutch-handles," said Bevis. "But just look there." He pointed to some gooseberry bushes loaded with the swelling fruit, than which there is nothing so pleasant on a warm, thirsty day.

They looked at the gooseberries, and thirsted for them; then they looked at the witch.

"Let's run in and pick some, and run out quick," whispered Mark.

"You stupid; she'd turn us into anything in a minute."

"Well--shoot her first," said Mark. "Take steady aim; John says if you draw their blood they can't do anything. Don't you remember, they stuck the last one with a p.r.o.ng."

"Horrid cruel," said Bevis.

"So it was," said Mark; "but when you want gooseberries."

"I wish we had some moly," said Bevis; "you know, the plant Ulysses had.

Mind before we start next time we must find some. Who knows what fearful magic people we might meet?"

"It was stupid not to think of it," said Mark. "Do you know, I believe she's a mummy."

"Why?"

"She hasn't moved; and I can't see her draw her breath."

"No more she does. This is a terrible place."

"Can we get away without her seeing?"

"I believe she knows we're here now, and very likely all we have been saying."

"Did she make that curious thunder we heard?"

"No; a witch isn't strong enough; it wants an enchanter to do that."

"But she knows who did it?"

"Of course she does. There, she's moved her arm; she's alive. Aren't those splendid gooseberries?"

"I'll go in," said Bevis; "you hold the gate open, so that I can run out."

"So I will; don't go very near."

Bevis fitted an arrow to the string, and went up the garden path. But as he came near, and saw how peaceful the old lady looked, he removed the arrow from the string again. She took off her spectacles as he came up; he stopped about ten yards from her.

"Mrs Old Woman, are you a witch?"

"No, I bean't a witch," said the old lady; "I wishes I was; I'd soon charm a crock o' gold."

"Then, if you are not a witch, will you let us have some gooseberries?

here's sixpence."

"You med have some if you want's 'em; I shan't take yer money."

"What country is this?" said Bevis, going closer, as Mark came up beside him.

"This be Calais."

"Granny, don't you know who they be?" said a girl, coming round the corner of the cottage. She was about seventeen, and very pretty, with the bloom which comes on sweet faces at that age. Though they were but boys they were tall, and both handsome; so she had put a rose in her bosom. "They be Measter Bevis and Measter Mark. You know, as lives at Longcot."

"Aw, to be sure." The old lady got up and curtseyed. "You'll come in, won't 'ee?"

They went in and sat down on chairs on the stone floor. The girl brought them a plate of the gooseberries and a jug of spring-water.

Bevis had not eaten two before he was up and looking at an old gun in the corner; the barrel was rusty, the bra.s.s guard tarnished, the ramrod gone, still it was a gun.

"Will it go off?" he said.

"Feyther used to make un," said the girl.

Next he found a big black book, and lifted up the covers, and saw a rude engraving of a plant.

"Is that a magic book?" said he.

"I dunno," she replied. "Mebbe. Granny used to read un."

It was an old herbal.

"Can't you read?" said Bevis.

The girl blushed and turned away.

"A' be a lazy wench," said the old woman. "A' can't read a mossel."

"I bean't lazy."

"You be."

Bevis, quite indifferent to that question, was peering into every nook and corner, but found nothing more.

"Let's go," said he directly.

Mark would not stir till he had finished the gooseberries.

"Tell me the way round the--the--" he was going to say sea, but recollected that they would not be able to understand how he and Mark were on an expedition, nor would he say pond--"round the water," he said.