CHAPTER VI.

ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT.

EARLY next morning Dorothy and Judith were down on the sands awaiting the arrival of their father. The boats were coming in fast, and before long the "Mary Ann" anchored in the bay, and the crew rowed to land with a large supply of mackerel.

"I shall be ready to start for St. Michael's directly I've looked to the nets," said John Trevan to his little girls.

It is curious to see with what method the Newlyn fishermen put their nets out to dry. They pile them upon one of their comrades' shoulders until the wonder is he can walk at all under such a heavy load. The burden being taken off with the same precision as it is put on, the nets come off in perfect order and hang over the iron railing, or lie along the sands and shingle.

"Dorothy," said Judith, as they stood watching the process, "I'm glad we live by the sea, and that father is a fisherman."

"Why?" asked Dorothy.

"Because I seem to feel the life that the Lord Jesus lived with his disciples so real. We read in the New Testament so much about nets and fishermen, and they did just the same in those days as now."

"So they did. I never thought of that before."

"I have many times. I like to picture to myself the Lord Jesus standing on the shore, or sitting in a boat preaching; and how surprised Simon, and Andrew, and James, and John must have been when they were called by him and told they must be fishers of men. They were doing exactly what father does; two were casting their nets into the sea, and two were mending their nets."

"I'm just ready, children," called John Trevan. "Run to the boat. I shall follow you in a moment."

St. Michael's is the principal feature of Mount's Bay. As seen from the shore it appears like a lofty island rock rising up out of the sea, with a large castle on its summit. When the tide is at its lowest, the island is connected with the mainland by a causeway of rocks four hundred yards long, by which means you reach the old town of Marazion; the rest of the day it can only be approached by boat.

It boasts great antiquity. Here it is said the Phoenicians came to buy tin three thousand years ago, when it was inhabited by traders who were glad to give this metal in exchange for salt, bronze vessels, earthenware, and other commodities. In the beginning of the Christian era, the dwellers on St. Michael's Mount are described by Roman historians as being civilised people who traded largely with foreign countries. In later times a Benedictine monastery was reared on the Mount, and the fame of St. Michael the Archangel, who is described in an old legend as appearing to some hermits upon one of its crags, drew many pilgrims from all parts of Britain. Nuns, monks, and soldiers, occupied the island at intervals until the seventeenth century, when the monastery was turned into a castle, and Charles I. sojourned there for a brief space to encourage the sturdy miners of Cornwall to aid him in the fight against Cromwell. About the year 1660 the island was sold to the St. Aubyns, and remains in the possession of that family to the present day.

[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT AND BAY.]

The bay was calm enough to satisfy even Judith. There was not a cloud to be seen in the blue sky, and the bright sunlight lit up the pretty town of Penzance with its curving shore and background of hills, the old town of Marazion, Cuddan Point, and far away to the Lizard.

There is a little fishing village at the foot of the Mount, and thither John Trevan was bound, for he was anxious to consult his friend Richard Nelson about some matter connected with herring fishing, which begins after the mackerel season is over. He pulled straight to the stone steps in the harbour, and saw to his satisfaction that the very man he wanted was standing on the pier talking to a comrade.

After the bustle of landing was over, and the first greetings had been exchanged, Mr. Trevan asked: "Is Dick at home? My girls want a run with him over the Mount."

"He is here to answer for himself," said his father as a handsome boy of fifteen joined them, and shook hands warmly with Dorothy and Judith, who were old friends of his.

"How jolly to see you," he exclaimed. "You couldn't have come a better day. I'm going to be at home."

"Take the lassies to your mother," said Mr. Nelson, "and ask her to have some dinner ready for us at one o'clock."

The village at the base of St. Michael's Mount is surrounded on the land side by a wall of granite; a gate at one end admits its inhabitants and visitors to the Mount. The fishermen lay their nets out to dry on, the sloping turf just without the wall, and a little farther up is the well which supplies the villagers with fresh water. Most of the cottages look over the bay, but a few face the Mount, and it was to one of these Dick led the way. He stopped at a pretty little house, with a tiny garden at its side, and a fine old myrtle tree climbing up its walls and peeping into the gabled windows. A good-looking woman was standing outside-washing clothes in a large tub. She was delighted to see the little girls, and dried her hands hastily before she kissed them.

"How did you come, my dears?" she asked.

"Father brought us," said Dorothy. "He wanted to see Mr. Nelson, and gave us the treat."

"You must stay and have some dinner," said Mrs. Nelson.

"Yes, mother, they're going to stay," replied Dick. "Father says he'll be in at one. We're going up the Mount now."

"That suits me exactly, for in a couple of hours I shall have cleared up and be quite ready for you."

The ascent to the old castle is an easy one. The rock on which it is built is about two hundred feet high, and on the east and west sides of the cliff terminates abruptly, and the shore can only be reached by a flight of steps cut in the stone.

"Can we go inside the castle to-day?" asked Dorothy. "We've never seen the rooms, though we've been up here so many times. Mother said we might go in, if you can manage for us; she's given me some money for the housekeeper."

"All right," answered Dick.

They mounted the stone steps and rang the bell, which was answered by a respectable woman who permitted them to enter, and pointed out the various objects of interest.

The hall, which was the refectory of the monks, and the Benedictine chapel, claims the most notice; but that which had the greatest charm for the children, was a vault discovered some years ago when the chapel was undergoing repairs, in which the bones of a full-grown man were discovered. It is supposed that he was bricked up there and left to die. Dick and Dorothy entered the vault, but Judith was too timid to accompany them. Dorothy would also have liked to go to the top of the church tower and sit in what is popularly called St. Michael's chair, but the wind was so high the housekeeper would not permit it.

"There's plenty of time before you," she said good-humouredly to Dorothy. "You may have another ten years on your shoulders before you need climb to St. Michael's chair; it's not for such as you, but young brides, or old ones for that matter, who are disappointed if they don't sit in the chair before their husbands."

"But why?" asked Judith.

"You surely know," said Dick. "Every one in Cornwall has heard of St. Michael's chair."

"Indeed, we never have," replied Dorothy; "do tell us about it. I only know that St. Michael's chair is in the church tower, but not why it is called so."

"Because the wife is said to be the master if she sits in the chair before her husband; so you see, my dear, you may wait many years before you need to mount into the tower," said the housekeeper.

"I learnt the story about St. Michael's chair at school in a piece of poetry," said Dick. "I can't think how it is you've never heard of it. It begins like this:—

"'Merrily, merrily rung the bells, The bells of St. Michael's tower, When Richard Penlake, and Rebecca his wife, Arrived at St. Michael's door.

"'Up to the tower Rebecca ran, Round, and round, and round; 'Twas a giddy sight to stand a-top, And look upon the ground.'"

"And did she sit in the chair?" asked Judith.

"Yes, but the bells rang so loudly, that the chair rocked, and out she fell."

"Is it a real chair?" questioned Dorothy.

"No, my dear; only a stone, and by no means a comfortable one to sit on; and why it is supposed to be endowed with such gifts it is hard to say," replied the housekeeper.

The young people thanked her for her kindness, as they left the castle. They rambled about for some time and gathered flowers, then they watched the rabbits skipping and running hither and thither among the furze. At last Dick suggested that they should go down the steps to a sheltered place, where they could sit and talk.

"Yes, do," said Dorothy; "for we want to hear from you the story of 'Jack the Giant-killer.'"

"Who told you that I knew it?"

"Father. Now begin at once, Dick."

"I will directly we've found a comfortable rock. I think I'd better take you to my summer-house."

They had to scramble over many, large boulders, until they reached one which was sheltered by a higher rock behind it; this Dick called his summer-house. It was close to the shore, and a warm snug place to sit in.

"Before I begin my story I must ask you one question, and I wish Judith to answer it," said Dick. "Do you believe that Jack the Giant-killer was a real man?"

"No, of course, not," she answered. "It's only one of the old Cornish tales with no truth in it."

[Illustration: KING ARTHUR'S CASTLE ON THE COAST OF CORNWALL.]

"Very well, as that's settled, I'm ready to tell you all I know about him. Many years ago a giant inhabited the Mount, who was named Cormoran. He was eighteen feet high, three yards round, and a very fierce-looking fellow. He lived quite alone, and allowed no one to come near him. When he felt hungry, he waded through the water on to the shore, and went to one of the villages to steal cattle. He was so strong that he could carry six cows on his back at once, and a large sheep between his finger and thumb. Of course, all the people round very much disliked this giant, and felt it was hard to lose their cattle; but yet they were too much frightened of him to venture to show fight when he appeared.

"Near to the Land's End lived a rich farmer, who had one son, called Jack, and he determined to win a name for himself by getting rid of Cormoran. He thought for many days and weeks before he could make up his mind what to do, and in that time he tried his hand on Thunderbore, a huge fellow, with flaming eyes and long hair, that hung over his shoulders like curled snakes. He succeeded in killing this giant, who lived very near to his father's farm, though the books don't say how he managed it, but perhaps in the same way that he killed Cormoran.

"At any rate, soon after the death of Thunderbore, Master Jack determined to dig a pit on the spot where the giant always set his foot when he landed. He covered it with a stone, which he poised so cleverly that it only required a little touch to make it fall into the deep hole. The plan succeeded perfectly. Cormoran came out of his cave one day to seek for provisions. He waded through the sea, and set his foot on the stone: it gave way, and he fell in, and was so hurt that he lay moaning until he died. Of course Jack became a great man, and he killed a good many more Cornish giants. So ends my story. Now, Judith, tell me what you have been thinking about, for you've been looking a deal too grave."

"Just this, Dick," answered the little girl. "You know the Bible contains a story about a giant, and a boy who killed him, and I thought how grand it was compared to yours; and it's all true, too, every word of it."

"Tell it to me, and then I'll give you my opinion," said Dick.

Judith hesitated for a moment, and whispered to her sister.

"Oh, yes, do," answered Dorothy aloud. "Dick," she added, "Judith wrote a history of David and Goliath for teacher, only last Sunday, and she's got it with her."

[Illustration: JUDITH READS HER STORY OF THE GIANT.]

"That's capital; let me hear it."

"It isn't quite all my own," said truthful Judith; "teacher altered one or two things—not many. I wasn't allowed to look at my Bible after I began to write, but I read the history over a great many times so that I might remember it."

"And she had a prize because it was done the best in the class," exclaimed Dorothy.

"That's first-rate," cried Dick. "Don't lose any time, Judith."

The little girl took a roll of paper out of her pocket, and read thus:

"In the days of King Saul, the Israelites fought against the Philistines, and both armies drew up ready for battle one day. The Philistines had a great giant on their side, called Goliath of Gath, who was about eleven feet high, and wore a helmet of brass on his head. He was armed with a coat of mail; the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and he had a man going before him to carry his shield.

"He stood and cried to the armies of Israel, and said, 'Why are ye come out to set your battle in array. Am not I a Philistine, and ye servants of Israel? Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, then we will be your servants; but if I kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. I defy the armies of Israel this day.'

"King Saul and all Israel were frightened when they heard these words, for they had no one who dare meet this giant in single combat. For forty days he came and presented himself before them, and they grew more and more afraid.

"In Bethlehem Judah there lived a man named Jesse, who had eight sons. The three eldest followed King Saul to battle, and the youngest fed his father's sheep. He was called David, and had a beautiful countenance; and God loved him, and was with him. One morning his father sent him to the camp with some corn for his brethren, and ten cheeses for the captain of their thousand.

"David found the two armies drawn up ready for battle, so he ran into the midst of the Israelites and talked to his brothers. While he was hearing how they fared, the great giant came out and spoke the same words, which frightened the men of Israel so much that they fled away from him.

"David saw all this, and asked the men who stood near him, what should be done to the one who killed the Philistine, and took away the reproach from Israel?

"'The king will make him very rich,' they replied, 'and give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.'

"When Eliab, David's eldest brother, heard him ask this question he was very angry, and said, 'Why didst thou come here? who has charge of thy sheep? Thou hast only come to see the battle.'

"But David answered, 'There is a reason for my coming.' So he turned from his brother and asked another, 'Who is this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?' Again he received the same answer; and the people went and told Saul his words.

"The king sent immediately for David. The young man entered into his presence, and said boldly, 'Let no man's heart fail because of this giant; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.'

"To this the king answered, 'Thou art not able to fight with him, for thou art a youth.'

"Then David told Saul that a lion and bear had come one day and taken away a lamb out of his flock, and that he went after them, and slew them. And he said that he was not afraid of the great giant, who had defied the armies of the living God, for the Lord would deliver him into his hand.

"When Saul heard these words, he answered, 'Go, and the Lord be with thee.' The king clothed David in armour, but the latter said, 'I cannot go with these, for I have not proved them.' So he put them off, and took his staff in his hand, and went to the brook, where he chose five smooth stones, which he put into his shepherd's bag; and with his sling in his hand, he drew near the Philistine.

"As soon as Goliath looked on David, he scorned him, and asked, 'Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with stones? I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the air and the beast of the field.'

"David answered, Thou comest to me with a sword, and a spear, and a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day the Lord will deliver thee into my hand, and all the earth will know there is a God in Israel.' So Goliath came nearer, and David ran to meet him, and put his hand in his bag and took out a stone, and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth."

"Well done, Judith," said Dick. "I declare I couldn't do it so well, and I am two years older than you are."

"Which story do you like best, yours or mine?" asked Judith.

"Why, yours to be sure, because I know it's true. Besides, just think of the beautiful way in which it's written in the Bible. I never get tired of reading about David, and often envy him."

[Illustration]

"Now let's settle why we should like to be David," said Dorothy. "Supposing you say first, Dick, as you are the oldest."

"Because," answered the boy, thinking for a moment, "because I should like to have been the one to kill the giant, when the whole army was afraid of him."

"And I," said Dorothy, "because I should like to have been as much thought of as David was, and get into the king's favour."

"And I," said Judith, speaking in a low voice, "because God was with him, and helped him to kill the giant."

"You've hit on the right reason, Judith," exclaimed Dick. "You always were good. I don't believe you've half the temptations to be naughty that Dorothy and I have."

"Oh! Don't say that. Nobody knows exactly what the other is like," replied Judith.

"That's true," answered Dick. "Still I can't help thinking you are very good, Judith. Now let us go back; I have to fetch mother some water before dinner."

John Trevan and his daughters returned to Newlyn early in the afternoon, for the former was too busy to be longer absent. The sea was a good deal rougher than when they were going, but not enough to make Judith nervous. She and Dorothy chattered to their father all the way home. They told him of their morning's conversation.

He agreed with Judith that a fisherman's life often reminded him of the Lord Jesus and His disciples.

"I think," he said, "that the time when the Master stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and the people pressed upon Him to hear, so that He was obliged to enter into a boat, is my favourite scene. If you remember, our Lord commanded Simon to thrust out a little from the land, and sat down and taught the people in the ship. And after He had done speaking, He ordered Simon to launch out into the deep, and let down his nets; and the disciples answered,—

"'Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net.'

"And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude, and the net broke. How often I have pictured this to myself when we have been hauling in a great draught, or have toiled for hours and caught nothing."

Just as John Trevan finished speaking they came near enough to the shore for the rope to be thrown out. It was caught by one of the crew belonging to the "Mary Ann."

"We want your opinion, captain," he said.

"I'm here," answered John. "Go home, children, and do not wait for me."

Dorothy and Judith were soon sitting at their grandfather's side, giving him and their mother a full account of the day's proceedings. Among other things they spoke of St. Michael's chair, and said they wondered they had never heard it was so famous.

"Just as well not, little ones," said Captain Nance. "We've no bickering for mastery here. Your father and mother have each their own place to fill, and they seek help from One who is able to uphold their footsteps, and teach them how to govern themselves. That's the secret of true happiness in married life: After all, St. Michael's chair and the charm it is said to possess, is only one of the old Cornish traditions."

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