Near this place, hard by the banks of the River Intel, there lived in former days a man named Marzinne. He was wealthy for those parts, that is to say, he could salt down a little pig once a year, eat as much black bread as he cared for, and buy himself a pair of wooden shoes when Laurel Sunday came round. [18]

And he was looked upon as proud by his neighbours, and had taken upon him to refuse the hand of his sister Rozenn to many a young fellow who laboured for his daily bread.

Amongst others to Bernez, a diligent labourer and a worthy Christian; but one whose only treasure, coming into life, had been that of a good will. Bernez had known Rozenn as a little girl, when he first came to work in the parish from Ponscorff-Bidre; and by degrees, as Rozenn grew up, the attachment of Bernez had grown stronger and stronger.

It may be easily believed that Marzinne's refusal was a terrible heartsore for him; nevertheless he kept up his courage, for Rozenn always received him kindly.

Well, Christmas-eve came round; and as a raging storm kept every one at the farm from going to the midnight Ma.s.s, they all sat round the fire together, with many young men from the neighbourhood, and amongst them Bernez. The master of the house, willing to show off, had caused a supper of black-puddings, and hasty puddings made with wheat flour and honey, to be prepared; so that they all sat gazing towards the hearth, except Bernez, whose eyes were fixed upon Rozenn.

But just as all the benches were drawn round the table, and every wooden saucer ready to be dipped into the steaming bowl, an old man suddenly pushed open the door, and wished the a.s.sembled company a good appet.i.te. He was a beggar from Pluvigner, one who never set his foot on the church-floor, and of whom all good folks stood in dread. It was said that he bewitched cattle, turned standing corn black, and sold to wrestlers magic herbs. He was even suspected of becoming a goblin [19] at his pleasure.

However, wearing as he did the garb of a mendicant, he was welcomed by the farmer to the fireside; a three-legged stood was placed at his disposal, and he received a portion with the guests.

When the beggar had done eating and drinking, he asked for a night's lodging, and Bernez showed him his way into the stable, where a bald old a.s.s and sorry ox were already established. The beggar stretched himself down between the two to share their warmth, and rested his head upon a pillow of turf.

But just as he was dropping off to sleep the clock struck twelve. Then the old a.s.s shook his long ears, and turned towards the ox.

"Well, my cousin," said he, in friendly tones, "and how has it gone with you since last Christmas, when we talked together?"

Instead of answering, the horned beast looked sideways at the beggar, and muttered,

"It was hardly worth while for the Almighty to vouchsafe us speech together on a Christmas-eve, and thus to acknowledge the a.s.sistance rendered by the presence of our ancestors at the birth of the Saviour, if we are compelled to put up with this fellow as our auditor."

"You are very proud, my friend," answered the a.s.s gaily. "It is I rather who have reason to complain, I, whose n.o.ble ancestor once carried the Saviour to Jerusalem, proved by the cross imprinted ever since upon the shoulders of our family. But I can be well satisfied with whatever Providence has seen fit to grant me. Besides which, you see well enough that the sorcerer is asleep."

"All his witchcrafts have been powerless to enrich him," said the ox; "and he has thrown his soul away for little enough. The devil has not even hinted to him of the lucky chance he might have hereabouts in the course of a few days."

"What lucky chance?" asked the a.s.s.

"How!" cried the ox; "don't you know, then, that each hundred years the stones on Plouhinec Common go down to drink at the river Intel, and that whilst away the treasures they conceal are left exposed?"

"Ah, I remember now," interrupted the a.s.s, "but then the stones return so quickly to their places, that it is impossible to avoid being crushed to pieces by them if you have not as your safeguard a twig of cross-wort surrounded by the five-leaved clover."

"And besides," continued the ox, "the treasures you may carry off all fade to dust unless you offer in return a baptised soul. A Christian must suffer death before the devil will permit you to enjoy in peace the wealth of Plouhinec."

The beggar was not asleep, but had listened breathless to this conversation.

"Ah, my good friends," thought he to himself, "you have made me richer than the wealthiest in all Vannes or Lorient. Be easy; the sorcerer of Pluvigner shall not lose Paradise for nothing."

He slept at last; and rising at the break of day, he wandered through the country seeking for the cross-wort and the five-leafed clover."

He was forced to look long and wander far, where skies are milder and plants always green, before he was successful. But on the eve of New-Year's Day he came again to Plouhinec, with the countenance of a weasel that has just found out the entrance to a dovecote.

In crossing the common, he came upon Bernez busy striking with a pointed hammer on the tallest of the stones.

"Heaven preserve me!" cried the sorcerer, laughing, "are you anxious to dig yourself a dwelling in this rocky ma.s.s?"

"No," answered Bernez quietly; "but as I am just now out of work, I thought that perhaps if I carved a cross upon one of these accursed stones, I should perform an act agreeable in the sight of G.o.d, and one that may stand me in good stead some other day."

"Then you have something to ask of Him?" said the old man.

"All Christians need to beg from Him salvation for their souls,"

replied the youth.

"And have you nothing too to say to Him about Rozenn?" pursued the beggar, in a lower voice.

Bernez looked full at him.

"Ah, you know that?" said he. "Well, after all, there is no shame or sin in it. If I seek for the maiden, it is that I may lead her to the presence of the priest. Unhappily Marzinne is waiting for a brother-in-law who can count more reals than I have silver coins."

"And if I could put you in the way of having more louis-d'or than Marzinne has reals?" said the sorcerer in an under-tone.

"You!" cried Bernez.

"I!"

"And how much do you ask for this?"

"Only to be remembered in your prayers."

"Then there will be nothing that can compromise my soul?"

"Only courage is required."

"Tell me, then, what must be done," cried Bernez, letting fall his hammer. "If needs be, I am ready to encounter any difficulty."

The beggar, seeing him thus disposed, related how that on that very night the treasures of the common would be all exposed; but he said nothing at the same time of the way by which the stones were to be avoided as they came trooping back. The young fellow thought nothing was wanting but boldness and a swift step; so he said,

"As sure as I am a living man I will profit by this opportunity, old man; and I shall always be at your service for the notice you have given me of this great chance. Only let me finish the cross I have begun engraving on this stone; when the time comes, I will join you near the little pine-wood."

Bernez kept his word, and arrived at the appointed place an hour before midnight. He found the beggar carrying a wallet in each hand, and one suspended round his neck.

"Come," said he to the young man, "sit down there, and think of all that you will do when you have silver, gold, and jewels to your heart's content."

The young man sat down on the ground and answered, "If I have silver to my heart's content, I will give my gentle Rozennik [20] all that she wishes for, and all that she can wish for, from linen to silk, from bread to oranges."

"And if you have gold?" added the sorcerer.

"If I have gold at will," replied the youth, "I will make wealthy all my Rozennik's relations, and all the friends of her relations, to the utmost limits of the parish."

"And if at last you should have jewels in plenty?" continued the old man.

"Then," cried out Bernez, "I would make all the people in the world happy, and I would tell them it was my Rozennik's desire."

Whilst talking thus, the hour slipped away, and midnight came.

At the same instant a great sound arose upon the heath, and by the light of the stars all the huge stones might be seen leaving their places, and hurrying towards the river Intel. They rushed down the slope, grazing the earth as they went, and jostling each other like a troop of drunken giants. So they swept pell-mell past the two men, and were lost in darkness.