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Chapter 2 MR. FREEMAN.

Word Count: 2831    |    Released on: 06/12/2017

g, a pretty little fishing-cove, in shape like a horse-shoe,-the two extreme points being formed by the projecting rocks on either side of the entrance,-the interior, or curved part, immediately under

ppointed batteries. Above this beach the cliffs rise gradually, and various zigzag footpaths are formed by t

miners and small farmers who occupy a few acres of land, and fill up their spare time by working

most part, run out under the sea; and although they are, consequently, very expensive

n of a metallic lode in the neighbourhood causes great excitement, and often leads to the expenditure of large

place that it is at present;-it could even then, however, boast of a tolerably comfor

t and enjoy a close proximity to the fire, while the others sat round outside the fireplace, having a small table before them, on which was placed the foaming eggy-hot, and the hot beer and sugar, made more potent by the addition of an unlimited quantity of brandy. The wind was howling dismally in the open chimney, and rattling the doors and windows, as if angry at being shut out. As the night advanced the storm seemed to increase; but the comforts of the bright fire and warm room, and the good cheer before them, made the party feel the more happy and exhilarated, from the reflection that they were shel

of the usual stamina and vigour generally displayed by men of his age, but from an eccentric habit he had contracted of affecting the old man,-for what reason was best known to himself. His habits and mode of life were very different from those of Cornishmen generally;-he had come into the neighbourhood some years before in a mysterious manner, but how he came, or where he came from, no one seemed to know. He had acquired somehow a good deal of useful knowledge, and therefore he had the power frequently of working upon the superstitious fears of his neighb

times, but what it was no one could tell. There he sat, as usual, on this tempes

the party, addr

our turn; now you tell es one of you

mine are true stories. The one I am about to relate happened in your own neighbourhood. Your superstitious fears will, perhaps,

audience, "out weth et,

apel above Cape Cornwall, called Chapel Carn Brea, and the li

chapel were haunted by evil spirits; so the little circle drew their seats nearer to the chimney, and instinctively looked round, as if

ame here to reside, I took my pickaxe and shovel, went up to the old ruins, and selected the largest mound and began my work with a hopeful mind, for I believed that I should be rewarded in the end by a rich booty. The earth on the top was soft and easy to work, but as I got down it became harder. I worked with a will for several hours, and got down several feet before the day began to

en working there;-the sight of an open grave in that spot would, I well knew, scare people away, even if anyone was bold enough to approach it during the day. A few hours' work more, I thought, would bri

nd could discern figures cut on it. Here, then, was the coffin, no doubt; and it doubtless contained the coveted treasures. I tried to raise the cover, but it baffled all my skill and strength;-I found that the pit would have to be made much larger, and even then it might require the united strength of two or three men to get the cover up. I was then in the grave, which was deep enough to hide me entirely from the view of anyone on the surface. While I was thus deliberating what I should do, I heard a loud shriek just above my head. I got up, with some difficult

that I did not like the trouble of going over my work

I might be able to raise the lid. I drove the point of my pick under the stone, and was about to raise it, when I hear

w a figure moving swiftly away,-but whether it was a man or a woman, or an imp of darkness, I could not tell, for my toe slipped out of the notch I had made for a footstep, and I fell headlong into the grave again; but,

ily supplying his guests with more liquor at intervals,

a tall, stout, well-built young man, who had been

f hot beer and sugar which the landlord had placed on the table;-"thee'st nevar knaw nothen. I'll tell 'ee, na, tes like as this here.

ued he, turning round to where that gentleman had been sitting a min

ike the snoff of

l tell a story till he do bring 'ee up to a point, an

se proper Christian name was 'Josiah,' "he do knaw bra' things. Why, he ha' got a gashly g'

me was Brown; "many people can tell ab

about them; and he tould 'ee, so you said, and you b'lieved every word he tould 'ee,-so don't you bark nor growl. His dafter, Miss Reeney, tould me la

g up in an excited manner; "don't you bring Miss Reeney

fine sometimes, and b'en to boarding-school, and all that, and do knaw bra' things, she ha' got nothin' to do weth her fe-a-thar's conjuring-room upstairs, I

ve in that house, you knaw," said the old ma

f," said Mrs. Brown, pursing up her li

aid Mr. Brown, laughi

own business;-what have you got to say

lrina (familiarly called Reeney) would have proceeded much further, it is difficult to say; for just at that moment a man, who had

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Contents

The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 1 * * *
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 2 MR. FREEMAN.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 3 THE WRECK NEAR THE LAND'S-END.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 4 ALRINA.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 5 THE UNEXPECTED MEETING.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 6 JOHN BROWN AND HIS FAVOURITE MARE JESSIE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 7 THE FAMILY PARTY.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 8 MURDER MOST FOUL.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 9 THE LAND'S-END CONJUROR.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 10 LOVE AND MYSTERY.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 11 ALRINA'S TROUBLES INCREASE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 12 FREDERICK MORLEY OBSTINATELY DETERMINES ON RIDING THE MARE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 13 THE AWFUL RIDE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 14 ITS CONSEQUENCES.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 15 MRS. BROWN TELLS THE CONJUROR A BIT OF HER MIND.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 16 THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER AT THE PENZANCE BALL.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 17 JOSIAH'S ASTONISHMENT AT THE EFFECT PRODUCED BY THE DISPLAY OF HIS TREASURE-TROVE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 18 THE BORROWED FEATHERS OF THE PEACOCK FAIL TO CONCEAL ENTIRELY THE NATURAL PLUMAGE OF THE JACKDAW.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 19 THE BIRDS HAVE TAKEN FLIGHT.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 20 THE MYSTERIOUS ENCOUNTER.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 21 ARISTOCRATIC CONNECTIONS.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 22 THE LOVE-CHASE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 23 ALRINA'S FIRST LOVE-LETTER.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 24 THE SECRET.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 25 MAN IS BORN TO TROUBLE AND DISAPPOINTMENT, AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARDS.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 26 RETROSPECTION AND RECRIMINATION.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 27 SQUIRE PENDRAY GETS ON HIS STILTS, AND VIEWS LIEUT. FOWLER FROM A LOFTY EMINENCE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 28 THE STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 29 BY DOING A LITTLE WRONG, A GREAT GOOD IS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE END.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 30 MRS. BROWN AND MRS. TRENOW INDULGE IN A CROOM O' CHAT. WHILE CAP'N TRENOW GIVES SOME SAGE ADVICE IN ANOTHER QUARTER.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 31 THE TWO SISTERS PIERCED THROUGH THE HEART.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 32 OUT OF SCYLLA AND INTO CHARYBDIS.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 33 ALRINA'S TROUBLES ARE INCREASED BY AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 34 ALRINA VISITS A KIND FRIEND AND MAKES A PROPOSAL.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 35 CAPTAIN COURLAND'S RETURN AND HIS WIFE'S ANXIETY.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 36 THE DESPERATE PLUNGE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 37 THE BROKEN REED.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 38 JOSIAH'S LONELY MIDNIGHT WATCH IN THE CONJUROR'S HOUSE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 39 THE SEARCH.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 40 THE UNEXPECTED MEETING AND MYSTERIOUS COMMUNICATION.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 41 MISS PENDRAY'S SINGULAR ACCIDENT.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 42 MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS ARE HEARD ISSUING OUT OF THE EARTH AT MIDNIGHT. THE CURIOUS COTTAGE ON THE HEATH.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 43 THE POOR DUMB GIRL'S SUDDEN RESOLVE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 44 THE CONFESSION.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 45 MRS. BROWN ENJOYS ANOTHER CROOM O' CHAT WITH MRS. TRENOW, AND RECEIVES AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 46 AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 47 THE DREADED INTERVIEW.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 48 MYSTERIES EXPLAINED.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 49 A BRILLIANT CORNISH DIAMOND DISCOVERED AND PLACED IN A GOLDEN CASKET.
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The Wizard of West Penwith
Chapter 50 THE WEDDING BELLS.
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