Stories from the Ballads | Page 4

Little time is there
to lose, for to-night is Hallowe'en, and this same night must the deed be
done.
'On Hallowe'en, at the midnight hour, the fairy court will ride a mile
beyond Carterhaugh to the cross at Milestone. Wait for me there, Janet,
and ye will win your own true knight.'
'But many a knight will ride amid the fairy train. How shall I know you,
my little wee man?' cried Janet.
'Neither among the first nor among the second company shall ye seek
for me,' said young Tamlane. 'Only when ye see the third draw nigh
give heed, Janet, for among them ye will find me.
'Not on the black horse, nor yet on the brown horse, shall I ride. Let

them pass, and keep ye quiet. But as the milk-white steed goes by, seize
ye the bridle, Janet, and pull me down, and keep your arms ever around
me. For on the milk-white steed I ride.
'On my right hand ye will see a glove, my left will be uncovered. Now,
by these signs, ye will know your own true knight.
'Hold me fast, Janet, hold me fast, as you pull me down from my
milk-white steed. For while your arms are around me, the fairy folk
will change me into fearful shapes.
'Into an adder, and into a snake they will change me. Yet, an ye love me,
Janet, fear ye nought, but hold me fast.
'They will change me into a lion, and into a bear. Yet, as I love you,
Janet, fear ye nought, but hold me fast.
'A toad, an eel I shall become, yet do not let me slide from your arms,
Janet, but hold me fast.
'But, an the fairy folk change me into a blazing fagot, or a bar of hot
iron, then throw me far from you, Janet, into the cold, clear well, throw
me with all your speed.
'There will I change into your own true knight, Janet, and ye shall
throw over me your mantle of green velvet.'
Dark was the night and full of gloom as the lady Janet hastened to the
cross at Milestone, but her heart was glad and full of light. She would
see her own true knight in mortal form before the dawn of Hallowday.
It was between the hours of twelve and one o'clock when Janet stood
alone at the spot where the fairy train would pass.
Fearsome it was there alone in the gloom, but the lady Janet was
heedful of nought. She had but to wait, to listen. Yet not a sound did
she hear, save only the wind as it whistled through the long grass.
Not a sound save the wind did she hear? Ah yes, now strange noises

were blown to her eager ears. The bells on fairy bridles tinkled, the
music of the tiny fairy band piped each moment more clear.
Janet looked, and by the light of Will o' Wisp she could just catch sight
of their little oaten pipes. Shrill were the notes they blew on these, but
softer were the sounds they blew through tiny hemlock pipes. Then
deeper came the tones of the bog-reeds and large hemlock, and Janet,
looking, saw the little green folk draw nigh.
How merry the music was, how glad and good! Never was known a
fairy yet who sang or played of aught but joy and mirth.
The first company of the little folk passed Janet as she stood patient,
watchful by the cross; the second passed, and then there came the third.
'The black steed! Let it go,' said Janet to herself.
'The brown steed! It matters not to me, she whispered.
'The milk-white steed!' Ah, Janet had seized the bridle of the
milk-white steed and pulled the little rider off into her strong young
arms.
A cry of little elfs, of angry little elfs, rang out on the chill night air.
Then as he lay in Janet's arms the angry little imps changed their stolen
elfin knight into an adder, a snake, a bear, a lion, a toad, an eel, and still,
through all these changes, the lady Janet held him fast.
'A blazing fagot! Let him change into a blazing fagot!' cried the angry
little folk. 'Then this foolish mortal will let our favorite knight alone.'
And as young Tamlane changed into a blazing fagot the little folk
thought they had got their will. For now the lady Janet threw him from
her, far into the clear, cold well.
But the little angry imps were soon shrieking in dismay. No sooner was
the fagot in the well than the little elfin knight was restored to his own
true mortal form.

Then over the tall, strong knight Janet threw her green mantle, and the
power of the fairies