Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 14, 1903.djvu/150

 134 Folklore of the Azores.

Brazil. In St. Michael's, it is believed in the Ilheo de Villa Franca and the Valley of the Furnas that Dom Sebastian, mounted on his white horse and followed by his army, may be seen at midnight riding over the hills. In the island of Graciosa he is also said to appear at midnight, and is seen standing by a rock into which he thrusts his sword, saying, " Oiieyn te poz aqiii, cT aqiii de hade tirar " (He who placed thee here, from here will draw thee out).

T/ie Haunted House of Terceira.

In the village of the Arriffes, in St. Michael's, once lived a poor but worthy couple. In order to better their circum- stances they migrated to the island of Terceira, and there lived in a cottage, while the man worked in the fields. Near by was a large old house which was uninhabited, and was believed to be haunted. The old couple were not afraid, and asked the owner to let them take up their abode there, to which he agreed. When the neighbours asked them if they had seen any ghosts, they always said that they had not, but that they were much disturbed by rats. One night the old woman was kneading dough after midnight^ her husband and children having gone to bed. While she was waiting for the leaven to rise, suddenly a small door she had never noticed, opened, and a man in a long black garment came in and sat down by the kneading trough, on which he fixed his eyes without saying a word. The woman feeling pity for him, when she made the loaves made one more, which she told him would be for him, and then put them in the oven. While they were baking he said," At last I have found one kind person on earth. Now bring the lamp and your husband's hoe, and follow me." She did so, and followed him silently. When they got to the first landing on the stairs, to try her courage he turned round and blew out her lamp, but nothing daunted she went back and lit it again, and returned. He led the way