A few minutes later, the movements of an old woman attracted notice. They had watched her as she entered the church a short time before, and had pitied the poor, feeble creature, as she dragged herself up the aisle by the aid of a pair of crutches; but all pity left Dexie"s heart as she saw the crippled creature thump the floor with her crutches, and bring them together over her head with a crash that rivalled the noise made by many of the hard-handed sons of toil, who had taken the "jerks" during the service.
"What makes them do it, Dexie?" said Elsie, in a whisper. ""And there was in the synagogue many people possessed of the devil;" that is the only solution of the mystery that I can see," was the reply.
"Oh, Dexie! do you really think that is what ails them? How awful!"
""And there was one woman among them who had seven devils," and that is she with the crutches, I think. Are you afraid? Shall we go out, Elsie?"
"It does scare me, but I cannot help looking at them," was the answer.
But the "jerks" now spread from one to the other, until pandemonium let loose could not be much more alarming. Elsie turned white with fear, but it was impossible to get out at the moment, as the aisles were blocked by terrified sightseers, their screams of fright mingling with the shrieks of those who had the "jerks." It is safe to say that no madhouse ever held a more excited crowd.
At this moment a heavy woman, who sat on the same seat that held Dexie and Elsie, began to be affected, and as the seats were only supported at each end, this one began to spring up and down, setting all those who were upon it in motion.
The two girls were on their feet in an instant, feeling for one awful moment that they were taking the "jerks" themselves; but finding the floor steady under her feet, Dexie soon regained her composure, and endeavored to quiet Elsie, who was now sobbing without restraint.
Out of this they must get at any hazard, and, drawing Elsie after her, she crossed to the door by stepping on the knees of the people who intervened, giving no thought to the outraged feelings of those she had used as stepping-stones to freedom.
As they reached the doorstep, they saw Mr. Holbrook at a distance, and were soon at his side.
"How soon can we get away from this awful place?" Dexie hurriedly asked.
"Well, I do not know, Miss Sherwood. Are you in a hurry to go?"
"Yes, that I am; I have had enough of this kind of worship, and Elsie must not go near the church again. Where is Lancy?"
"I believe he is inside the church; I saw him there a short time ago. He is much interested, I believe. I hope, Miss Gurney, that these excitable people have not seriously alarmed you."
"Oh, I don"t want to see them any more!" cried Elsie. "I wish we could find Lancy, so we could start for Charlottetown."
"Do you know, I believe he wants you to stay overnight at some place near, so that he can stay to the evening service. Could you agree to that plan, do you think?" he asked.
"Certainly; if the place we have to stay is a good piece away from this church, out of sight and hearing of these people," replied Dexie, feeling that a drive back to town would be very tiresome after the exciting day they had spent.
"Well, suppose we start now? The drive will do you good," said Mr.
Holbrook, as he turned towards their carriage; and as he led the horse on the road, he proposed that they start for Montague Bridge at once, describing it as a pretty hamlet about two miles from the church.
"But if Lancy should come and find the carriage gone, he would be anxious,"
said Dexie.
"Oh! I"ll pin a note to the tree, so if he comes here it will explain our absence; but I will be back before the service is ended; and I fancy he will not leave the church till then. You are quite sure you have no objections to leaving him behind you, Miss Gurney?" he asked.
"Oh, no! But are you quite sure you can get us a nice place to stay? I suppose you know the place around here very well," she added.
"Yes, indeed; I have spent my life on the Island, Miss Gurney, and I know my fellow Islanders pretty well. I will leave you quite comfortable, never fear."
They were soon driving along at a rapid pace, and Dexie hoped that the scene in the church had pa.s.sed from Elsie"s mind, till her question to Mr.
Holbrook proved the contrary. "Do tell us, Mr. Holbrook, what _is_ it makes those people act so? Is it the talk of the minister that does it? I"m sure I could only hear a word now and then, though his lips kept moving even when the noise was the worst."
"That is a hard question to answer, Miss Gurney," was the reply. "Some say it is the Heavenly Spirit working within them; others think the spirit is not of a heavenly origin; others, again, say they are getting relief from the bondage of sin."
"Well, if that is the way they show their relief, I think it would be better to stay in bondage," said Dexie. "I wonder if it can be the same craze that used to affect the colored people down South. Grandma"s people kept slaves, and I have heard of such actions amongst them, but if I ever heard the explanation of them I have completely forgotten it. Still one would hardly think that a superst.i.tious negro craze would affect the clear-headed Scotch people in the same manner. It is a mystery to me how they live through it."
Mr. Holbrook laid back his head and laughed.
"But they are human, like other people, Mr. Holbrook," she urged; "and how is it that they do not hurt themselves? There was a man with a shock of red hair, sitting near the chimney, who took the "jerks." I daresay you noticed him. Now, unless his head is made of something different than ours, it must be smashed in on one side, for he struck the chimney with such rapidity and force that it sounded quite sickening from where we sat. Really, I should not have been surprised had he fallen dead to the floor."
"I daresay he never felt it," said Mr. Holbrook, smiling. "I do not believe that any of them know what they are about when they take the "jerks," or else some of the women are very careless of appearances."
"Oh! well, don"t let us talk about them any more," said Elsie. "Papa often says that everyone has a right to his own belief, and these people seem to believe _something_, and they really _must_ believe it without merely saying so, as so many of us do, or else they could not act out their belief in such a dreadful manner; but whatever their belief is, it must be awful!"
In a short time they entered the village, which was situated on both sides of a river, connected by the bridge that gave the place its name. Mr.
Holbrook drove at once to a house where he knew the girls would have every attention, and the pleasant face of the woman who welcomed them at the door seemed to speak of rest and security to be found beneath her roof.
With a few words of explanation Mr. Holbrook left them, promising to be back in good season with Lancy. He then returned with all speed to the church of the McDonalds, where he found the energetic members still in active motion.
CHAPTER XXII.
"What a relief to find ourselves safe and quiet once more!" said Elsie, as she leaned back in her chair with a sigh of content. "I did not know I was so tired."
"A visit to the McDonaldite church is apt to fatigue both body and mind,"
said their hostess, Mrs. Gardner. "It does not seem right, does it, for people to leave their own church to witness such doings?" she added seriously. There was a mild rebuke in her words, and Elsie remembered with a pang that it was Sunday. She had given little thought to the fact during the last few hours.
"No, I am sure it can"t be right, Mrs. Gardner," said Elsie, "but we were so interested when we heard about these "Jerkers" that we wished to see them before we went home."
"Then you do not belong on the Island. Where is your home, my dears?" she asked, as she stepped briskly about preparing the tea.
"We are from Halifax," Dexie answered.
"And is it possible that you are the daughter of Mr. Sherwood, who buys horses on the Island? Why, we know him well. He always stays here when he comes this way. Well, well; many"s the time he has told us about his twin girls, but I never expected to see one of them here. Are you the beauty or the singer?" she smilingly asked.
"Now, Mrs. Gardner," said Dexie, laughing, "I am sure you can see for yourself that I am not the beauty."
"Then you are the singer; but your looks will do very well. Uncommon beauty is often a snare to its possessor, and the ability to sing G.o.d"s praises is worth far more. Are you too tired to do so to-night?"
Dexie looked up with a question in her eyes, and Mrs. Gardner added,
"There is a service in our meeting-house to-night. Would you like to attend it with me?" turning to Elsie.
"Yes, indeed; I would love to go. The day will not seem all lost if we spend a short time of it properly. But do tell us, Mrs. Gardner, what makes those people take the "jerks"? It seems such a queer kind of religion."
"My dear, I have lived in these parts for more than twelve years, and I am acquainted with several families of McDonaldites, but I never yet learned why they take the "jerks," or what they signify, but I know that there are many good religious people belonging to the sect."
"But they might be good people on _account_ of their religion or in _spite_ of it," said Dexie.