THE PILLION LADY
by James Bowker · from Goblin Tales of Lancashire
Adapted Version
Humphrey is happy. He rides his horse home. The sun goes down. Humphrey had a good day. He sold things at the market. He had fun with friends. Humphrey's Horse walks slowly. Humphrey feels good.
Soon, Humphrey comes to a bridge. People tell spooky stories about this bridge. They say strange things happen there. Humphrey feels a little nervous. The moon is bright. He can see far.
Humphrey wants to be brave. He tries to sing a song. But he feels scared. He taps Humphrey's Horse. Humphrey's Horse runs fast. They go to the bridge.
Humphrey's Horse steps on the bridge. Humphrey hears a strange sound. It is a soft sound. Then he feels a cold touch. It is around his middle. Humphrey feels very cold.
Humphrey's Horse gets very scared. It runs very fast now. Humphrey is scared too. He does not look back. He holds on tight. He does not want to fall.
Humphrey's Horse runs past his house. It does not stop. Humphrey cannot make it stop. He hears the strange sound again. It is very close to his ear.
Humphrey looks back. He sees a strange, dark shape. It is behind him. It has a funny, scary face. The face is under a hood. It is a very strange face.
Humphrey is very scared. He holds on tight. The cold touch stays there. He hears strange sounds. The sounds keep happening. Humphrey wants it to stop.
The road turns. Humphrey's Horse trips. It falls down. Humphrey falls off the horse. He lands on the ground. Humphrey feels a little dizzy. He feels a little hurt.
The sun comes up. Humphrey wakes up. He is a little hurt. He sees Humphrey's Horse. It eats green grass. Humphrey feels weak. He stands up slowly.
Humphrey walks home. He tells his story. It is a strange story. He tells his friends.
The men listen to Humphrey. They say, "Oh, Humphrey!" But they do not go near the bridge. They do not go there at night. They are careful now.
Original Story
THE PILLION LADY.
IT was on a beautiful night in the middle of summer that Humphrey Dobson, after having transacted a day's business at Garstang market, and passed some mirthful hours with a number of jovial young fellows in the best parlour of the Ffrances Arms, with its oak furniture and peacock feathers, mounted his steady-going mare, and set off for home. He had got some distance from the little town, and was rapidly nearing a point where the road crossed a stream said to be haunted by the spirit of a female who had been murdered many years back; and although the moon was shining brightly, and the lonely rider could see far before him, there was one dark spot overshadowed by trees a little in advance which Humphrey feared to reach. He felt a thrill of terror as he suddenly remembered the many strange stories told of the headless woman whose sole occupation and delight seemed to be that of terrifying travellers; but, with a brave endeavour to laugh off his fears, he urged his horse forward, and attempted to troll forth the burden of an old song:—
'He rode and he rode till he came to the dooar,
And Nell came t' oppen it, as she'd done afooar:
"Come, get off thy horse," she to him did say,
"An' put it i'th' stable, an' give it some hay."'
It would not do, however; and suddenly he put spurs to the mare and galloped towards the little bridge. No sooner did the horse's hoofs ring upon the stones than Humphrey heard a weird and unearthly laugh from beneath the arch, and, as the animal snorted and bounded forward, the young fellow felt an icy arm glide round his waist and a light pressure against his back. Drops of perspiration fell from his brow, and his heart throbbed wildly, but he did not dare to look behind lest his worst fears should be verified, and he should behold 'th' boggart o'th' bruk.'
As though conscious of its ghastly burden, the old mare ran as she never had run before; the hedgerows and trees seemed to fly past, while sparks streamed from the flints in the road, and in an incredibly short space of time the farm-house was reached. Instinctively, Humphrey tried to guide the mare into the yard, but his efforts were powerless, for the terrified animal had got the bit in her teeth, and away she sped past the gateway.
THE PILLION LADY.
As the rider was thus borne away, another sepulchral laugh broke the silence, but this time it sounded so close to the horseman's ear that he involuntarily looked round.
He found that the figure, one of whose arms was twined round his waist, was not the headless being of whom he had heard so many fearful narratives, but another and a still more terrible one, for, grinning in a dainty little hood, and almost touching his face, there was a ghastly skull, with eyeless sockets, and teeth gleaming white in the clear moonlight.
Petrified by fear, he could not turn his head away, and, as the mare bore him rapidly along, ever and anon a horrid derisive laugh sounded in his ears as for a moment the teeth parted and then closed with a sudden snap. Terrified as he was, however, he noticed that the arm which encircled his body gradually tightened around him, and putting down his hand to grasp it he found it was that of a fleshless skeleton.
How long he rode thus embraced by a spectre he knew not, but it seemed an age.
Suddenly, however, as at a turn in the road the horse stumbled and fell, Humphrey, utterly unprepared for any such occurrence, was thrown over the animal's head and stunned by the fall.
When he recovered full consciousness it was daybreak. The sun was rising, the birds were singing in the branching foliage overhead, and the old mare was quietly grazing at a distance. With great difficulty, for he was faint through loss of blood, and lame, he got home and told his story. There were several stout men about the farm who professed to disbelieve it, and pretended to laugh at the idea of a skeleton horsewoman, who, without saying with your leave or by your leave, had ridden pillion with the young master, but it was somewhat remarkable that none of them afterwards could be induced to cross the bridge over the haunted stream after 'th' edge o' dark.'
Story DNA
Moral
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Plot Summary
Humphrey Dobson, riding home late one summer night, approaches a bridge known to be haunted. Despite his fear, he urges his horse forward, only to hear an unearthly laugh and feel an icy arm embrace him from behind. His horse bolts, and when he finally looks back, he sees a grinning skull instead of a headless woman. He endures a terrifying ride with the skeletal passenger until his horse stumbles, throwing him off. He awakens at daybreak, injured but alive, and though his story is met with initial skepticism, it instills a lasting fear of the haunted bridge in the local men.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to terror to relief (and lasting dread)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects common folk beliefs and superstitions prevalent in rural England, particularly Lancashire, regarding local hauntings and the supernatural, often tied to specific landmarks like bridges or streams.
Plot Beats (12)
- Humphrey Dobson leaves Garstang market after a day of business and fun, riding his mare home.
- He approaches a stream known to be haunted by a murdered woman's spirit, feeling a thrill of terror despite the bright moonlight.
- Humphrey tries to sing to ward off fear but instead spurs his horse into a gallop towards the bridge.
- As the horse crosses the bridge, Humphrey hears a weird laugh and feels an icy arm wrap around his waist.
- His mare bolts in terror, and Humphrey dares not look back, fearing 'th' boggart o'th' bruk'.
- The horse speeds past his farm, unable to be guided, as another sepulchral laugh sounds close to his ear.
- Humphrey looks back and sees not a headless woman, but a ghastly skull with eyeless sockets and gleaming teeth, grinning in a hood.
- Petrified, he endures the ride, hearing derisive laughs and feeling the skeletal arm tighten around him.
- The horse stumbles and falls at a turn in the road, throwing Humphrey off and knocking him unconscious.
- Humphrey regains consciousness at daybreak, injured and faint from blood loss, finding his mare grazing nearby.
- He makes his way home and recounts his terrifying experience.
- Farm men pretend to disbelieve and laugh at his story, but none of them can be persuaded to cross the haunted bridge after dark again.
Characters
Humphrey Dobson ★ protagonist
Average height and build for a young man of the era, likely sturdy from farm work. His face is capable of showing fear and determination.
Attire: Practical, sturdy clothing suitable for a market day and travel in rural Lancashire, England, in the 19th century. Likely a coarse wool or linen jacket, a simple shirt, breeches, and sturdy leather boots. Colors would be muted, earth tones.
Wants: To return home safely after a day of business and revelry.
Flaw: Superstitious fear and susceptibility to terror when faced with the unknown.
Starts as a confident, jovial young man, is utterly terrified and physically harmed by a supernatural encounter, and returns home shaken but alive, his experience confirming local superstitions.
Jovial, brave (at first), easily terrified, determined, practical.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young English man in his early twenties, with a sturdy build and average height, pale skin, short dark brown hair, and wide, terrified blue eyes. He wears a practical, dark grey wool jacket, a simple cream linen shirt, brown breeches, and scuffed leather riding boots. His posture is rigid and hunched forward, as if bracing against an unseen force. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Pillion Lady ⚔ antagonist
A spectral being, initially perceived as a 'headless woman' or 'boggart o'th' bruk', but revealed to be a fleshless skeleton. Her arm is icy and skeletal, capable of tightening around a human body.
Attire: A dainty little hood, which covers the top of her skull. The rest of her form is a fleshless skeleton, implying no other clothing is visible or necessary.
Wants: To terrify travellers, finding delight in their fear.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, but her hold is broken when the horse stumbles.
Remains a terrifying, unchanging spectral entity throughout the encounter.
Terrifying, derisive, malevolent, playful (in a sinister way), persistent.
Image Prompt & Upload
A spectral, translucent skeletal figure of a woman, with a ghastly skull for a head, featuring empty eye sockets and gleaming white teeth. She wears a small, delicate, dark grey hood that frames her skull. Her right arm, a fleshless bone, is extended forward. Her posture is ethereal and slightly hunched, as if leaning into a ride. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Humphrey's Mare ◆ supporting
A 'steady-going' old mare, implying a sturdy, reliable, perhaps slightly aged horse. She is capable of great speed when terrified, with sparks streaming from her hooves.
Attire: Simple riding tack: bridle, reins, saddle.
Wants: To escape the perceived threat, driven by primal fear.
Flaw: Susceptibility to fear, causing her to bolt uncontrollably.
Starts as a calm, steady companion, becomes a terrified, uncontrollable beast, and then returns to her calm, grazing state after the incident.
Steady, reliable, easily terrified, instinct-driven.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy, dark brown mare with a short, neat mane and tail, standing calmly. She has intelligent, dark eyes and a gentle expression. She wears a simple leather bridle and a worn leather riding saddle. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Ffrances Arms Parlour
The best parlour of a traditional English inn, furnished with heavy oak furniture and adorned with peacock feathers.
Mood: Jovial, warm, traditional, slightly smoky from pipes (implied by 'parlour' and 'jovial young fellows')
Humphrey Dobson spends mirthful hours before his fateful ride.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cozy, dimly lit parlour within a 19th-century English inn. Heavy, dark oak furniture, including a large table and sturdy chairs, are arranged around a stone hearth. Ornate peacock feathers are displayed in a vase on a mantelpiece. The walls are paneled in dark wood, reflecting the warm glow of a few oil lamps. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Haunted Stream Bridge
A small stone bridge crossing a stream, overshadowed by dense trees, creating a dark spot on an otherwise moonlit summer night. The stream is known to be haunted.
Mood: Eerie, suspenseful, foreboding, chilling
Humphrey encounters the 'Pillion Lady' (or 'boggart o'th' bruk') here, feeling an icy arm around his waist.
Image Prompt & Upload
A narrow, ancient stone bridge arches over a dark, murmuring stream in the English countryside. Dense, gnarled oak and willow trees heavily overhang the bridge, casting deep, impenetrable shadows despite the bright, full moonlight illuminating the surrounding fields. The water beneath the arch appears black and still. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Rural Road to Farmhouse
A winding country road, likely unpaved, with hedgerows and trees lining its sides. Flints are visible in the road, causing sparks as the horse gallops. Leads to a farmhouse.
Mood: Terrifying, frantic, desolate, supernatural pursuit
Humphrey is borne away by his terrified mare with the spectral Pillion Lady behind him, witnessing her ghastly skull.
Image Prompt & Upload
A desolate, unpaved country road stretches into the distance under a brilliant full moon. Tall, wild hedgerows and scattered, dark silhouettes of mature trees line both sides of the path. The ground is rough, with visible flints glinting under the moonlight. The sky is clear and deep blue, with a few scattered stars. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
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