Evening journal., 1899-02-15
ALegend Of the Atlantic
BY Thomas Wentworth HiogInsOu.
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/ 1nOSE American travellers who In
ger with delight among the mar
row lanes and picturesque, overhang-
ing roofs of Honfeur, do not know what
q strange tragedy took place on yoy-
age which began in that quaint old port
three centuries and q hall ago.
Three tall ships sailed from Hcnfeur
on August %, 1541, and on one Of them,
La Grande Hermine-so-called to dis
tinguish it from smaller boat of that
name, which had previously sailed with
Cartier-were the Sieur de Roberval,
his niece and her "gouvernante." She
also had with her a Huguenot nurse,
who had been with her from child,
and cared for her devotedly. Roberyal
naturally took with him, for future
needs, the best shipbuilder OF St. Malo,
Etienne Gosselin. The voyage was
long. and there is reason TO think that
the Sieur de Roberval was not a good
sailor, while as 10 the ''gouvernante,' y
shemay have been as helpless as. the sea-
sick chaperon of yachting excursions.
Like them. she suffered the most inn
portant events to pass unobserved, and
it was not till too late that she discoy-
cred, what more censorious old ladies
on board had already seen, that her
young charge fingered too often and
too long on the quarter deck when
Etenne Gosselin was planning ships
for the uncle. When she found il out
she was reused to just indignation;
but being, after all, but kindly dowa-
ger, with a heart softened by much
reading of the interminable tales Of
Nine. de Scudery, she only remonstrat-
ed with Marguerite, wept over her little
romance, and threatened TO break the
sad news to the Sieur de Roberyal, yet
never did so. Other ladies were less
considerate it all broke suddenly upon
the angry uncle; the youth was put in
irons, and threatened with hogging,
and forbidden to approach the quarter
deck again. But love laughs at lock-
, smiths; Gosselin was relieved Of his
irons in day 7r two because he could
, not be spared from his work in de-
signing the forthcoming ship, and as
: both he and Marguerite were of toll
; erably determined nature, they in
voked, through the old nurse, the aid
, of a Huguenot minister on board, who
, had before sailed with Cartier to take
r charge of the souls of some Protestant
, vagabonds on the ship, and who was
now making a second trip for the same
- reason. That night, after dark, he
D Joined the lovers in marriage; within
- "a hours Roberval had heard of it, and
I had vowed a vengeance quick and sure.
t The next morning. under his orders
e the vessel lay to under the lee of rocky
= island, then known TO the sailors as
I "l'Isle des Demons" from the fierce
f. winds that ragged round IT, There was
a no house there, no living person, nc
I tradition of any; only rocks, sand and
deep forests. With dismay, the ships
e company heard that it was the firm
= purpose of Roberval 10 put the offend
e ing bride on shore, giving her only the
NJ old nurse for company, and there tc
leave her with provisions for three
e months, trusting to some other vesse
X to take the exiled woman away within
/. that time The very ladies whose low
II of scandal had first revealed TO him tho
g. alleged familiarities. now besough
y him with many tears to abandon Tho
v thought OF doom so terrible. Nainl,
y Nine. de Noailles implored mercy 70
II the young girl from a penalty such a
% was never imposed in any of Nine. d.
.e Scudery's romances; vainly the Hugue
I not minister and the Catholic chaplain
who had fought steadily on question
It of doctrine during the whole voyage
~ now united in appeals for pardon. A
- least they implored him to let the OF
tenders have man servant or two wit
n them to protect them against will
m beasts or buccaneers. Tie utterly re
fused until. at last wearied out. hi
wild nature Welded TO one OF thos
nt sudden impulses which We're wont I
s. sweep over il, and he exclaimed; 81
10 that they need O man servant, then
Set this insolent caitin, Gosselin. be r'
ct lieved of his irons and sent on shor'
n. Let him be my niece's servant, or, sine
lie a Huguenot marriage is as good as an
as in the presence of bears and bucci
s. neers. let her call the hound her hui
band, If she likes. ] have done wit
ad her. and the race from which she can
es disowns her forever"
m. Thus it was done. Euenne was
ne leased from his chains and sent Q
shore. An arquebus and ammunitio
he were given him. and. resisting the in
pulse to send his first shot through II
ef heart Of his tyrant, he landed and u
,t- last glimpse seen Of the group as II
or Grande Hermine sailed away was II
To- figure OF Marguerite sobbing on b
shoulder, and Of the unhappy nurs
mi now somewhat plethoric, and certain
Tr- not the person to be selected as a pi
r,s neer. sitting upon a rock. weeping pr
20 fusely. The ships sails filed. the a
cry Roberval never looked back on h
deserted niece and the night elos'
Gown upon the lonely Isle Of Demon
ere now newly occupied by three unexpeS
oy- ed settlers, two of whom at least we
on happy in each other
ior A few boxes of biscuits, few bottl
me of wine had been put on shore vi
hn, them. enough to feed them for a fS
.le- weeks. They had brought fiat al