The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-03-01

white chevalier sprang from the summit
Of the tower and disappeared. The prin-
cess, left alone, at first believed herself
the victim Of some painful dream. But
her Illusion was of short duration, for
the castle began to culver. She thought
she was lost and fell lifeless, uttering a
loud scream.
The accursed castle, however, shaken
to its foundations, sank rapidly. Soon,
with its lofty turrets, 1t entirely disap-
peared into the gulf, which opened be-
meath 1t and which abruptly closed again,
permitting nothing to be seen upon its
surface save a marshy plain where
hideous reptiles writhed.
On coming to herself the princess
realized the full extent of her misfortune
because her original shape had vanished,
and, changed into q serpent, she crawled
In the fetid mire.
| at Is she whom you now have before
you, Lochic Zoz, and in order that you
| may come to her aid she has not hesitat-
ed to relate her history"
"What must be doneT said Lochic, who
had in the most profound silence listen
cd to the recital of the snake.
"Have I not told 1T For three con-
secutive nights you shall submit to let me
sleep enveloped about your body. Yes
terday, as I was seeking my miserable
nourishment, I saw perched near me,
upon the yellow Of flower Of an iris, q
little dragon fly, with velvety wings Of
dark blue, and whose eyes shone like two
diamonds. / was about to make 1t my
prey when It murmured these words:
"'Lochic Zoz will perhaps consent to let
himself be touched by the narration Of
roioforf,,nao" ~h anona1
her wings of azure and few toward the
heavens"
"Be treasured" responded Lochic. NOV
nights you will be free"
And, having lain down, he invited the
snake to wrap herself about him
On the morrow at break Of day he re-
turned to his cot. Although defiled with
the mire and chilled by the night air,
Lochic was happy. After taking some
nourishment he proceeded to the moor of
Keshor. When night came, he directed
his steps toward the swamp.
"Ho. there, princess" he cried. ut
Is I!'
At the same instant the rushes shud-
dered, and an enormous serpent made to-
ward Lochic, giving forth frightful Kisses.
81 am lost" thought the unhappy man.
And he expected to swoon away.
Nevertheless he laid himself down,
more dead than alive, while the monster
rolled itself about him.
''In two nights" said the serpent, 81
shall be free and will overwhelm you with
gratitude"
That was all that Lochic could hear,
for his terror was so great that he had
tainted.
When he recovered his senses, the sun
was already high. The serpent had dis
appeared. Feeling too weak to gain his
cottage. with difficulty he dragged him
self as far as the moor.
Vainly did he attempt to work. His
hands were without strength, and every
instant he imagined a huge serpent was
strangling him. These prolonged terrors
agitated his body, and he fell exhausted
to the ground.
Marshaling the strength that remained
to him, when night came he walked to-
ward the marsh with hasty steps. Then
he paused, all out OF breath, and called
the princess.
"Lochic." said voice. while his throat
ratified with fear. He remained standing
in the night. 81 am going to appear before
you in a horrible form. It is the white
chevalier who orders It."
The voice died away, and Lochic, from
whom these words took a part Of his
courage, prepared himself to undergo the
last and terrible proof upon which de-
pended the liberty Of the unhappy prin-
cess. But what horror was soon hisl
The marshes were changed into a lake
Of blood. above which few, clumsily and
without noise, large black birds in
strange shapes. In the red waves mon
strous serpents without number sought
to devour each other.
Lochic's terror swept away his courage
when he saw advancing toward him a
monster, half woman, half dragon, whose
hands, armed with long talons, already
sought to seize him.
'St Anne, have pity on meT cried
Lochic.
And without turning his head he fed,
running toward his cottage.
Scarcely had he entered when q violent
fever seized him. He died few days
later, but not without having recounted
his terrible adventure to his little neigh
Dor, woman Gallec.
The old blind beggar Invariably ended
her story as follows:
Until the end of the world the wicked
princess will live under the form of a
snake, and these are her cries of despair,
which the waves Of the sea repeat when
they moan at the foot of the cliff Of Plon.
balance. Tribune.