The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-03-01
A Legend Of the
Breton Coast.
By ARMAND DAYOT.

+--S-s-t-t-tt-t-s-s-+-!-ss
A long and narrow cliff unites the Cha
teau des Sales with the billy moor of
Kerhor and protects the marshy meadows
Of Plonbazlanec from the encroachment
Of the sea, while dashing to pieces against
this embankment, whose stones, heaped
up without order, roll under their feet,
the waves make q noise resembling lam
entations.
How many times as a child have I con-
Quoted by the hand for the length of that
perilous cliff the old blind beggar woman,
woman Gallec, the best story teller in all
the canton of Paimpol. As a reward for
my kind actions the poor creature in her
turn took my hand in hers, made me sit
upon the grass by her side and told me
the most beautiful tales, and the most
frightful narratives were those which in
terested me most. A surprising fact, the
child, naturally so timid, loves the stories
which make it the most afraid, and his
delicate and impressionable Imagination
delights In wandering in fictitious worlds,
inhabited by the most unsightly and the
most malicious monsters.
But no story interested me so much as
that Of the Adventure of Lochic Zoz. "
I have heard 1t SO often that perhaps I
shall be able to give 1t in my turn.
Lochic ZOE worked from morning to
evening in a quarry adjoining the moor
Of Keshor.
The poor wretch was dependent upon
the famous Marquis Of Kersat, an evil
man, whom all the old people Of the city
Of Plonbazlanec still remember.
He dwelt with his wife and three little
children In q sort Of hut situated to the
right Of the spot where today rises the
Chateau des Sales.
At the close Of the year 1888 and at the
hour when daylight had just vanished
Lochic met with q strange adventure
while repairing from the moor to his cot
tage.
Contrary to his custom, he had taken,
In order to curtail his journey, the diff
cult and little frequented path which
traverses the marshes.
What remains today Of those mournful
spots gives, 1t appears, but feeble idea
Of what they were at the period when
this story took place.
What an immense stretch Of black mire
Il Is described to be, whence emanated
suffocating odors and which here and
there were concealed by tufts of iris and
rushes, filed with disquieting noises.
Worn by his daily toll. Lochic walked
with head dropping under the weight Of
Q heavy bundle of furze.
The moon already bathed the meadow
land and the strand with light so gentle
and SO blue that the timid elves left their
shadowy abodes to futter gayly in the
calm air.
Not q breeze. One could scarcely hear
the plaintive monotone Of the waves upon
the pebbles which bordered the swamps
on the side of the sea.
Suddenly a sharp hiss issued from a
tuft Of iris, and almost Immediately a
gray snake raised itself upon the tip of
its tail before Lochic. Then in a sorrow-
full voice it said:
"Lochic Zoe, know that your soul is
compassionate, so address myself to you
in order that you may take pity on my
unhappy lot"
"But who are you to speak thus" In
terrupted Lochic. whose voice trembled.
"Reassure yourself" replied the ser.
pent. II do not wish you any evil. Deign
only to listen to me an instant"
Speak" said Lochic, astonished. but
already almost tranquilized by the gentle
voice of the gray snake.
And the snake spoke as follows, while
Lochic. seated upon his bundle Of furze,
listened with gaping mouth:
In former times, a long while ago. at
the spot where we now are, stood a castle
whose turrets lost themselves in the
clouds and projected upon the fields and
upon the sea a shadow as dense as night.
In this castle lived a wicked princess
whose name no one knew. Her mind,
continually tormented by cruel thoughts,
invented every day new fortunes for her
vassals. More hideous than demons were
those who surrounded her. and they sec
onded her in her evil deeds.
This narrative would be without end II
I were to recount all the crimes Of that
malicious princess. However, the hour
of her punishment sounded. One even
ing the wardens of the castle saw ap-
preaching the drawbridge cavalier clad
In armor whittier than snow. Above his
helmet, whose visor was lowered, spar
kled brilliant crest.
'Stopw cried the guards TO the stran-
ger.
But without uttering word he de
scended from his horse, raised his finger
toward heaven and Immediately fell dead
Then he rapidly cleared the bridge. pene-
trated into the castle. which resounded
with frightful noises, and. having climbed
| the great stone staircase, turned toward
the banquet hall, where the princess and
her companions Of dissipation sat gather
ed together. All those who attempted tc
arrest him fell, dumfounded.
The doors of the hall opened Of theil
own accord before him, and, his arms
crossed upon his breast, he advanced 81
lently toward the princess. Divining some
great peril, she wished to flee, but hel
feet seemed fastened to the stones Of the
floor. She wanted to appeal for help, bu
terror bound her throat.
"Follow me-" said the stranger.
As II impelled by an invisible force sh'
i followed him up the winding stairway
without number of the castle. They die
not pause until they had reached the tol
Of the Hottest turret.
Day was just about to dawn. Thu
horizon was illuminated with a long
white CLEAN. The stars rapidly vanished
and some rare birds Of night few about
striking the corners of the battlements
In the castle was the silence of death
'This habitation Is cursed" said tn
Stranger In a solemn voice. I'm q fey
moments it will sink into the depths o
the earth. Before the sun shall appea
all those who dwell In 1t shall be COZ
verted into reptiles. You yourself sha
be transformed into a snake, and in tina
vile form you shall live miserable unit
the end Of all time, at least unless 20
meet with a man brave enough and com
passionate enough to allow you to slice
three nights in succession curled abou
his body. That man you perhaps wi
discover some day, but that will not b
until after many long years Of suffering
and IL his courage disappears before tn
end Of the proof to which 1 will perm
you to put him in order to recover you
original form you will see every hope Q
] 6sliverance vanish forever"