The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-15
| OCHIC ZOZ'S ADVENTURE.
A Legend of the
Breton Coast.
BY ARMAND DAYOT.

l
a long and narrow cliff uuitcs the Cha
teau des Sales with the hilly moor of
kerhor and protects the marshy meadows
| of Plonbazlanec frem the encroachment
of the sea, while dashing to pieces against
this cmbankment, whose stones, heapcd
up without order roll under their feet,
the waves make a noise resembling lam
entationS.
How many times as child have 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 Paimpoi. AS 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 uusghtly and the
most malicious monsters.
But no story interested me so much as
that of the Adventure of Lochic Zoz"
| have heard it so often that perhaps |
shall be able to give it in my turn.
Lochic Zoz 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 Plonbazanec still remember.
He dwelt with his wife and three little
children in Il sort of hut situated to tho
right of the spot where today rises the
Chateau des Sales.
At the close of the year 17SS and at the
hour when daylight had just vanished
Lochlc met with a 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, it appears, but feeble idea
of what they We're at the period when
this story took place
What an immense stretch of black mirc
it is described to be, whence emanated
suffocating odors and which here and
there were concealed by tufts of iris and
rushes filed with dsquieting noises.
Worn by his daily toll, Lochic walked
with head dropping under the weight OF
heavy bundle of furze.
The moon already bathed the meadow
land and the strand with a light so gentle
and so blue that the timid elves left their
shadowy abodes to tlutter gayly in the
calm air.
Not 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 Il sharp hiss issued from a
tuft of iris. and almost Immediately
gray snake raised itself upon the tip of
its tail before Lochic. Then in sorrow
full voice it said:
'Lochic Zoz. | 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 thusY' in
terrupted Lochic, whose voice trembled.
"Reassure yourself" replied the ser
pent. Il do not wish you any evil. Deign
only to listen to me an instant"
Speak" said Lochc astonished, but
already almost tranquilized by the gentle
voice of the gray snake.
And the snake spoke as follows, while
Lochc. seated upon his bundle of furze,
listened with gaping mouth:
In former times. long while ago, at
the spot where we now are, stood n 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 tortures for her
vassals. More hideous than demons were
those who surrounded her, and they sec
onded her in her evil deeds.
This narrative would he without end il
l 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 APP
proaching the drawbridge a cavalier clad
in armor whittier than snow. Above his
helmet, whose visor was lowered, spar
kled brilliant crest.
"Stop" cried the guards to the stran-
ger.
But without uttering a 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 to
arrest him fell. dumfounded.
The doors of the hall opened of their
own accord before him, and, his arms
crossed upon his breast, he advanced ST.
lently toward the princess. Divinng some
great peril, she wished to flee, but her
feet seemed fastened to the stones of the
floor. She wanted to appeal for help but
terror bound her throat.
"Follow me-" said the stranger.
AS IL impelled by an invisible force, she
followed him up the winding stairways
without number of the castle. They did
not pause until they had reached the top
Of the loftiest turret.
Day was just about to dawn. The
horizon was illuminated with long,
white gleam. 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 10 cursed" said the
stranger In a solemn voice. "In a few
moments it will sink into the depths Of
the earth. Before the sun shall appear