Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-30
CHAPTER XII.
At the Cookies.

A rugged mass Of granite, rent by
assures, and surrounded by rocks and
whirlpools, the Norman English isle,
so-called "Key to the Channel" one
hundred miles or more northwest or
the Mount, had from time immemor1al
offered haven to ships out Of the pale
of French ports. Not only haven,
but a home, or that next-best accom-
mediation, an excellent inn. Perched
in the hollow Of the mighty cliff and
reached by fight of somewhat peril
GUS stairs, the Cookies, for so the
ancient tavern was called, set square
" toward the sea, and opened wide its
shell, as it were. to all waits or
stormy petrels blown in from the
foamy deep.
Good men. bad men; Republicans,
royalists; French-English, English
French, the landlord-old Pierre. La
roche, retired sea-captain and owner
Of q number Of craft employed In a
dangerous, but profitable, occupation
received them willingly, and in his
~
and The subsequent reckoning, cared
not a jot for their politics, morals, or
social views. 1t was enough If the
visitor had no lenten capacity; looked
the feshpots in the face and drank Of
his bottle freely.
The past few days the character Of
old Pierre's guests had left some room
for complaint on that score. But a
small number Of the crew Of the
swift-looking vessel, well-known to
the islanders, and now tossing in the
sea-pook below, had, shortly after
their arrival toward dusk Of stormy
day, repaired to the inn, and then they
had not called for their brandy or
wine in the smart manner of seamen
prepared for unstinted sacrifice to
Bacchus. On the contrary, they drank
quietly, talked soberly, and soon pre-
pared to leave.
Something has surely gone wrong"
thought their host. why did not your
captain come ashore?" he asked. "Not
see his old friend, Pierre Laroche, at
once! 1t Is most unlike him."
And on the morrow, the islanders,
or English-French. more or less pri-
vateersmen themselves. were equally
curious. Where had the ship come
FRONT Where was it going? And
how many tons Of wine. bales OF silk
and packages to tobacco, or "ptum,'
as the weed was called, had it cap
tured? Old Pierre would soon find
out, for early that day. despite the In
clemency Of the weather, he came
down to the beach. and, followed by a
servitor, got into small boat moored
close to the shore.
"He Is going aboard"
who has a better right? His OWL
vessel"
mo; Andre Desaurac-the Black
Seigneur's! They say be long ago
paid for 1t from prizes wrested from
the Governor Of the Mount"
AT any rate. old Pierre entered
into a bargain to build the boat for
him"
and added to his wealth by the
transaction"
Later that morning the old man
came ashore, but, according to habit
preserved shrewd silence; in the
afternoon a small number Of the
crew landed to take on stores and
ammunition-of which there was ever
a plentiful supply at this base; that
night, however, all. including their
master, betook themselves to the
Cookies.
Glad to see you ashore, mon CAPT
tame" Pierre Laroche, standing at
the door, just beyond reach Of the
fierce. driving rain, welcomed. the
Black Seigneur warmly; but the
youngman, one of whose arms seemed
bound and useless. cut short his
greeting; tossed bruskly aside his
heavy cloak, and called. for. E. ROOM