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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14118 ***
+
+LEGEND OF MOULIN HUET
+
+by
+
+LIZZIE A. FREETH
+
+Author Of _The Adventures of Carl Skinflint among the Fairies_
+
+Guernsey: Le Lievre, Printer, Star-Office,
+10, Bordage Street.
+
+1872
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+     DEDICATED TO
+     "THE CONWAY BOYS."
+
+
+
+
+
+DEDICATION.
+
+
+Though the story contained in the following pages has no connection with
+them, yet it is my wish to dedicate this little work to "The Conway
+Boys," and all those connected with that most invaluable institution,
+"H.M.S. Conway," lying at Rockferry, Birkenhead.
+
+I have particular reason to speak well of the "Conway," as any "Boy" may
+know who may have been on board for the last five or six years, from the
+fact that two of my brothers, after passing a successful career under
+the careful teaching of the Rev. Henry O'Brien; L.L.D., Cork, continued
+to build on the good foundation laid, and left the "Conway" with credit
+both to their teachers and themselves. I shall always have pleasure in
+meeting with any "Conway Boy," and hearing of the good old ship to which
+I wish a long continuance of her success in preparing Boys creditably
+for one of the great sources of our national strength and wealth--"Our
+Merchant Navy."
+
+I must just add a word of thanks to my friends in Guernsey and
+elsewhere, who so kindly encouraged and supported me when publishing on
+a former occasion, and whom I see, by reference to the subscription
+list, coming forward again--among some new friends--with a repetition of
+their kindness.
+
+Montpelier, Guernsey, 1872.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+In the year 165-, when Cromwell had gained ascendancy in England and
+over the greater portion of the Channel Islands, there lived in
+Guernsey, at the Bay of Moulin Huêt, a miller of the name of Pierre
+Moullin. Unlike his class generally, he was a very morose man, hard in
+his dealings with the poor around him, and exceedingly unsympathizing in
+all his domestic relations, as will appear as our story unwinds itself.
+Before speaking of the family surroundings of Pierre Moullin we will
+glance at the circumstance which forms the basis of the present tale.
+Visitors to the Bay of Moulin Huêt, as well as to other parts of this
+and the surrounding Islands, may have observed a crimson appearance on
+the rocks, suggesting very sanguinary ideas, but for which, geologists
+doubtless, would be able to account in a very satisfactory manner.
+Looking at a portion of the original gully through which the water runs
+after passing through the mill wheel, we find that this crimson
+appearance is very visible, and as our purpose is not to raise
+scientific enquiries, we will take one of the fanciful reasons (of which
+there are two or three in existence), for this coloring on by the hand
+of Nature, which has so abundantly bedecked Guernsey in general, and
+Moulin Huêt in particular. Dipping into the Fairy lore of that part of
+the island, we find that many believe that some mischievous Fairies who
+annoyed the miller much with their nightly pranks were ground to pieces
+by the mill wheel becoming unfastened, and that their blood remains
+there to this day, as a warning to all others among the "good people"
+who might wish to vent their superfluous mischief in a like manner.
+
+So much for the Fairy lore in the Moulin Huêt Chronicles; but we must
+turn our attention elsewhere to find out whose blood it was that thus
+dyed the watercourse of the Moulin Huêt Mill.
+
+At the time of which we are speaking, (the opening of the year 165-)
+Pierre Moullin and his two children, a son and a daughter, lived in a
+house adjoining the mill, in fact, the same roof covered both mill and
+house, which were built facing the sea. The stream of water which turned
+the wheel was far more powerful than the present, as the old marks
+(still partially visible) denote. Pierre Moullin, like many of his
+fellow-islanders, was a strong adherent of Cromwell; his son Hirzel was
+also,--though perhaps he did not go quite as far as his father in his
+hatred of the Royalist party. He had nevertheless acquaintances among
+the Royalist soldiers who were quartered in the strong fortress at
+Jerbourg. One in particular he had made a great friend of--Charlie
+Heyward. Old Pierre often used to say he knew harm would come of this
+friendship, and felt his words were being proved true when he
+discovered that an attachment was springing up between his daughter
+Marguerite and the young soldier. On becoming aware of this his rage was
+unbounded, and he repeatedly said he would be the death of Charlie if he
+could manage it. He tried in every way to bring his son to his way of
+thinking, but though Hirzel did not much like the idea of his sister
+marrying a Royalist soldier, and besides which another friend and
+fellow-countryman of his Jacques Gaultier, was also much attached to the
+fair Marguerite, and had long persecuted her with his unwelcome
+attentions, still Hirzel would have done anything rather than have
+injured his friend Charlie, whom he liked well, though he did not like
+his principles. In Jacques Gaultier the old miller saw a ready tool
+towards gaining his wicked end of destroying Charlie. The latter did not
+think Pierre's hatred reached the extent it did, at the same time he was
+still aware there was no chance of his ever gaining the old man's
+consent to his marrying Marguerite.
+
+One night Pierre sent his son to bring Jacques Gaultier saying, he
+wished to speak to him about taking some flour into the town next day.
+Jacques was only too delighted to get any excuse for going to the mill,
+and immediately said he would accompany Hirzel if he "would wait until
+he got something which he had been making for Marguerite."
+
+"All right, Jacques, my boy, but look sharp, as the old man seems
+impatient to-night."
+
+"Thy tone and way of speaking savour far more of the style of that base
+soldiery which our island is burdened with, than the tone of thy
+father's son should be," replied Jacques.
+
+"Very well," said Hirzel, "I will promise to mend my ways, but do be
+quick, as I promised to walk with my sister at seven, and now it is nigh
+on half-past; and she says she needs my counsel much on a matter."
+
+"Ah! thou art an impatient lad, but it would be worse with me were I in
+thy case; long till she'd ask me to walk with her, not I warrant were I
+dying for a look at her sweet face."
+
+"Don't be down-hearted, Jacques, how know'st thou but that my sister
+may change her mind and look kindly on thee yet; wait till the Redcoats
+have gone down to the Castle, and then perhaps thy fishers' garb may
+find favour in her sight, but what hast thou got there? Some woman's
+trifles, which thou seem'st to understand better than I have yet
+learned."
+
+"I made these sore against my will, for I would rather see thy sister
+reading some edifying book than passing her time on such vanities as
+these are used for, they are bobbins, lad."
+
+"Ha, Ha," laughed Hirzel, "were I to go into the market to-morrow and
+say that stern Jacques Gaultier spent his hours carving out lace
+bobbins, who would believe me?"
+
+"Don't laugh at me, Hirzel, perhaps one of these fine days thou wilt do
+something more foolish: when thy nineteen summers shall have ripened
+like mine to thirty thou wilt have different thoughts."
+
+"Time enough to speak when it comes. Now I love my boat better than
+anything else! But how we are wasting this fine evening. My Father will
+think we are lost or gone to be soldiers, eh Jacques? Come along, and we
+will see what Marguerite thinks of those little sticks of thine."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+On the same evening of which we have been speaking Marguerite was
+sitting just outside the door, employed as she generally was in her
+leisure time at lace work, of the style which had been so fashionable
+during the reign of the late murdered King. How Marguerite had first
+learnt this "unedifying work," we know not but as she used to work for
+the family of one of the King's officers, and had seen the ladies do it,
+she soon with very little instruction learnt to do it well. Very pretty
+Marguerite looked bending over her "lace pillow," weaving sweet
+thoughts into her work, if we may judge from the expression of her face
+which was one of those that "made one feel good to look at," as Charlie
+often said, and indeed it was a good thing for him to take the
+remembrance of such a face through his Barrack life, which at least was
+a rough one.
+
+Marguerite had not long been enjoying the quiet of her own society when
+she heard her Father call her. She immediately obeyed his summons with
+that strange feeling at her heart--that strange foreshadowing of
+evil--to which we have all been subject at some time in our lives.
+"Again at that silly work, girl; better for thee to get something to do
+about the house than waste thy time over that useless finery; I'll
+warrant me when thou art Jacques Gaultier's wife he will find thee other
+work--mending his nets, mayhap!"
+
+"My dear Father, I will never be Jacques Gaultier'a wife. I have told
+him so oft: I doubt if he will ever speak to me on the subject again; he
+will not risk hearing rude words from me, I fancy."
+
+"I tell thee thou _shalt_ be Jacques Gaultier's wife, and that before
+long; he is coming here to-night, and I will tell him he can have thee
+with my full consent. Spite of thy love for red coats, thou wilt settle
+down here as a fisher's wife."
+
+"Father, I have promised to marry Charlie and no other, and I will do
+so; you used to like him ere 'my Lord Protector Cromwell' turned the
+heads, if not gained the hearts, of nearly all but the loyal soldiery!
+And now I will never marry any one but Charlie. You have made me speak
+thus to you Father; I don't think you ought to try to make me marry one
+whom in my heart I despise; and who you know well is not a good man."
+
+"Ah! that is thy spirit, is it? Well, we'll see; I doubt if thou wilt
+find that fine soldier of thine alive much longer; it would be a good
+and commendable deed to sweep all such from the face of the earth."
+
+"Yes, surely, commendable, but only in the eyes of those who murdered
+our poor King, Father; but we will speak no more of these things. You
+are tired with your day's work, and are not like yourself to-night. I
+hear Hirzel's voice, so I will go and meet him; we are to have a walk
+this evening, and you can talk quietly with Jacques, but not a word
+about me; you know what my thoughts are now, Father."
+
+Having thus spoken, Marguerite left the house, and after going through
+the garden gate, she entered a pretty lane which was abundantly blessed
+by Nature with a quantity of ferns and wild flowers. It was just
+beginning to grow dusk, and she saw not far off Jacques Gaultier and her
+brother. The latter was singing in his native _patois_ a gay song, much
+to the horror of Jacques, who thought it was dreadful to do such a
+thing. Dropping his usual air of hypocritical stiffness (adopted by so
+many to fall in with the custom of the times), he hastened forward to
+meet Marguerite, and with a show of politeness, wonderful for the rough
+Jacques, raised his hat and said, "Good evening, Marguerite; it is my
+fault that thy brother is late; I kept him while I was getting ready
+some bobbins which I have made in the hope that thou wilt take them from
+me."
+
+"I thank thee, Jacques Gaultier, but I do not want thy bobbins; keep
+them for some other girl: I am teaching many this same work, and no
+doubt you will find some one glad to get them. I am going to-night where
+I shall get a set made by some one whom I like better than Jacques
+Gaultier. My father is waiting, so go to him; come Hirzel, don't delay
+me longer."
+
+Jacques moved off muttering to himself, and with a most murderous look
+on his dark face. Poor Charlie would have fared badly had he been in
+this man's power just now!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+We will follow Gaultier into the mill, leaving Marguerite and her
+brother to pursue their intention of having a walk, and hear what old
+Pierre has to say. On Jacques entering the room he found the old man in
+a state of great disquietude--in fact, in a very great rage. He had by
+no means recovered his daughter's assertion that she would never marry
+anyone but Charles Heyward.
+
+"Good evening, Jacques, I sent for thee on a matter of great importance
+to thyself. I know thou did'st love my girl Marguerite, and that thou
+had'st a desire to marry her. Art thou still of that mind?" Jacques was
+somewhat surprised both at the old man's manner and at this opening
+address, but replied, "Truly I am, but I fear she will never consent to
+take me for her husband; she hates me, and loves that soldier with red
+cheeks and bold forward air. I wish he were far from here; but perhaps
+she would still think of him and never look on me. Even to-night she had
+not a civil word for me, though I stayed at home to make these things
+for her and lost my place at market."
+
+"And serve thee right. What business hast thou to encourage the girl in
+her vanities? But thou said'st just now thou would'st like to have that
+fellow out of this. So would I, and the whole lot of those lawless
+soldiers. Can'st thou not think of some means to catch him"?
+
+"Well, Father Pierre, I wouldn't like---
+
+"Wouldn't like _what_!" shouted the old man, "perhaps thou art afraid of
+the popinjay in his red coat--eh, thou chicken-hearted fellow? Thou art
+not the man I took thee for. I wonder not at Marguerite speaking as she
+does."
+
+"Those are hard words and I like them not," replied Jacques sulkily. He
+felt the hit contained in Pierre's words all the more as he was not
+quite innocent of fear of the red coat. "I was going to say," he
+continued, "I wouldn't like Marguerite to know I was watching for her
+soldier, as she might warn him and put him on his guard. Ah! the
+hateful fellow, I wish I had my hands at his throat now."
+
+"Gently, gently, my good Jacques," replied the elder hypocrite, "such
+language becomes not a follower of our Lord Protector Cromwell. But let
+us understand one another. Charlie Heyward--(the name hath but an ill
+savour to me)--must be put out of the way, and Marguerite, like her sex,
+will doubtless forget that he ever existed, and marry thee. I wonder
+where they meet? It must be somewhere near here, but I cannot find out.
+Now that he knows he is unwelcome to me, he comes not in here."
+
+"I will try and find out, Father Pierre, and then we must devise means
+for putting him out of the way, as thou seem'st to desire it, and,
+mind, my reward is Marguerite, whether she be willing or not."
+
+"Yea, my son, and here is my hand on it."
+
+After shaking hands over this black bargain, Jacques arose and said he
+must go, and wishing old Pierre "Good night," he left the mill. Turning
+round when he had gone a few steps from the door, he clenched his hand
+and said, "Thou tempt'st me to commit murder, but I'll take care that
+thou doest the deed thyself; bad as I am I could not take Marguerite's
+hand in mine after such a foul deed."
+
+It was now getting rather late, but as Jacques had no business of his
+own on hand, but rather wished, like so many others to be about
+business that was _not_ his, instead of going home he thought he would
+go up the cliffs by a path which swept round the side of the hill till
+it came to fields that led to the Jerbourg fortress. On coming to a
+corner where the path turned up the hill, he paused to look at the scene
+before him, which was a lovely one: the moon was very brilliant, and the
+light of it made a broad pathway across the bay--such a pathway as
+always makes one wish to walk along in the calm to find a place of rest.
+
+Perhaps the dark rocks which rose with a sort of sullen majesty straight
+up from the water side, were more to Jacques' fancy than the moon path
+on the water, for he was gazing intently across the hay at them, while
+apparently the rest of the beautiful scene was lost on him. So intent
+was his gaze at the rocks--on the summit of which was the Jerbourg
+fortress--that he did not observe the presence of two persons who were
+coming slowly towards him. Evidently they had not remarked him either,
+which was not so much to be wondered at as they were no other than
+Marguerite and Charlie!
+
+Suddenly Jacques' attention was drawn to them by a merry laugh from
+Marguerite. On looking round and seeing who were there he ground his
+teeth in jealous rage and muttered to himself. "Ha! now I may discover
+something," and going a few steps round the corner, he turned himself
+into some bushes that overhung the path and bent down his head, prepared
+to listen to the conversation of the pair coming along. Ah! Marguerite;
+Ah, Charlie! how careful you would be did you know of the presence of
+that dark-faced Jacques with his evil designs.
+
+Unconsciously Jacques had placed himself in an excellent position to
+hear and see all that was going on, as immediately beneath the bushes in
+which he had hidden himself there was a large block of granite on which
+the lovers sat down to await Hirzel, who was coming up from the bay.
+Little they knew what power they were putting in the hands of one who
+would not scruple to use it to the utmost.
+
+"So your father is still against me, Marguerite?"
+
+"Yes, Charlie; and that dreadful Jacques is persecuting me as much as
+ever with his impertinent attentions. Only this evening he brought me
+some bobbins which I told him he might take elsewhere."
+
+"That reminds me I have brought with me those I have been making;
+perhaps, though, you prefer those made by our dark friend, eh!
+Marguerite?"
+
+"Don't jest about him, Charlie; it frightens me even to think of him. I
+am sure he would work you a mischief if he could."
+
+"Ah! Marguerite, don't alarm yourself. The worst mischief he can work is
+to bring a shade on your sweet face. All this evening I have noticed a
+troubled look in those grey eyes of yours, which must be banished ere I
+see you again. You surely do not think I am frightened at what such a
+fellow as that can do! But what have I done with the bobbins? I hope I
+have not dropped them. Ah! well! I suppose I did not bring them with me
+after all, but I promise you shall have them two nights hence."
+
+"No, Charlie, you must not come near here again for some time, as I am
+certain there is danger, and I would far rather wait to see you until
+you can come with safety. I feel there is something wrong going on
+between my father and Jacques."
+
+"Nonsense, Marguerite; you really must not have these idle fancies. I
+shall come over in the evening after dark. You come up this path, and
+show the light of a lantern three times if all is well. Then I will
+start from our barracks, and come as quickly round the cliffs as I can.
+You return to the mill, and go to the granary; I will climb up the mill
+wheel. If I remember rightly, the granary window is just over the wheel.
+Then I shall be able to speak to you for a few minutes, and bring the
+precious little bobbins."
+
+"Halloo! Charlie, where are you, and what have you done with my sister?"
+
+"Oh! there is Hirzel. How he frightened me," exclaimed Marguerite, who
+evidently feared everything to-night.
+
+"She is all right, old fellow. Come along, you are just in time to take
+her home; I must be off, or black hole for me."
+
+Hirzel now appeared from the midst of the ferns and gorse, and came up
+on the path and joined his sister and Charlie.
+
+"The fish won't bite to-night, somehow; _they_ are not so easily caught
+by a dazzling bait as some other things I could mention. Ha! Marguerite,
+you seem to take it to yourself. Well, perhaps I mean you, and perhaps I
+don't; but come along, Father will think you are lost."
+
+Hirzel said "Good night" to Charlie, and moved off discreetly, leaving
+his sister to follow.
+
+"Don't forget Wednesday night, Marguerite; I shall look for your signal
+about eight, and if all's well, I'll be round by nine. I will get leave
+to stay out later than usual that night."
+
+"Well, Charlie, I won't prevent your coming this once, but my heart
+sadly misgives me. I hope nothing will happen to you."
+
+"Don't be foolish, Marguerite, but run away after your brother; he is
+looking impatient, and you know this is nicer for me than for him! He is
+a brave good lad, worthy of having such a sister as he has. Good bye
+till Wednesday. Mind, don't forget the signal. Good night, Hirzel."
+
+"Well! time you said it old fellow," shouted Hirzel, "I have knocked
+about all the stones in the neighbourhood with my stick, so was
+beginning to be at a loss for employment. Come quickly. Marguerite."
+
+On the way home Marguerite told her brother how Charlie was to come and
+see her on Wednesday, and they arranged that Hirzel should stop about
+the house so fearful of some violence occurring was Marguerite.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+When Hirzel and his sister were out of sight, Jacques got down from his
+hiding place and walked after them with the intention of telling old
+Pierre what he had heard, and also to reveal to him a plan which had
+suggested itself to his evil mind for destroying the young soldier when
+he came to visit Marguerite on the following Wednesday evening. Jacques
+changed his mind about going in when he came near the mill. He saw
+through the open door Pierre talking with his children; he thought he
+should not be able to see the old man alone that night, and besides, he
+had a feeling which kept him back from entering Marguerite's presence
+when he was plotting against her happiness in such a deadly manner. So
+Gaultier turned his steps homeward, revolving in his mind the plan he
+had laid out which was briefly this. The mill wheel was secured by a
+rope which passed round the corner of the house and into a room behind
+the granary, where it was fastened to a rafter. Now Gaultier thought
+that when Charlie was standing on the wheel, if he could get old Pierre
+to unfasten the rope, the sudden starting round of the wheel would
+precipiate Charlie into the stream below, where he must inevitably be
+dashed to pieces. Well thought of, Jacques Gaultier; but it is a pity
+thy ingenuity had not been turned to better account!
+
+Jacques spent a most restless night, for the awfulness of the crime
+which he was meditating presented itself unceasingly to his mind; but,
+on the other hand, he pictured to himself Marguerite Charlie's wife,
+therefore lost to him. Not only did he hate Charlie on this score, but
+political feeling, as well as the frank pleasant manner of the young
+soldier, assisted in making Jacques look hardly on him. He could'nt but
+remark the different manner in which he was treated. People rather
+avoided than courted the society of "Dark Jacques Gaultier," as he was
+called by the boys round his neighbourhood, with the disagreeable
+honesty of "small boy" youth.
+
+Jacques was one of those unhappy beings who live with their blinds down
+and windows shut, morally speaking; and yet who wonder that they don't
+get the bright light and pure air into their minds, which cause some of
+their brethren to be such refreshing bits in the way through life. One
+of these was Charlie: he went happily through life, carrying sunshine
+with him wherever he went: he felt sorry for Jacques, and would
+willingly have been friends with him, but in their relative positions
+this was impossible. All his overtures were received with decided
+rudeness on the part of Jacques, when they received any notice at all,
+so Charlie gave up, and took the situation as inevitable. When morning
+came Jacques rose very early and went down to the mill. He judged the
+early morning to be the best time to see the old man by himself. In this
+he was correct, for when he got there he found Pierre was the only one
+down. He was standing in the little garden in the front of the house.
+After they had exchanged the customary greetings of the place, the old
+miller asked Jacques "what had brought him out so early."
+
+The latter told him all he had overheard the preceding evening, and then
+he unfolded his plan, for Charlie's destruction, but tried to impress on
+the old man that he had better loosen the rope himself.
+
+This Pierre would not listen to; said his courage might fail him; then
+pleaded his age, failing strength, and many other things; finally, he
+said, he would not do it, adding, "One would think I wanted the girl for
+my wife; no, do thy own business unless thou art very anxious to give
+Marguerite to this fine soldier. I warrant me that will be the end of
+it."
+
+"Father Pierre, thou well know'st I would sooner die a thousand times
+than _he_ should have her, so I will do the thing myself; but how shall
+I give reason for my presence here? Marguerite, for days, even weeks
+past, has been looking at me with suspicion in her eyes, as though she
+divined my thoughts towards that lover of hers?"
+
+"Leave all to me. Can I not have whom I like in my own house? I see
+that though thou may'st not dread other things, thou art well
+frightened at a woman's looks. Well, well, there's something in that,
+too."
+
+"Yes, Father Pierre, there is; much sometimes."
+
+"But leave looks to mind themselves now, and I will show you what to do,
+and where to go. You can well be in the room behind the granary, as one
+or two of the rafters need mending. Let Marguerite see you leave your
+work and start for home; then when she goes to show her light say 'All
+is well,' thou can'st come back and be ready for the bird with his
+bright plumage. Ha! he would go elsewhere and pipe his song, did he know
+the manner in which we are preparing his perch!"
+
+"That is all well; the popinjay can't escape us now."
+
+"Come in, Jacques, and have some breakfast with us; I think I hear
+Marguerite busy at it now."
+
+"Marguerite will not have a welcome for me, I know; but as she is to be
+my wife, she may as well get used to my presence now."
+
+When they entered Marguerite turned round wondering who could be with
+her Father at such an early hour. On seeing who it was, her face
+clouded, and she immediately experienced that same feeling of fear come
+over her as she always had of late when she saw her Father and Jacques
+Gaultier together. She said "good morning" to them, and then resumed the
+preparation for the morning meal. Jacques' dark eyes followed her all
+about the room; doubtless he was thinking of the time when she would be
+performing the same duties under his roof, while she--Well, we will not
+penetrate into her thoughts; no doubt she would prefer keeping them to
+herself, so we will let her, in the certainty that the train of thought
+was very different to that of Jacques Gaultier.
+
+Hirzel now appeared, announcing that he was ready to eat up all, his
+sister included. Breakfast being ready, they all drew their chairs near
+the table, Marguerite begging Hirzel to come and sit near her, as she
+wanted to speak to him. The boy saw that she wished to keep Gaultier
+off, and with his usual teasing way, he made signs behind that worthy's
+back to the effect that his sister ought to ask him to sit by her.
+However, when Hirzel saw that his sister looked really troubled, he came
+immediately like a good brother and did what his sister wished. All this
+was not lost on that wretched Jacques, who between present
+circumstances, and his own thoughts of what must come before he gained
+Marguerite, had by no means an enviable position.
+
+During the repast Pierre informed Hirzel that on the afternoon of the
+following day he had a particular message to send him on, as it was one
+some way off, he might take the cart or ride if he preferred it.
+
+"Very well, Father, I'll go for you; riding is best if I have nothing
+to carry."
+
+"And thou, Jacques," said old Pierre, "will come after thy fishing is
+past and mend the rafters I told thee of in the room behind the
+granary." "But Father," said Hirzel, "why not let me do that work for
+you? I would like to, and ride for this message the day after."
+
+Hirzel said this, because he remembered his sister's arrangement with
+Charlie, and he knew that she particularly wished him to be at home,
+especially now that there was some chance of Jacques being about.
+
+"Thou would'st like to work indoors? Why what has come to thee Hirzel?"
+
+"You had better do what Father wishes Hirzel," said Marguerite. She saw
+her brother was troubled as to what was best to be done; also, she was
+very much afraid lest he should say something to betray matters. So she
+thought she would settle it quietly, especially when she remembered that
+Charlie would not come until she had shown the light, which she firmly
+resolved should not be shown until Jacques was well out of the place.
+
+Breakfast being over, Jacques took his leave, and the others dispersed
+to their various occupations--each of the four with very different
+thoughts and hopes as to what the morrow might bring forth, but at
+present, like all the rest of mankind, their first business was to get
+through "to-day" as well as they could.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+The morning following the events recorded in the last chapter was
+ushered in with bright sunshine, and everything pleasant, so far as
+outward appearances went, in and out of the mill, though some hearts
+were restless or uneasy as to how it would be when the sun rose to run
+his accustomed course the next morning. Charlie was perhaps the happiest
+of all those whose fortunes we are now following. He had but slight
+clouds to dim his horizon; at least his horizon as seen by his own
+eyes. He went cheerfully and gladly through his duties that morning, and
+never did he more fully merit the name of "Happy Charlie" bestowed on
+him by his comrades in the gallant 22nd than he did on the morning in
+question. The truth was he was beginning to tire of old Pierre Moullin's
+determined refusal to have anything to say to him in the character of
+son-in-law. He had made up his mind (and being of a hopeful nature,
+considered more than half the battle was fought in consequence), that
+come what might, he would prevail on Marguerite to marry him at once,
+and trust to gain her Father's forgiveness when the deed was done beyond
+recall. And so our friend Charlie whistled and sang through this day,
+building all sorts of pleasant castles about his future life, little
+thinking what a train was being laid, to which, if the match were
+applied, he and his castles would be blown up in a more sanguinary, if
+not more decisive manner, than these airy fabrications generally have to
+yield to!
+
+Hirzel had been detained on various pretexts by his Father; in
+consequence he was rather late in starting for this important business
+on which he was to be despatched. From the time he managed to get off,
+it was not at all likely that he could be back before 10 o'clock.
+Marguerite's heart quite misgave her when she heard this, but as time
+moved on, and it came to half-past 7, she was re-assured to find that
+Jacques Gaultier was putting away his tools, and finally left the house,
+saying that he had "work for himself at home, but would return the
+following morning to finish repairing those rafters that had so suddenly
+got out of repair."
+
+Matters seemed better still when her Father said he did not feel at all
+himself that night, and that he thought he would go off to bed.
+Marguerite wished him "Good night;" and at 8 o'clock found herself alone
+and mistress of her own actions. She might now have brought Charlie into
+the house, but that she remembered her Father's prohibition of such a
+thing; and at least she thought it best and fittest to leave him master
+in his own house, at the same time reserving to herself liberty to
+control her own actions. This was fair enough.
+
+At about 8 o'clock, as agreed on, Marguerite took her little lantern,
+and going round the path to where they had been standing two evenings
+before, she flashed the light three times trusting that Charlie would be
+able to see it. Meanwhile Jacques had come out from one of the mill
+sheds, where he had been concealed, and went quickly up to the room
+behind the granary, only pausing on his way to tell old Pierre that he
+was there.
+
+We will leave him waiting for his prey, with a dark sardonic smile on
+his ill-favoured countenance, and return to Marguerite, who is waiting
+in the granary for her lover, confident that "all is well," and having
+no thoughts but pleasant ones concerning the coming meeting. Even the
+remembrance of Hirzel's absence brings no disquietude with it. Her
+thoughts shape themselves into a blessing when her brother's bright
+manly face comes before her, and then she bends all her attention to
+listen for Charlie's approach.
+
+She had been waiting for rather more than an hour, when she heard her
+name called softly; then up Charlie scrambled, and when standing on the
+wheel his head comes just half way up the window.
+
+"Well, here I am, Marguerite; I hope you were not alarmed at the time I
+have taken, but I was on duty when I saw your signal, and it was some
+little time before I could get away."
+
+"I was getting a little anxious, Charlie, but 'all is well' now that you
+have come."
+
+"Ah, that is right! but how are you to-night, little woman--all the
+fancies fled?"
+
+"Almost Charlie, but still not quite; you will think me very foolish, I
+know, but everything was so beautifully arranged for my seeing you
+easily to-night that I can't help thinking that some one else has been
+arranging too for some purpose of his own."
+
+"Come, come, you little croaker, try and put such thoughts out of your
+pretty head, and remember I 'deserve the fair' after having been so
+'brave' as to mount this rickety wheel, but I wish you would take this
+parcel from me; the bobbins are in it, which I have perilled my life to
+bring! I hope you see my devotion clearly, eh?"
+
+"I do, indeed, Charlie, and now I shall work all the better and be more
+in earnest; I don't mean you to have all the work on your shoulders when
+we marry; I know I shall be able to get sale for my lace amongst the
+beautiful ladies you tell me of in England."
+
+"Ah, Marguerite, that is just what I wanted to speak to you about; I
+suppose your Father still wishes you to marry that rascal Gaultier? By
+the way, I believe he or some one very like him was sneaking round the
+cliffs on Monday night. After I left you, I fancied I saw him; it might
+be _only_ fancy. Did you see anything of him?
+
+"I wish--."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Alas! poor Charlie! Will you speak again to finish that sentence and
+tell what you wish? For suddenly the mill wheel has turned round with a
+tremendous crash, and the brave young soldier has been hurled down! And
+Marguerite, what of her? With one agonized cry she rushed to the door
+intending to run outside to see if anything could be done for Charlie,
+when she came face to face with Jacques Gaultier! In an instant it all
+flashed on her that he must have wrought this terrible work, and,
+overcome by grief and horror, she sank down in a deadly faint. Bad man
+as he was, Jacques was really overcome at the consequences of his act,
+for he thought he had also killed Marguerite. He called loudly to her
+Father, who came up hurriedly. He was also seriously alarmed when his
+gaze rested on his child lying like one dead on the floor. Between them
+they carried her downstairs and laid her on her bed. They applied such
+restoratives as suggested themselves, but as everything was for sometime
+quite unavailing, a more miserable pair it would have been difficult to
+discover.
+
+Hirzel now came in. He was running upstairs to the granary when his
+Father called him in to see if he could do anything for his poor sister.
+
+"A pretty night's work this," he said, when he came into the room and
+saw his sister lying there.
+
+At this moment she opened her eyes, and he went close to her and raised
+her in his arms. With an expression of deep thankfulness, Marguerite's
+first words were to send that murderer, Jacques Gaultier, away out of
+her sight. Hirzel ordered him to leave the room, with more fierceness in
+his tone than anyone had heard there before.
+
+"Oh! Hirzel, what shall I do without Charlie? Stay with me, only you,
+and I will tell you all."
+
+Hearing this her Father left the room, and Hirzel bent down and
+whispered to her---
+
+"Charlie is alive and well. He told me to tell you this himself."
+
+"Oh! Hirzel, you are deceiving me. How could he be alive after such a
+dreadful fall? It was terrible."
+
+Here Marguerite's fortitude gave way, and she indulged in a flood of
+tears, while Hirzel looked at her with the masculine helplessness usual
+on such occasions, and indeed it seemed to cost the fine tender-hearted
+fellow an effort to keep from joining in them too. At last he said,
+"Well Marguerite, if you don't stop, I'll go off, and tell Charlie you
+only cried after you heard he was alive and well."
+
+"Ah! Hirzel, is that not the way with our sex. Sometimes, to cry over
+the best and happiest times while the worst is bravely borne?"
+
+Hirzel then told Marguerite how he had met Charlie just outside at the
+foot of the lane, considerably bruised and knocked about, though without
+any internal injuries. How he escaped was nothing short of a miracle,
+one of those things which occasionally happen, perhaps, to show what
+can be done when there is the will to do it.
+
+There was an iron loop which projected about a foot from the walls, this
+Charlie made a spring at after the manner of a gymnast; he caught it,
+and although it came away in his grasp, yet it broke his fall, and what
+was of more importance, changed the direction of his course to the
+brickwork alongside the wheel, instead of the water under it. Once on
+the brickwork he jumped down into the garden, and went out into the
+lane, where he met Hirzel.
+
+Charlie did not for a moment suspect that there was anything but pure
+accident in what had happened, and as he met Hirzel just at that moment
+he judged it wisest not to return near the house in case he should get
+Marguerite into trouble; but after telling Hirzel to assure his sister
+that he was safe, he set off to the fortress, little thinking he was
+supposed to be lying dead at the foot of the Moulin Huêt cliffs, carried
+there by the mill stream.
+
+Marguerite now told to her brother, her suspicions of how all had
+happened. He wished to go immediately and tax Jacques with the crime;
+but, in deference to his sister's wishes, remained where he was. The
+noise of the mill wheel turning round suddenly ceased, and on Hirzel's
+going up to ascertain the cause, he found his Father tying up the rope
+in the room behind the granary. This rope passed out of a small round
+hole in the wall of this room, and round the corner of the house where
+it was attached to the wheel. The window through which Charlie and
+Marguerite had been talking was rather a large one, but had some iron
+bars across which had prevented Marguerite leaning out to see what had
+become of Charlie. This perhaps was as well, for at best his descent
+would have been extremely trying to look at.
+
+The next morning did not bring Jacques to finish his work, but in the
+evening he appeared, after vainly trying to induce Marguerite to speak
+to him, which naturally she was very loath to do, went and commenced his
+work, which he went steadily on with, though he was very much fatigued
+by having no rest the preceding night, and now had been out fishing all
+day. He sat down to rest for a few minutes when he fell asleep. After
+dark old Pierre came round to lock all the doors, as was his nightly
+custom. Looking in and not seeing Jacques he supposed he had gone and
+locked that door also. Pierre then went to rest himself, and all were
+buried in slumber, with the exception of Hirzel, who had gone over to
+Jerbourg to acquaint Charlie with all that had happened. About 9
+o'clock, as Charlie and Hirzel were coming out of the barracks, they saw
+flames rising in the direction of the mill. It was but the work of a
+moment for Charlie to run back and get leave for some of his comrades to
+come with him, and off they set for the mill. On arriving there they
+found their surmises correct: both house and mill were enveloped in
+flames. Marguerite and her Father were safely out, but the latter was in
+a dreadful state of misery at seeing all his property go like this.
+Charlie went up to him after he had spoken to Marguerite, and said he
+would try and save the wheel for future murders. Seeing Charlie, whom he
+fully thought to be dead, and hearing these words, the old man shrank
+back with horror. He fell on his knees and begged Charlie to forgive
+him, adding that it was not he who had done it, but Jacques. Charlie
+raised the old man, saying all should be forgiven and forgotten on one
+condition. That condition we need hardly state was permission to marry
+Marguerite without further trouble. Until Pierre had said so Charlie,
+had no idea that he knew any thing of his intended destruction. It
+saddened him very much and made him very sorry for the old man; however,
+he had other things to think of, so he set all the other soldiers to
+hand up water from the mill stream, which was now running for some
+little time. Suddenly a shout from one of the soldiers called Charlie's
+attention, and on going to see what it was, he found him dragging a body
+out of the mill stream. With some difficulty he recognized Jacques
+Gaultier, as it was rather dark just there. Jacques revived a little,
+and told Charlie how on waking he had found the room full of smoke, and
+finding the door locked he broke it down, but the door of the granary
+resisted all his efforts, so he put all his strength towards tearing the
+bars from the window. He succeeded in this and got out on the wheel, but
+directly he tried to get down the rope--which doubtless had been much
+charred by the flames--gave way, and down he went. He had seen from the
+window, Charlie and his comrades coming, and this endued him with
+further strength, but all to no purpose. He implored Charlie's
+forgiveness, and turning over with a groan he died.
+
+Little now remains to be told. Owing to the exertions of the soldiers
+some of the machinery was saved, but the old man never made any use of
+it; he had too great a horror of anything like a mill after his past
+experiences. Charlie and Marguerite were soon married. They lived at
+Castle Cornet for some time, and after the restoration went with the
+Regiment to England, where Marguerite could display her loyalty
+undisturbed. Hirzel remained heart-whole to the last we hear of him, and
+after his Father's death went and lived with his sister in England, to
+see for himself some of the wonders which Charlie had described to him
+in his own little Island home.
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14118 ***