Legend of Moulin Huet

by Lizzie A. Freeth

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.