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Once
any ships had hit the rocks, the islanders rushed to steal treasure
from the wreck.
On
the third day of the storm, a band of men gathered on top of the
cliffs at St. Ouen, and watched for ships. Eventually, they saw
five great ships sailing towards the coast, in great distress.
But
the men did not signal, as they could see that the ships were Spanish,
and were probably full of treasure.
But
there was a momentary lull in the storm, and the Spanish sailors
saw the coast. Judging that it was too dangerous to land, they managed
to steer the ships away from the coast.
The
wreckers were furious - they rushed to the most hazardous part of
the coast, and lit several fires, as if to guide the ships to safety.
The Spanish saw the fires and headed towards them, believing it
to be safe.
Too
late they realised that they had been betrayed, and as they saw
the wreckers dancing round the fires, the ships struck the rocks
and broke up.
The
fifth ship was the greatest of the fleet, and stayed afloat. On
the deck of the ship were an old man and a young girl. The man called
out to the wreckers to save his daughter, but the wreckers only
laughed in reply.
At
that moment a huge wave broke over the ship's deck, and washed the
girl to her death. As the ship broke up, the old man called to the
wreckers 'I offered you my blessing and my gold, but you answered
with laughter. Now I give you my curse - within a year, you will
meet me under the waters of this bay.'
One
year later, the wreckers gathered for a celebration - they had survived
the curse. But as they drank wine and feasted, the sky began to
darken. Thunder cracked, and lightning lit up the sky.
The
storm ripped up trees and the lightning struck deep caverns in the
ground. The sea rushed against the land, washing over where the
wreckers had been feasting.
The
wreckers fled, but everywhere they turned their path was blocked.
Finally, they scrambled up the highest point of land, but the sea
rushed upon that too, and carried the wreckers to their deaths.
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