A Fisher Girl of France by Fernand Calmettes

The _flambart_ which Florimond had seen to leeward of the _Bon-Pêcheur_ was not a coaster. It was a boat from some port of Escaut in search of herring, but it was manned by one of those mongrel crews, who are less anxious to live by their own work than by stealing.

The skipper, an old pirate who had sailed to the four quarters of the world, did not lack boldness nor skill. He had a quick eye, could read the weather better than any one, and managed his boat with singular dexterity. No one knew as well as he how to take up his neighbor's nets during the night, shake out the sparkling fish into his bins, and return the nets empty to the sea. When he did not find the fish sufficient booty, he did not hesitate to keep nets also, from which he cut off enormous pieces.