The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-11-01

Bird, under shortened sail. still stood gal
lantIy on her course. Lille dismounted,
turned her horse over to the care of the
only attendant at the little cot, and repair.
ed to the window with the glass-to catch
a parting glimpse of the little schooner, il
possible. But the vessel was not in sight;
and the maiden retired to her couch, with
prayer for her fathers success and
safety.
Re A STORM AND A SKIRMISH.
Three weeks had elapsed, and the Red
Bird was now on her way once more 10
the little bay where we first saw her. Her
cruise had been a successful one, but she
bore in her secret lockers quantity oi
contraband articles, which the smuggler
intended to. land near by his Cot, if possi-
BILE; though he was aware that the lynxeyed
messengers Of the customs in his neigh.
borhood had long suspected him. He
was. therefore, wary in approaching the
coast. $50
| 1t was the last night prior to his hopeful
arrival-when he should once more en-
brace his dark-eyed and lovely daughter,
whom he valued above everything else in
1 ttiAS WOllA-ouo wiz was oh oAcCuOuatc
and equally loving child TO him. The
Red Bird came bounding on, over rather
rough sea, for the wind blowed violently,
and as the curtain of night at last fell over
them, the breeze came in short puffy gusts,
at times, that sort of wind which so surely
lprecedes southern storm. -
ltcam3, a, length-eyen while the pilot
of the Red Bird had his eye fixed upon
the well. known landmarks by which he
hoped 10 guide his little vessel 10 a point
OF safety. 1t came-and with q, fearful
strength, too! But the waichful commando
| er had already caused every inch Of can
vsss to be snugly slowed, in anticipation
of the approaching gale.
The current setin shoreward strongly,
and after an hour or two of drifting under
bare poles, it was found necessary to their
safety that they should wear away, or run
the hazard of going ashore. Orders were
accordingly given to put out into the chan
mel once more; and. though the wind con-
tinued to blow with unabated ferocity, the
little schooner behaved nobly, under the
slightest possible show Of canvass; and
the commander soon had the satisfaction
Of seeing his craft claw off from the rude
coast in the most admirable manner
notwithstanding the threatening and vic.
lent storm through which they were pas
sing. Il
AS the Red Bird approached the coast,
with the intention. al the proper moment,
to come to anchorage in spot well known
to her Capsain, where he would find it con.
venient 10 discharge the valuable portion
Of her smuggled cargo. which still remain
ed in his vessel-there were anxious eyes
on the watch for her movements. and beat
ing hearts throbbed audibly as she came
toward the shore. Friends were there
who looked out upon the conduct of the
natty little schooner, with streaming and
fearful eyes and there were enemies also,
who watched her course with the deepest
anxiety.to
| "The gale is dreadful" said Lille, who
had discovered the approaching schooner
at night.fall; "and they may not weather
lit.' The Red Bird is moving away again!
Ah! me; nothing but compulsion would
cause that movement, am certain. Still
it may be for the best. -3
As the schooner put about, the voices o
a strange trio of men could be heard q
the base of the outer cliff, near where the
Red Bird had purposed to land. af
s.She is clawing of" said one, Gas I'm
la sinner!' ssa fs5 H.
i sYou are right, Carlos; and she does /
in gallant style. By Jeronimo! There
goes her jib. clear out!" ..
.Can she carry it2''
"She must. or come ashore"
sI should like the latter"
i $50 should 1. But we shall be disap
pointed, certainly, this time"
They continued to watch the beautifu
boat, but the Red Bird put away into deeI
water, where she could also find plenty o
Isea-room, should the gale continue, ant
4 after less than two hours tacking and beat
ing out, she was hull down-entirely ou
of sight to all on shore. 81.
4 The three men near the cliff were thu
advance of party Of soldiers and officer
of the customs sent down from P----y {,
Hook after old Bertram and his clippe
schooner, for the Captain had long beeI
an object Of suspicion; and the men fount
the best shelter that was at hand for tn
might, determined to await the schooner
fin al arrival. which they knew would no
be long delayed. il the toughness Of tn
gale should subside. 1si 500
And they were not mistaken in this sup
position. Bertram was always on the alert
but he suspected nothing of this sort, Of
THE present occasion, and was not alto
gether prepared for any attack. However
we shall soon see how adroitly the SNUG
gler comported himself in the emergency
s We have said that the three strange me
alluded to were a portion of detachmer
of officials sent to watch the smuggler'
q 1ioperations. At the distance OF q mile o
: two below. the remainder ofthe company
some twenty in all-were located for tn
might; and these three had been sent U
the reef to guard another point. At a
hour past midnight, the wind had lullet
an indistlpct light was afforded throughth
breaking clouds. and the Red Bird ha
made the best Of her way. before spanl
ling breeze, for the commanders fayorii
cove, once more. So sudden had bee
her progress on the return, that the drows
Z soldiers were scarcely aware Of her al