Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-12-10

| within her own heart.
From the elevated position she could
look over the tree-tops and the serted
clouds, as, like battling host enshrined
to the charge amid sulphurous flames and
smoke as they rose ard spread athwart the
sky. She could see the eddying of Hurl Gate
tossing with whirls the foam-caps, white as
the drifting snow, in the air-the breakers
tumbling up against the black rocks, as il
they would hide their danger from the ma
riner's view.
Suddenly the sound of a cannon was
heard, and, as she looked upon the Sound,
she saw that ship-ofwar had hove-to
above the narrow gorge of the Gate. A
signal for pilot was flying at the foretop,
and the hated cross of St. George flew from
her spanker gaff.
With one wild cry of fierce delight, the
fair girl bounded from the room. "L1FE
FOR Hale shall be avenged y
she cried.
What was her idea! Within another
room in the house was the clothing of a
brother, who had long since been laid to
rest beneath the sod, and to this room she
fled, and soon was arrayed in suit of such
clothing as the young men generally wear
on boating expedition. Without hesita-
ton she cut the long glossy tresses of hair
from her head and in brief period, bore
the appearance of a young man of eigh-
teen, not more than her own age. Hav-
ing made these arrangements with rap
idity that only desperate resolve could
cause, she instantly left the house, passing
down the avenue towards the Sound, be-
fore her fathers eyes, he little thinking
that the apparently spruce young water
man who chose to breast such storm,
was the person of his accomplished daugh-
ter.
Hurrying down to the boat-house which
fronted the avenue, she loosened one of
those small light skitfs which are still the
model of the pilots of Hurl Gate, hoisted
small sail and in few moments was out
upon the waters, running upon the last of
the food tides as freely and as boldly as if
she had been in stout ship, instead of so
small and frail boat. 1t was no new
thing fer her to be upon the water, being
reared so close to it, and hundreds of times
had she been seen dashing over close waves,
but never perhaps in such gale as that.
Yet coolly she steered her tiny craft avoid
ing the dangeFeeaas; rocks and dwhiiifI;eels wiiiTII;p
and headed towards the frigate, which i'm
patient for pilot, had already fired anoth-
er gun.
Within less than twenty minutes from
the time she started, she had luffed along
side the man of war, having caught the
line cast out to her, and fastened the boat,
had mounted the vessels side; and stood
upon the quarter deck, in the presence of
her commander.
"Are you a pilot?" asked the latter, i'm
patient in tone as well as look.
81 am sir" was the reply.
"Young for such business. Could you
take us through Hurl Gate?"
GAS well as my father, who has been
a pilot here these thirty yearss" was the
reply.
"Why did he not come out, instead of
sending boy like you in blow as fresh as
this? 2"
Because he is laid up with rheumatism,
sir, and then he knew that | could pilot
you through as well as he can. Sir Henry
Clinton knows me sirr' @
"Ah, does he-well, that is all right
Can we bear away yet?'
"No, sir, not for an hour-till the tide
runs ebb."
"That is bad this gale keeps rising. Is
there no anchorage hereabouts?"
"No sir, not within twenty miles, where
your anchor will hold"
"Then we must go through"
eyes sir, as soon as the tide comes. l
would not risk it yet, for if the current
should catch you on either bow, you'd go
on the rocks sure"
"That is true young man. Let me
know the earliest moment when we can 90
through"
"Aye, aye, sirr'
And while the English commander turn
ed off to speak to one of his officers the pa
triot pilot calmly went to the main gang
way, and looked over the side as if watch
ing for the change of tide.
But what was passing in her heart then?
There were between three and four hun
deed souls in that fated vessel. She had
lost the only loved thing besides her father
on earth, when Nathan Hale was hung as
a spy on that morning. She was not
thinking how many hearts would be broken
by her intended act; she was not thinking
of mothers and sister, and wives in Eng
land, who would soon mourn for her deed
she was only thinking that soon, she
would join him in the spirit land, and
dearly would his loss be avenged. For
her own life, she cared not, thoug ght not
not even did she think of that worshiping
father, who sadly paced his room believing
that she was praying for patience to bear
her loss.
Meantime, there were those three or four
hundred hearts beating with gladness that
they had got over long and sickening
voyage and soon would be anchored in front
of the shores that looked so lovely in their
sheen of green even though the storm
clouds that hovered over them.
At last, after looking towards the home
in which she was born-and she knew it
would be her last look-she turned and
went to the commander and said:
"sFhe tide is slack, it changes suddenly,
and a. we had better file away at once"
Inc commander gave the necessary Or
derS to his lieutan,pt and ,bo ,,oxt voo,,,ont