Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-06-18
The Strange Pilot.
A SMCoGLN0 ADVENTURE.

"Well, don't know how can reel off a
yarn spun quite as strong as some you've just
heard; but l can tell you an adventure that
happened to me on my second voyage in the
old Mary, to South America, every word oi
which will be aS true as gospel"
And Captain Green rolled the quid over in
his check as he spoke, giving glance around
the group oflisteners, as he ceased speaking,
to ifthe youngsters were daring to question
by . smile the truthfulness of bis assertion.
Story after story had been told by one "old
salt" after another, each one endeavoring to
exceed his predecessor in the marvellous deeds
Of his characters, and now that the most invet-
crate and audacious story-teller of the number
proposed to give true yarn, the chairs were
drawn closer, and all ears were erect to catch
his first words.
"The old Mary cleared from Boston," he
commenced, land after fine run VIC reached
the place Of our destination in South America
The water was so shoal that we were obliged
to lay off at anchor some distance from shore,
and lightercd all goods to the warehouses;
We had an assorted cargo, and Mr. GriScOm,
the mate, and myself had slowed away upon
private account fifty kegs of old Port. And il
was old Port, too my lads; none of your mod
crn stuff that would make shark leave q nice
morsel Of live niger, but the real article,
making you think Of Heaven as it slipped
down your throat" And the captain wiped
his mouth with the sleeve Of his jacket, as he
spoke, while the twinkle of his eye indicated
pleasing "reminiscences; he then resumed
"But that's neither here nor there: We had
the wine on board, and the trouble Of it was
to get it on shore without that cursed revenue
officer finding it out. He was sharp, lynx
eyed fellow, can tell you, and as article after
article came over the side, his pencil and
memorandum book were called into service
Night and day he was on board, and was as
wary as if he suspected our purpose. We
tried to get him drunk, but he only tasted the
wine, and as the last Of our regular cargo dis
appeared over the side, was tempted to pitch
him after it, but prudence restrained me when
consideration for his personal safety would
not, for the Dictator was a stern man, and our
lives and wine would have shared the same
fate. 10 make matters still worse. Griscom
went on shore one night, got gloriously drunk,
and while boasting of Yankee shrewdness,
told the whole story, and swore that he could
and would have that old Port ashore, free of
duty, despite all the custom house officers in
the universe.
"The first learned Of this, saw a boat
pull off from shore, with no one in it except
the rover, and he rapidly neared the vessel,
and sprang upon the quarter deck.
Are you the captain y he asked in Eng
lish, with slight Spanish accent.
"Of course replied in the affirmative.
go You have wines on board, and you will
not pay the duty on thcm!' he said in pleas
ant, inquiring tone.
fIou, th.. thUOdor Io x,o,, Loou, kbok I
exclaimed, in rough way, suspccting him
had come without force to seize the contra
band goods, did not understand.
"'O One ofyour officers told me so, he said,
in the same easy way.
"'One of my ofticers?' repeated after
him, thunderstruck at the foolishneSs of Mr..
Griscom, or the boldness of my guest.
Yes he replied; n party from your
vessel were drunk on shore, and boasting Of
Yankee ingenuity-said you had wines on
board which you intended to smugglc off fyour
ship. There comes your boat, now, and they
will confirm my statement
"He pointed With his finger toward the shore
as he spoke, and l turned in despair to look,
but as he proceeded with his remarks, l be-
came delighted with him.
HI TIC NEWS Will U6 OU
board the cutter, and she will be after you,
and you cannot escape her without aid, and
that aid propose to render you, If you will
give me entire control Of your vessel. Send
on shore letter with directions to your con-
signees TO have conveyanccs ready to take the
wine away from spot shall designate, and
in an hours time it will DO safe. There is q
portion Of the shore entirely unknown to any
but those who have long been residents Of the
country, and very few Of them know Of q Sc.
cret channel, leading from the main shore, to
Q safe harbOr within. 1t can be reached in
another manner by going round point Of
land, but that is full hours sail, and you can
land your goods in that time, and be of for
home. 1place myself at your service to pilot
you through that channel, and will forfeit my
life if lose your ship. My purposes are my
own; if get you safely through the difficult
ty, you shall know thcm-otherwise they may
as well remain secret
.. tell you, boys" said old Captain Green,
breathing heavily, and his eye glistening al
he lived the Olden time over again in inlagin-
alton, "it was an awful moment for me. How
should know but this was some ruse con-
cocted by the revenue officers themselves to
obtain an admission that had wines on board?
What motive could actuate stranger to pilot
US into channel had never heard Off These
questions suggested themselves to me as Mr..
Griscom stepped over the side, and started
back as he saw my strange guest.
"S See If have not spoken truly" said he,
pointing toward my mate.
with great reluctance. Mr.. Griscom con.
fessed that he had done all that had since
learned.
" saw no means of escape; the revenue
cutter would be after the old ship, and although
good sailor, as you all know, We should
eventually be overhauled.
"'Decide quickly said the strange pilot
there is no time to lOse.'
" took close look at him as he spoke. liz
was tall, handsome youth, ofperhaps eight
cen years, and dressed in the uniform Of tho
government, with long, dark cloak thrown
around him to conceal himself as much as pos
sible. His dark, flashing eye had an expires
sion of honesty about it seldom seen in thos,
treacherous Dons, and decided in an instant
to trust him, as in any other course shoulC
be taken.
"'Then send man ashore in my boat with
letter to your consignees, and wo'll pick hin
up as soon as we return. All hands aloft to Sc
sail; work lively, my lads!'
81 felt the greater confidence in my pilo
when he handled the sailors 50 readily, and W,
were not moment too soon, for I could Sc,
the cutter at distance Of three miles, hoistinE
her broad main.sail and letting go her lightei
sails. After weighing anchor We slowly forged
ahead, and with ell sail set were soon rushing
through the waves with the foam dashing ou
from the bow Of the old Mary, the cutter fas
closing upon us. Once, indeed, she fred ,