East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-06-21
Tale of English Coast Life.

farmer, fine, jovial, open hearted fel
low but the life OF farmer had nC
charms for him; so hejoined band o.
smugglers, who at that time infested tht
coast. In those days smuggling was not
only more common, but less disreputablC
than now Young Brown, who from his
childhood had been used to the sea, in q
short time, by his energy and aptness tC
command, elected warn praises from his
brother smugglers, and was speedily elec
ted captain OF as rakish a looking lugger
called the "Petrel, " as ever haifled q
Kings cruiser. Once in every week OF
two the Pctrcl brought in the much cove
ted muslins and silks, for the ladies, and
the Cognac &c :, for their liege lords,
who, however much they might repro
brate smugglers and smuggling in pub.
lie, had not the least objection to become
purchasers in private of the smugglers'
wares, at far lower rates than they could
have purchased them of the fair traders
as by law protected and recognized.
Among Browns intimate companions
was an old school fellow, who joined him
in his contraband cruises, man of two
or three and twenty by the name of
George Gilbert, the son of a gentleman
| in reduced circumstances, and who, hav-
ing been wild at college-to which, by
his father, at a great personal inconveni-
ence, he had been sent, for he was youth
Of promise, in expectation of doing some
thing good for himself, had in a few
months returned home, and having tired
of family reproaches, and having too much
spirit to wish TO live pensioner on pa
ternal good nature, he joined the Petrel's
adventures. Brown, and he were friends,
yet never were two men more dissimilar
in mind and body. BY the side of the
gentle Jack Brown, the quiet, saturnine
George Gilbert made poor hgure-yet
there was more in him than stranger
supposed-as the smugglers soon discov-
cred. Stern in feature, with face where
upon a smile never beamed, George Gil
bert nevertheless was emphatically the
head of the Petrel's crew. He it waswho
planned for the others to toexecute. When
ever q cool, calculating spirit, keen eye
and indomitable perseverance were re-
9uired, Gilbert was the man who furn.
ished them; whenever q dashing enter
prise was to be carried out by strong
nerve, a reckless heart and an iron hand,
then Jack was truly "Jack at the pinch"
Little wonder, then, il with two such
men banded together in one cause, the
Petrol soon became famous for successful
cruises and hair.breadth escapes, or that
her crew were in fair way to realize a
handsome fortune by their neiarious prac-
tees in spite OF the revenue officers.
John Brown wooed and won as pretty
a girl as ever wore contra0and silk dress,
or kissed handsome young smuggler-
Kate Furness. 1t was also surmised at
the same time that George Gilbert-tho'
he never showed any feeling of interest
when Brown announced his engagement
TO his lady love-had at one time been a
sutor for Kate's hand. Scandal said that
she had not treated the young man quite
fairly-that though she had up to cer-
tain period encouraged his addresses, the
moment Brown appeared in the field she
had sighted Gilbert undeserved---for,
however harsh and unamiable in other
respects might have been the character
Of George Gilbert, he loved her with all
that. decp-we had well-nigh said stern
attachment of which such natures--and
only such are capable. just before she
formally declined his suit he had led
steadier life, and promised, If she would
only offer him an object in view, that he
would go to London, and there make use
of his talents to retrieve the past and
brighten the future. But no; Brown was
handsome, dashing young sailor, and
poor Georgr was a man destitute OF such
advantages, and consequently was Tilted.
One evening as he was strolling home
ward on the cliff he saw two lovers
Brown and his aflianced sitting among
the bushes, talking. Having no wish to
play the part of listener, he was turning
away when he heard his name mentioned.
Involuntarily he stopped, and soon veri-
fed in his own person the old proverb,
that listeners hear no good Of themselves,
for Kate was just then telling Brown the
issue of poor Gilbert's unsuccessful suit,
adding thereto sundry Factions comments
of her own, which went like swords
through the heart Of the proud man, who
heard every word then spoken and never
forgot or forgave one-and Jack Brown
replied with a loud laugh, "poor devil y
From that moment Gilbert hated Kate
and Brown with all that intensity which
belongs to temperaments like his.
Still, Gilbert and Brown sailed together
as before, till one day as they were cruis.
ing off Jersy, few hasty words between
the two led to a quarrel--blows were ex
changed, but the combatanis were sepa
rated by the crew. Directly they land
ed, and Gilbert demanded satisfaction on
the spot, and Brown, after few well
meant bnt vain endeavors at reconoilia-
tion took his ground, and shot him through
the arm. AT his own request Gilbert was
left behind, and the Petrol sailed home.
His wound, was simple flesh wound,
rapidly healed and from that time his
connection with the Petrol ceased. But
he had formed his plan already to crush
his hated rival.
In q few months Brown married to
Kate Fumcss, and for year oil went on
happily. Gilbert, by excrting what little
influence his father possessed with the