Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-04-04
A FRIGATE AMONG THE SHOALS.
HY J. rENxIMonE COOPER.


The following extract is taken from the Pilot. The
scene is the coast of England, and the time that Of
the Revolutionary war. An American lrgate caught
by gale in Il audlocked bay and is obliged to seek
the ocean through narrow passage among shoals
Mr. Grey, the pilot, from whom the novel derives its
name, was recently taken on board and no one but
the captain knows who he is. lie turns ont to be the
celebrated Paul Jones' Griffith is the lst lieutenant
The confident assurances which Griffith had
given to the pilot, respecting the qualities of
his vessel and his own ability to manage her,
were fully realized in the result. The helm was
no sooner put lee than the huge ship bore up
gaantly against the wind and dashng directly
through the waves, through the foam high into
the air, as she looked boldly into the very eye
Of the wind; and then, yielding gracefully to
its power; she fell on the other track, with her
head pointing from those dangerous shoals that
she had so recently approached with such terri
flying velocity. The heavy yards swung round,
as if they had been vanes to indicate the cur
rents of air, and in few moments the frigate
again moved with stately progress, through the
water, leaving the rocks and shoals behind her
ON one side Of the bay but advancing towards
those that offered equal danger on the other.
During tins time the sea was becoming more
agitatcd and the violence Of the wind gradual
" increasing. The latter no longer whistled
through the cordage Of the vessel, but it seemed
to howl surliy as it passed the complicated ma
chinery that the frigate obtruded on its path
An endless succession of white surges rose
above the heavy pillows, and the very air was
glittcring with the light that was disengaged
from the ocean. The ship Yielded, each mo.
ment, more and more before the storm, and in
less than half an hour from the time she had
lifted her achor, she was driven along, with tre-
mendous fury. by the full power of a gale o
wind. Still the hardy and experienced mari
ners, who directed her movements, held her tC
the course that was necessary to their preserva
ton, and still Griffith gave FORTH when directed
by their unknown pilot, those orders that turned
her in the narrow channel where safety wa,
alone to be found.
So far the performance of his duty seemed
easy to the stranger, and he gave the required
directions in those still calm tones that formed
so remarkable a contrast to the responsibility o
his situation. But when the' land was becom
ing dim in the distance as well as darkness, anC
the agtated sea was only to be discovered as i
swept by them in foam. he broke in upon th'
monotonous roaring OF the tempest, with thu
sounds Of his voice, seeming to shake off hi
apathy, and rouse himself to the occasion.
"Now is the time to watch her closely, Nj
/ Griffith he cried "here we get the true tid
and the real danger. Place the best quarter
master of your ship in those chains, and let al
officer stand by him, and see that he gives u
the right water"
81 will take that Office on myself" said tn
captain" pass light into the weather mai
chains"
"Stand by your braces" exclaimed the pi
lot, with startling quickness." "lIeave ava
that Lead
TAese preparations taught the crew to eXpec
the crisis, and every officer and man stood i
fearful silence, at his post, awaiting the issue O
the trial. Even the quartermaster gave out hi
orders to the men at the Wheel in deeper an
hoarser tones than usual, as if anxious not
disturb the quiet and order of the vessel.
While this deep expectation peryadcd tn
G'igate, the piercing cry of the leadsman, as h
called, "By the mark seyen," rose above III
tempest, crossed over the decks and appcare
to pass away to leeward, borne ON the blast lik
the warnings of some water spirit.
otis WE'LL" returned the pilot calmly; "tl
it again."
The short space was succeeded by onoth'
, cry, "and a-half five"
: "She shoals she shoalsw exclaimed Griffith
"kcep her good full
, "Ay! YOU must keep the vessel in full con
mand now," said the pilot in those cool toni
; that are most appalllllS III critical moments, o
) cause they seem to denote most preparation an
care.
The third call, "by the deep four! !" was fc
f lowed by a prompt direction from the strang
to tack.
Griffith seemed to emulate the GOODNESS of Il
pilot in issuing the necessary orders to execu
f. this manUuyre.
The vessel rose slowly from the inclined p
sition into which she had been forced by Il
' tempest, and the sails were shaking yiolentl
! as il to release themselves from their confn
< ment, while the ship stemmed the billows, VIII
e the wel-known voice OF the sailing master W
] heard shouting from the forecastle--
= "Breakersl breakers, dead aheadw
# This appalling sound seemed yet to be Ii
. gering about the ship, when second vol
! cried,--
!. "Breakers on our lee bow"
c 1--WE are in blight of the shoals Mr. Gray
h said the commander, "She loses her wa
& perhaps an anchor might hold her."
c "Cear away that best bower" shouted Cir
n fifth through his trumpet.
It "llold onw cried the pilot, in a voice Il
|. reached the very hearts of all who heard hi
g. "hold on everything"