The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-12-01
Pritchard bent over the side, exclaimirg


les. If you've come from shore sine
the lights were hoisted, you must be owl
cousin to the Flying Dutchman. Ar
you sure you're our pilot? 2
I'm the pilot engaged by Col. Jerem.
Garter, Of Spotsylvania, if that'll do, an
swered a very tall, bony, black hairet
man, as he actively ascended the side
Zack Fosters my name, and know
every inch about Charleston, where
was raised
While the captain-reassured by the
mention of Col Carter's name-gavt
hasty orders to cast off the cable and GO
ahead, l, in common with the rest of the
passengers, and the unoccupied portion
of the crew, looked with much interes,
at tie new conner. The latter was about
forty years of age, long and lean of fig
ure, with a hardy sunbrowned face
There was no mistaking the resolute all
and daring of the man his mouth was
as firm as iron. though little dry hu.
NOR seemed to lurk about his lips and
| hardly liked the expression of his half
shut eyes, which had lazy cunning in
their dark glance. Still, though dressed
in black suit of shore-going clothes,
and swallow tailed coat of antiquated
cut, there was something about the look
Of Mr. FAC Foster that bespoke the thor
oughbred seaman. He took no share in
the proceedings, for his duty did not be.
gin until we were clear Of Nassau road
stead ; but yet he seemed impatient for
the start, gnawing viciously at his quid,
and drumming on the taffrai with fin
ger that seemed as hard and brown as
bronze.
1t was An anxious time when the Bon
nybell, under full head of steam, went
darting cut of the bay 1; her lookouts
straining their eyes to pierce the mist,
and give warning to the helmsman OF
vessels ahead while Pritchard walked
to and fro, too fdgety and eager to endure
conversation, listening every instant for
some sound that was to indicate that the
Federal cruiser had taken the alarm
But on we went without check or him
drance and we all drew our breath
more freely as the lights of the town be-
gan one by one to vanish as if the sea
had swallowed them, and the dark head
lands faded away into obscurity. The
American gunboat was neither seen nor
felt, circumstance which | did not the
less regret because l perceived, not only
by the display Of the cannon alluded to,
but by the reso.ute demeanor Of several
of tho crew, who stood grouped about a
couple of uncovered arm chests, that our
pigmy foe would not have found an en-
tirely unresisting prize.
One slight circumstance, hardly, as l
thought, worth mentioning, did occur
before we bad run half mile TO seaward
There came a long, faint hail. from so
great distance as to be hardly distin-
guishable even by sailors practiced
ear, but which was announced to be ad
dressed to us.
Some boat, with a message, perhaps
for passenger. The lubbers deserve
ropes ending for being SO late. Can
lie to safely, do you think 2 said Prtch
ard to the pilot irresolutely, and giving
the word 'Slacken speed 7 What the
pilot answered / know not. | only
caught the concluding phrase
Yankee tricks /; SO cap, you'd best
look sharp about YOU
So Pitchard thought. He gave the
word to go on at full speed. and we heard
no more about the matter.
The run was speedy and pleasant
over dimpling summer sea, with nc
boisterous behaviour on the part Of Nep
tune TO make even the lady passengers
uneasy. We saw several vessels, enl
none Of n hostile character and the voy
age was agreeable and safe hitherto al
any yachting excursion in holiday wat
ers. We were all disposed to be pleas
ed, and the pilot, although sa,urias
aud morose parsonage. viewed through
this rose colored haze of satisfaction ant
hope. became popular man on board
Captain Pritchard pronounced him worll
his weight in gold; for il there were NJ
gales or rough seas to thwart our pur
pose. fogs we're rather frequent, and her
the pilots intimate acquaintance will
the rocks. shoals and islets-many @
which were not noted down iu tho char
more than onoo saved the Bounybel
from an ugly thump against some hidde
obstacle. For an American. Zack Eos
tor was singularly silent; yet there wa
something elephautine about his hig