The Shasta courier., 1866-09-08
SHASTA COURIER.
The Female Pilot.

The Female Pilot.
An English brig-of war lay of the south
ern coast of the Island of Free, which is ont
of the Hebrides, on the western coast o
Scotland. And the brig had just captured
prize. She had been sent up after snug
glers, and had taken one of the most notori
Gus of the smuggling crew-a stout, bold
reckless man, named Donald Kenmore. HI
was commander of smuggling vessel, ant
the chief spirit among the contrabandists O
that section.
When Kenmore knew that his vessel mus
be taken if she remained above water, he de
liberately knocked big hole in her bottom
and sank her where she lay. His crew were
sent off before he did this, and they mad,
their escape. He retained light skiff
hoping to make his escape also. His daugh
ter was with him, she having refused to
leave the vessel before him. They had en-
tered the skiff, but while they stopped to see
the old vessel 60 down, boat came from
the war brig anG cut them off. 1t was toe
resistance would be useless, so he gave him.
self up with as good grace as possible.
Flora Kenmore was eighteen years of age,
and possessed Of all the rugged beauty Of
her countrywomen. Her eyes were large
their glances could be. as soft as the
whispers of love or as piercing as the glare
of the enraged lien. She was not large in
frame-far from it-but she was stout and
strong, and her very step was the language
of pride and self control. A nobleman could
have loved most dearly. but coward would
have trembled with conscious littleness be-.
fore her. She was taken with her father,
and carried on board the brig -of-war.
'Ah, Donald Kenmore" uttered the
commander of the brig, as the smuggler was
led to the quarter. deck, "you and I have
met BEFORE"
"Ay, Captain Thornhill, we have" re-
turned the smuggler in calm, proud tone.
=" Twice have captured, but now your turn
has come. But Captain, what is now to be
my fate ?"
81 should suppose you might judge"
was the Captains reply.
" may guess, but supposed you might
know, SIR"
Well, sir, l can answer; you will meet
one of two fates-you will either be trans
ported for life, or be hung"
80 So l supposed" said the smuggler, with
out the movement Of a muscle.
The commander was now called to attend
to making sail. and Kenmore was led away
forward and put in chains. Flora requested
that she might be allowed to accompany her
father. and the request was granted. She
was offered berth in the cabin, but she
chose to remain at her fathers side.
About an hour after the brig had made
sail, the first lieutenant, a stout, coarse fel
low named Wooler, came up to where Flora
stood, and placing his hand upon her fair
neck, he asked for kiss. She started back.
and while her eyes flashed fire, she drew
small pistol from her bosom, and cooked it.
Miserable dogp' she uttered, in a low.
firm tone, "dare to place your foul touch
upon me again, and you shall die I"
" Tut tut my pretty Bird" cried Wool
er; you wouldn't be so cruel"
But his voice trembled, and his frame
shook with the modification he tried to hide.
Il think you will not tempt me, at all
events" the maiden returned, with biting
irony.
The lieutenant bit his lips and his fists
were clenched but he dare not 20 farther,
so he turned away and walked aft. From
that moment the crew looked upon the maid.
en- with admiration. They did not like Wool
er in the least.
1t was afternoon when the brig squared
away, and as the wind was light and battling.
she made but little headway. 1t was past
four o'clock when she passed Eraid, and by
that time the wind had died almost to calm
but not pleasant calm. The heavens had
grown dark. the air cold and putting, and ere
long the brig lay under close-reefed topsail
and fore staysail
At sundown the wind came in from the
southwark and westward, and by the time
night had fairly settled down it blew gale.
The captain tried to keep the brig under the
three sails he had left on, but the wind was
too strong. 1t blew perfect hurricane, and
ere long it became evident that one of the
topsails must be taken in.
1t was bad place in which to be caught
thus. Thornhill knew that he must be near
the mouth of the Sound of Null. and if he
lay to the gale would tend to drive him into
it. He was not acquainted with tn place and
though he had good charts, yet he did not
feel safe.
Higher and higher grew the furious wind,
until the very sea seemed dancing over tue
frail bark. The masts groareGi and creaked,
the rigging grated and strained, and every
crack and seam gaped beneath the fearful
strain. The wind howled and roared, and
the mad sea surged and boiled, until the
whole scene appeared but the result of fu-
rious war of the boisterous elements.
At midnight, Captain Thornhill began to
be frightened. The wind was not only un
abated, but the rain hail begun to drive
down, and the night was as black as one
solid mass Of ink.
Wooler," he said. as he drew his oiled
Jacket up over his face to protect it from the
driving rain, can ycu not hear the roar of
breakers ahead2"
~ have Thought l heard them for some
time,n said the lieutenant, holding firmly ly
the lifeline to prevent being washed by the
breaking sea.
"And yet we can do nothing" the Cap
tain resumed, being obliged to cry out with
all his might to make his voice heard above
the roar of the elements.
"To veer an atom would be sure destruc-
ton. But we cannot live SO much longer
Every rope and stick is strained now to its
utmost. Oh if we had room to run off be
fore it"
But we haven't.r was Wooler's earnest
response.
Ye. the brig lived through the night, and