The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-12-09

light and battling sho made but little
headway. II was past four o'clock
when she passed Eraid, aud by that
time the wind had died almost to
calm. The heavens had grown dark,
the air cool and putting, and night
seemed coming on with the sun yet up.
Captain Thornhill gave orders for tax.
ing in the sail, and ere long the brig
lay under close reefed top sail and fore.
stay y.sail.
1t was u bad place in which to be
caught thus. Thornhil knew that he
must be near the mouth Of the Sound
of the Null, and if he lay to, the gale
would tend to drive him into it, He
was not acquainted with the place, and
though he had good charts, yet he did
not feel safe.
Higher and higher grew the furious
wind, until the sea seemed dancing
over the frail bark. The masts groan,
ed aud crcaked, 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 furi-
Gus war of the boisterous element
At midninght Captain Thornhill be.
gan to be frightened. The wind was
not only undated, but the rain had be.
gun to drive down, aud 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, lean you hear
the roar of breakers ahead 7"
| have thought heard them for
some time" returned the Lieutenant,
holding firmly by the life line to pre-
vent being washed away by the break
ing sea.
Aud yet we can do nothing" the
Captain resumed, being obliged to cry
out with all his might to make his
voice heard above the roar of the Gle.
meDts.
To veer an atom would be sure de-
struction. But we cannot live SO much
longer. Every rope aud stick is strain
ed now to its utmost. o. if we had
room TO run off before it..
"But We haven't" was Wooler's
earnest response.
Yet the brig lived through the night,
and when the morning dawned the wind
seemed to increase rather than dimin-
ish. 1t was near the autumna equinox,
and there was every prospect of the
storm being long one The rain fell
in torrents, the heavens were dark, and
the air piercing. Thoruhill had no idea
of his whereabouts, for how far the brig
had been driven by the fury of the
night he could not tell yet he suppos.
ed that he must be somewhere near the
chops Of the Sound of Null.
1t was few minutes past six when
the Captain was startled by loud cry
forward, and on working his way thith-
er he found that the foremost was
sprung just above the pipe.rack. lie
had hardly discovered the danger when
another shout from the poop called him
aft, and hurrying back again sight
met his gaze that made his heart leap
with horror.
Directly under the lee quarter and,
not over quarter Of a mile distant,
was a bold, rocky coast, over which the
sea was dashing fearfully And all
along, too, to the northward, the same
Mortified scene extended.
Good God p cried Wooler, at this
moment, pointing over the weather bow,
" there are more rocks there! See See
We are surrounded |"
The men were all called, but not one
Of them knew the shores.
Bring forward Donald Kenmore p
shouted Wooler.
Ha we WILL" answered the Cap.
tain. And the smuggler was sent for.
He came on deck-he had been car.
ried below when the storm reached its
fury, but he could not tell where the
brig was.
" But" he added, "my child has been
pilot in these waters for over four
years, aud there is not q rock or
shoal in the Sound Of Null she don't
know"
" la ! Donald Kenmore, do you speak
truly now ?"
| do. Until within month she
has been with her brother, aud has
almost lived among the rocks of the
Sound"
Flora Kenmore was sent for at once.
She came up, and taking her station
near the wheel, where she could hold
on upon ooe of the life.liues for sup
port, she gazed carefully around. It
was truly terrific scene On all sides
now, save on the weather quarter alone,
the huge breakers were stretched
along.
Not a muscle Of the maiden's face
quivered, nor did her cheeks blanch,
but boldly she stood there, and her gaze
was calm and assured
Lady," spoke the Captain, whose
frightened look was in strange contrast
with the expression that rested upon
Flora Keumore's fair features, "do you
know where you are2"
1 do, sir-exactlyl" was .the sure
reply"
Hal and eau the brig be saved 2"
All /! sir. In less than two hours
this brig can be run into an harbor
where this storm would be summer
shower 7"
And eau you do II"
If try"
By heavens then do it, Do it and
nnv sutn Won mama will ba yoore