Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-09-06
NO. 213..s::: ::
From St. Paul's Monthly Magazine.l g
THE FAIR PILOT or LOCH URIROL.

A Yaehing Episode.
GcosrNUED FROM YESTERDAY. ~
You take it cool enough, at any rate
he cried.
And what for should no. tax It cool.
iyF I'm only common man, and maun
tax the winds as they come. and earn my
breed"
"Can you swim pn @
Not stroke" replied Calum, burying
his face in his hands to light his black cut
ty pipe: while the man at the forepart Of
the vessel, reclining against the bits,
hummed in low voice the doleful lively i
ditty of "Gillis Calum.'
Still finding secret amusement IN the
stolidty of his companions, the young
man laughed again; then, entering the
cabin once more, he reemerged with
Towing piece, and fred two shots rapidly
in the air; when an enormous black dog
sprang upon the companion, and, rushing
to the bulwarks. gazed eagerly out on the :
waters.
Down, Nero, down ~ cried the young
man. ''He thinks have shot something
Ha! the noise seems to have attracted at.
tention at last. Look yonder."
On small eminence overlooking the
entrance TO the Loch two or three figures
We're dimly seen; but it was already too
dark to make out who and Whist they
were. The twilight had quite fallen, and
the wind was blowing with great fury.
Hang off ten minutes longer,"g The
young man said, ''and then, II no one
| comes. we must risk the run down the
coast oas94
The helmsman nodded, .put about
once more and ran through the wind. The
squalls could still be seen whitening the
sea to windward when they struck the
water; but every minute the coast grew
DINNER, SO that only very familiar eye
could have made out the landmarks. esa
Ten minutes passed. and the order Was
already given to let the vessel run witae
Tree sheet, when Cnlum, knocking thA
ashes Of his pipe out into the water % lss-
ward, said quietly. s@9ssa@a asa-a
"Wheest ii minute hear the sound of
oars between US and the shore. a..@
Listening intently all could hear the
| splash Of oars coming nearer and nearer.
| immediately aiterward small boat, row.
ed by a solitary figure, shot out Of the
shadow of the hills. 1t seemed to be
rude cobble, quite at the mercy OF the
wind, but very skillfully managed. While
Caluun brought the boat up to the wind.
the young man leant over the side of the
vessel and regarded the small boat intent
ly. Presently he uttered an exclamation
which bore suspicious resemblance to
an oath, and turned angrily to Caluni.
"Look there Contound the idiots! They
have sent out a woman!"
Calum, who was quite as astonished,
but exhibited more self-control, nodded
sharply. The boat was indeed rowed by
II woman, but to all appearance strong and
young, but her head was covered By 9
dark hood and they could not see her face.
Angrily enough Calum addressed the
stranger in Gaelic. He was answered In
the same language; and almost before he
could say another word the cobbls was
| alongside the yacht, and a light girlislz
| figure, with speed and agility perfectly
marvellous to the southerner, had sprung
on board.
1t was too dark to distinguish her
features plainly. but she seemed fair-com-
plexioned and very young. Her hood had
fallen back. and her face and hair were
damp with spray. Perfectly lost In
the Young man stood staring open mouth
ed, while the stranger and Calum spoke
to each other rapidly in Gaelic.
|
quired, mpatiently. us any one coming
of to pilot us into the anchorage?"
Calum replied in the methodical way
peculiar to him and his class:
The lassie says there's not man In the
village this nicht that can pull an oar or
draw n net. The whole village is ava
after the herring at Loeb Uish, and there's
nothing lett but wives, BARNS and old bed.
ridden men, 6
\ furious squall struck the yacht as the
fisherman spoke, and almost capsized her,
for she had entirely lost way through be-
ing brought up to the wind. Again adj
dressing Calum rapidly in Gaelic, the girl
pushed him aside and seized the tiller.
Halo what are you doin ?' cried the
young man. You're never going to
trust the boat to girl like that?"
The girl seemed either to understand
what was said or guessed at the meaning.
for she laughed. BY this time the yacht
was again running rapidly through the
water, steered by the stranger.
The lassie SAYS" observed Calum
phlegmatically, "ihat there's no better
pilot in the place than hersel', and if We
leave the boat to her she'll take us in all
safe. The tides at the flood, she says,
and Wen hae plenty o water at the mar
rows.
But its nearly pitch dark. and this is a
mere child.
Never you fear, sir. See that She
kens how TO steer a boat, and take my
word for it. she IL take us safe. I've had
worse pilots than this before now. She's {
bold lass, and cannie, and better thar
many men,"
y loud cry from the girl interrupted
him. She seemed giving instructions in
her own tongue. In a moment he ran
forward to assist the other hand with the
sheets while the girl brought the vessel
round Just few feet from large black
mass projecting out of the sea.
That's close work." cried the gentle
man, nervously I'm afraid wen come
to grief"
The girl spoke again to Calum, and he
interpreted.
That's Dhu Spur. she says. But there's
three fathoms water to the very edge OF
the reef. We're coming up to the narrows
now and need every inch o. room.n