The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1883-01-19

AT Suh0OWn Jne wind cana IN from the
southwark and westward and by the time
night had fairly settled down it blew gale
The Captain tried for awhile to keep to
the wind uuder the three sails he had left on,
but the wind was too strong. 1t blew a
perfect hurricane and the sea began to rise
and break over the deck and ere long it be-
came evident that one of the topsails must
be taken off
1t was bad place in which to be caught
thus. Thornhill knew he must be near the
mouth Of the Sound of Null, and il he lay TO-
the gale would tend to drive him up 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 very sea seemed dancing over the
frail bark. The.ma sts groaned and cracked,
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 a fu-
TiOus war of the frantic elements.
At midnight Captain. ThOrnhiIl began to
be frightened. The wind was not only un-
abated, but the rain had 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 you not hear the roar of
breakers %
81 have thought I heard them for some
time, returned the lieutenant holding
firmly by the lifeline to prevent being wash
ed by the breaking sea.
"And yet we cannot do anything" the
captain resumed, being obliged to cry out
with all his strength to make his voice sound
above the roar Of the elements. ''To veer
an atom would be sure destruction But we
cannot live much longer. Every rope and
stick are strained now to their utmost. Oh,
If we had room to run off before it."
-, - But we haven't" was the Heutenant's re-
spouse.
Yet the brig lived through the night, and
when morning dawned, the wind seemed to
increase rather than diminish It was near
the autumHal equinox, and there was every
prospect that the storm would be a long
one The rain still fell in torrents, and the
heavens were black and the air dark
Th0rnhill had no idea Of his whereabouts,
or how far the brig had been driven during
the night he could not tell yet he supposed
he must be somewhere near the chops Of the
Sound Of the Null
1t was fe w minutes past six when the
captain was startled by a loud cry forward
and on working bis way thither he found
that the foremast was sprung just above the
pike-rack. He had hardly discovered the
danger when another shout from the poop
called him aft, and hurrying back again, a
sight met his gaze that made his heart lean
with horror
Directly under the lee-quarter. and not
over quarter of a mile distant. was bold
rocky coast, over which the sea was dashing
fearfully And all along to the noTthward
the same horrid scene extended.
GOOD God - cried Wooler, at this mo-
ment, pointing over the weather bow, there
are more rocks there! See seei We are
surrounded %
The men were called, but not one of them
knew the shores.
Bring up Donald Kenmore p cried
Wooler.
Ha! We WILL" answered the captain.
And the smuggler was sent for.
The old man came on deck-he had been
carried below when the storm had reached
its fury-but he could not tell where the
/ brig vas
But" he added, my child has been
pilot IN these waters for over four years and
/ there's not rock nor shoal in the Sound
/ O Null she don't know.
Har Donald Kenmore, do you speak
/ truly now 2''
Until within month she has been with
/ her brother, and has almost lived amopaStb the
/ rocks and shoals or 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 one of
the life-lines for support she gazed carefully
around. 1t was truly terrible scene. On
all hands now, save on the weather-uuarter
alone. the huge breakers were piled up and
stretched along NOta muscle Of the maiden
quiyered, nor did her cheek blapch but
boldly she stood there, and her gaze was
calm and assured.
Lady, spoke the captain, whose fright
ened look was in strange contrast with the
eNP'eSsloh 1hat rested upon Flora Kenmore's
l"lI features. do you know where we are p
do sir-exactly - was the sure reply
Tia and can the brig be saved %
Ay' sir. In less than two hours this brie
can be run into harbor where this storm
Wouid be but summer shower"
" And can you do it?''
elf try
by heavens, then do 1t! Do it and any
sum you shall name shall be yours P'
Hold" said the noble girl. "I want
not your gold but you have thing which
II you give it back to me, shall secure voul
salvation"
"What ?"
ny fatheri Give me my father. and Won
shall be saved''
But he is states prisoner have no
right to give him up"
Bus you have the power, sir. You took
hIm' and you can give him up."
but consider, my girl. Your own life Is
at VS'ake. II we go you must 90 with us
1 know it sir. and am prepared for it
WHAT'S my life worth to me if nv father
must Oe - but You may depend on this.
can save you. Give me back nav father
swear that we both may go away free and
unuhoiested when your anchors are safely
down, and you shall be saved. IF Won will
uo0 40 TINS, then your hours are numbered
hno" where you are, and without the aid
oi one who knows these rocks, this yesse-
cannot ride one hour longer rP'
give him up - cried Wooler. whose face
was pale as death. Be sure Won von,t
bend her an atom"
The captain dare hesitate no lenoer The
N nTf1~