The Press., 1893-08-24
CHAPTER II.

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 He thought of Nell Grd0es' parti,.g toortls.
 The Jackson Holland seemed to be in for a run of bad luck. Thirty-six hours of cruising at sea had failed to bring a single vessel to the credit of the pilot boat, and now she lay within the shelter of of the great breakwater to await the passing of the dirty weather that the afternoon had promised and the night had brought The harbor was dotted in all directions with lights, barely visi- ble from the Hollands deck. The red range light that shone from the top of great sand hill south of Cape Henlopen was dimmed by the driving rain and sleet. And even the fashlight marking the upper end of the breakwater was obscured, though the Holland lay within a quarter of a mile of it.
 The solitary Norwegian, standing by the mainmast, was bundled up to twice his normal size by thickness after thick ness of cloth and flannel, and the hail rattled viciously against his rubber coat and sou'wester. Occasionally he stamped his feet on the slippery deck to quicken the tardy circulation and thanked his lucky star that his duty required him to gaze out only to the south and east. in- stead of into the northwest, whence the storm came. He thought enviously of the four pilots who lay in the hunks be- low, fast asleep indeed, but ready to be out at moments notice.
 The Norwegian ceased his stamping and-shaded his eyes with both hands for moment; then his heavy boots resound- ed on the quarter deck as he ran and slid toward the open hatchway. He did not know much English, but frequent repe- tition had made one phrase almost me chanical.
 Steamer burn blue lightr'
 The sliding doors of the berths below slammed back in an instant, and sec- ond later the occupants were on the floor, literally jumping into their clothes. Maurice was the first one out. As it was his first chance," he had been sleeping half dressed, and in less than three min utes he was warmly clothed and protect ed from the weather by rubber coat and fsherman's boots. Meanwhile Truxill had opened the door leading into the forecastle.
 Tumble into your duds, bullies, and over with that skiff!' he shouts, almost needlessly, for the men are on deck be- fore he is. The skiff lies bottom up to protect it from the sleet. In moment it is turned over, the tackle adjusted, and the light boat is hoisted up and dropped into the water alongside. Live ly now, boysv' he cries. The little cabin boy tumbles up the stairs with Aurand's valise and hands it over to the Norwe- gian. who is in the skiff, while the cook at the same moment passes him lighted lantern Truxill, only half dressed, seizes a torch, which he lights and holds high in air in answer to the steamers signal By it's glare he sees Maurice jump int the skiff. It is cast loose in an instant and is out of sight and hearing before the torch has burned itself out.
 The light skiff dashed through the gap between the breakwater and the ice breaker into the open bay. They might have had comparatively smooth water for nearly mile below by keeping in side, but the great pile of stone would have cut off their view seaward. They were barely outside when another blue light fared out down between the capes
 Pull away, bulliesp' cried Maurice tc the seamen; i've got her bearings nowr He stood up and waved the lantern tc and fro in answer to the signal.
 The waves grew higher and fiercer as they sped seaward, covering them witk spray at every stroke. The sleet rattled on their stiff rubber coats and lashed the faces of the rowers whenever they ven tured to look up. Wind and tide were in their favor The two or three miles that lay between their anchorage and the place where the signal had flashed were quickly covered.
 'It's hard on you fellows that the oth CTS can't leave the Holland tonight" re marked Maurice as they neared thei1 goal. But you're no worse off than the boys on the New York pilotboats They never send more than two men in thei1 skiffs. They say there is less loss if the skif goes adrift. But you'll be all right I'll tow you up the bay piece, so yor gan run down to the breakwater with the wind" He stood up in the boat, which rocked and danced beneath his feet anG looked around.
 "Where in thunder is that steamerY he muttel ed. ''They ought to be burn ing another light about now. Lie to- boys" He swung the lantern again keeping his feet with difficulty.
 For some minutes they waited while the pilot gazed anxiously out to sea. Al ready he was wet through and chilled and longed to be landed safely in warm and sheltered wheelhouse. Then his thoughts were broken off by cry from one of the seamen. whose faces were turned up the bay.
 Steamers behind us!'' It was the American sailor. His voice sounded strained and hoarse
 It was enough. Maurice turned in ar instant ard caught glimpse of an ex piring blue light nearly mile back oi | them.
 Come about, Gays" he cried hastily ''we've overshot her. No time to lose. He used the steering oar to help whir the boat around, and the men bent t, their oars. The wind fought agains them now, and the great waves buffetet them rudely. In spite of the cold tn, precipitation streamed down the faces O the rowers. Maurice wa, ed his 1anterl again.
 "The fools must have kept on afte they signaled us, instead of stopping where they were. Serve lem right if the, ran aground" The men made no an swer. Such a pull as they had befor,