The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-07-16
CHAPTER vi.
NTINU

Fairfax caught at once the meaning
of this quiet work, and when Mr.. Yer
non came to the ladies and said: "You
had better go below for a while, we
shall need all the deck-room to work
the Sails" there was more in his man
ner than his wife and daughter
noticed.
Mrs. Vernon objected to being con-
fined again in the stuffy little cabin
Just when she was beginning to enjoy
the sweet fragrance of the open air;
but Fairfax assisted her and Pauline
to descend and then returned to the
deck.
CT wanted to avoid a scene," said
Mr.. Vernon, "and I don't like the
appearance Of the fellow yonder,"
pointing at the sail. "It's no use for
US to try to run away; you see that at
a glance. OF course she many be all
right; but I don't like her looks nor
the place she is coming from. At any
rate, we've got to take our chance"
"Do you mean TO say that you sus-
pect her of being o pirate?"
lit is safe to suspect everything that
comes out of Pearl River of being in
some way connected with wrongdoing;
but still, this may be the exception"
"We'd better get ready to fight
then" said Fairfax. "Have you no
arms on board?" At the same time
his eyes sought the little swivel that
stood nearly amidship. "Is that gun
in condition."
Mr.. Vernon could not help laugh
ing in his beard at the young mans
prompt combativeness and his admir-
able GOODNESS, and he felt a pang Of
regret when he had to say frankly
that 1t would be sheer desperation to
attemptresistance should the schooner
prove to be the Pearl-River pirates
bent upon their capture.
They are carrying at least three
guns" he added, 'and I counted ten
men of her crew; besides, they could
sail right up to to US and board u.s."
A cloud passed over the young
mans face, and a sudden realization
of what might be at hand went down
like a leaden load upon his heart.
The first thought was what would be-
fall Pauline. He stood for a few mo-
ments like one who had received an
almost stunning blow. Mr.. Vernon
watched him narrowly and was in
wardly delighted when presently he
shook off his weakness and exclaimed
"But what are we to do? Are we
to let them take us, if they wish,
without our making any resistance?
For my part, sir, I do not consent to
any such thing. We can but add a
very little fury to their manner of
dealing with us by fighting them like
men. Earnestly, sir, ] insist on meet
ing this matter bravely.
$50 do l." said Mr.. Vernon. "but
the question is: What course would,
in reality, be true bravery? I have
no shot on board for the swivel, and
what could you and I do against a
schooner's crew."
"You have done very wrong" said
Fairfax, almost hotly,' 'to bring your
family into this situation. 1t was a
great oversight not to prepare for
such an emergency"
Mr.. Vernon eyed his young friend,
but made no direct reply to his hasty
words. He saw that he could depend
upon him in desperate need, and this
was the most and the best that he
could ask just then.
.'There will p~robablyibe a light fog
at nightfall; if we can give them the
slip till then we may be able to get
away; it is our only chance, provided
thew are enemies. They have a long
run 20 make yet before they get into
the lake; meantime, if we a pass
the point yonder and find the mouth
of the Rigolets and the fog at the
same time, we may escape"
It was a we'll laid plan; but the
wind was refractory, shifting and grow
ing more unreliable every moment.
Fairfax could not understand Mr..
Vernon's apparent Indifference; it
was so opposed to what his own ma
ture prompted under such a stress
that it e1asperated him, while, at the
same time, he felt his W inability
to suggest anything feasible.
Meantime their little craft had been
set as close to the wind as she could
run, and was making fair speed in a
northwesterly course toward a marsh
point which, in those days. had a
hummock clothed with low, spreading
live oaks. The fog was already be-
ginning to fill the atmosphere with q
thin, gray twilight effect, and the dis
tant schooner's sails were softening
into dimness; but the breeze slack
ened until it could be scarcely felt;
moreover, as they kept behind the
point, even this breath was shut of,
and suddenly it was a dead calm.
Mr.. Vernon ordered his men to cast
anchor, and then lighting his pipe,
he went up to Fairfax, who was