News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-01-04

active, and several times the coast
guardsmen came to blows with them.
The government was having another
spasmodic trial at suppressing the traf-
fc. The valuable cargoes landed some
where in the Shetlands by a certain
Spanish vessel called the Santa Maria
had reused the authorities. 1t was
whispered that the Santa Maria was
only a new name for an old ship and
that she had been in the trade before.
The authorities were particularly ac-
tive, and a revenue craft was cruising
about the upper islands. The fisher
men were keeping close in shore be-
cause a storm was coming, and, again,
they did not care to be suspected Of
connivance with the smugglers, al
though most of them were free duty
men at heart, if not in practice.
Old Donald Fran was out upon the
headland above his cottage at sunset
with his glass. A vessel showed her
topsails against the suns broad orb as
it set, red and sullen, in the west. AS
the night fell the neighboring fisher
men saw the old mans figure still out
lined against the darkening sky.
A little later the signal for a pilot
went up from the approaching vessel
Some of the men FASTENED to the shore
but already little craft was fitting,
like a shadow, out of the cove. They
knew its single occupant was the dumb
pilot and hesitated. Besides, was not
the Black reef already beginning to
moan? Tie tempest would he riding
the waves ere long.
But fear of man or element ne'er
turned the dumb pilot back He ran
straight out for the signaling ship.
When within hail he sounded a blast
upon the conch which lay under his
hand.
pilot. ahoy. Come aboard" was the
response. and he lowered his sail and
rowed to the side of the rolling ship.
He climbed to the rail and stood upon
tie deck trembling.
Two men stood before him. one a
short, bluff man with the red face and
gruff voice of an English skipper. The
other was a tall, dark compleXioned
young man with rather patrician,
though not exactly attractive, features.
This latter looked upon the pilot sus-
piciously.
who are youY he asked.
The dumb man drew parchment
from his breast-his certificate as a
| pilot.
81 don't care anything about that"
| said the other. who are your"
Il know him, yer honor" interrupted
| the red faced fellow I've heard of
| him. an we couldn't have fell into bet
ten hans, an your father'd say so him
| self if he was here. sir"
why don't he speak for himself?''
| growled the younger man.
"Why, sir, it's as how he can't, l
reckon. He's known as the dumb pilot
| of INST an there amt better in all
| Shetland, they say"
LET him see the chart" said the 9th
er as the pilot was led to the chart
room. A paper, yellowed by time and
| weather, was placed before him. Don
| aid Fran trembled as he had when he
| first touched the deck He had seen the
| chart before.
| DO you know that anchorage, old
| man?' asked the youth.
He pointed to the east of Fetlar
where still dimly showed faint cross
in red. 1t was the anchorage of the
Flying Dragon thirty years before.
The dumb pilot bowed and raised not
| I 4 h. g
'"Take us there, and you shall have
gold" said the other more eagerly.
See, storm approaches. Is there no
way through the islands,"
The pilot marked the passage behind
Black reef with his finger. The young
man looked doubtful. ITS safe, yer
| honor" said his companion. 1--WE
heard of it before" The objections of
the master of the Santa Maria were
| overridden, and the dumb pilot took
the wheel. The Englishman stood by
| to translate his signs to the crew.
The ship lay rolling, almost becalmed,
| at first. Then, with suddenness, the
wind swept down upon the sea. The
| waves leaped to meet it, and, careen-
ing till CLINT of her coppers flashed
above the froth streaked water under
the skillful hand of the strange old
man, the ship plunged toward the
| land. The young, dark faced master
| stood beside him, biting his lip and
| fearing he knew not what
| Louder the Black reef moaned before
| them. The night had settled down like
a pail upon the face of the angry sea.
| The crew of the Santa Maria trembled,
! but even the master dared not speak to
the dumb helmsman.
Soon the roar and crash of breakers
| were beside them, all about them-be-
hind, before
| The young master sprang upon him.
"What are you doingY he shrieked.
| "You traitor! Her keel is on the rock
| noww
The pilot threw him off with one
hand. He spun the wheel about, and,
with a fearful grinding, splintering
crash, the great vessel flung herself
upon the reef.
With shrieks and curses the crew
rushed to the boats. They cast them
selves into the sea to be dashed to
| death uDOn the sharn rocks Rut the