Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-10-21

me Seamen nau since their landing
been busy In depositing the body o
the mate 10 shallow grave, ant
had just set up o wooden cross, o
fallen timber, chance found Ia th,
forest Of the island, to mark the spot
when the alarm from the look-ou
reached them. Cocklescraft repair
ed with ell haste to the beach, anC
was soon aware, not only OF the boa
TO which the seaman alluded, bu
also of second OF the same descrip
ton, dimly seen In the haze, at nc
great distance behind the first
They we're both holding their course
towards the mouth OF ST. Mary
river, close on the eastern margin
as If their purpose were TO proceed
down the Potomac. st. George e
Island lay abreast the opposite OF
western shore, and 1t was therefore
necessary for these boats, II thew
we're destined forthe island, to take
o course nearly across the entire
breadth OF the river, OF its mouth!
AS, at the moment when first des.
cried, they gave no Indication Of
such q purpose, Cocklescraft (whc
did not doubt that these were par.
ties In pursuit Of him) began to as.
sure himself that his retreat to the
island was not discovered, aud that
his pursuers were most probably
bound to ST. Jerome's. Again be
cast troubled eye over the waters,
Ia the hope TO perceive the brlgan-
tine, for which. at this ruoment, be
looked with increased solicitnde,
as be had reason to apprehend that,
on Der voyage up the Potomac, she
must pass the boats that were APP
parently on their voyage down ward.
For some time, be gazed keenly
abroad In silence, or mutteriug only
inaudible curses on to delay of Rob
with the Escalfador. and on his own
folly In committing the vessel to The
Cripple's guidance. twas not long
beiorethe boats hs,d reached the Poto.
mac. Here, instead Of shaping their
further voyage, as the skipper had
been led 10 expect, towards the
Chesapeake, they took the opposite
course and stood directly for the is
land. They were near enough TO
make 1t apparent 10 Coclrlescrsft
that each was filled with armed
men, and II any doubts Of their hos
tile purpose had existed before, IL
now became altogether unquestion-
able. fastening towards the spot
where the yawl was drawn up on
the straud, the buccaneer ordered
his crew immediately TO thier posts.
Blanche and Mistress Bridget were
forced 10 Take their former seats,
and the boat being showed of, was
directed towards the point OF land
opposite the western extremity Of the
upper island. then only known as
o nameless sandy fat. thinly cover
ed with pines, but Of late rendered
somewhat more familiar TO public
repute. by the comfortable accom-
mediation with which II has been
provided as o place Of refuge agaiuss
the heats OF summer, aud for the
luxury OF It's bathing.
by st. Iago, we are hotly follow.
edl" said the retreating and anxi-
GUS rover as he now measured the
size OF the barges with bis eye,
whilst they shot out from behind
the cover OF the extreme eastern
point Of the islands and disclosed
themselves Ia full pursuit; "and
with swift craft, we'll manned. The
devil hath sent Us o dead calm, =
otherwise, with this rag Of canvass,
/ would show these lurchers the
trick Of q sea-fght: as 1t Is, we must
show them our heels. Oh. that my
good brigantine we're herel would
defy twenty barges, and sweep
through them oil. Justify, good
fellowsl slacken not: halter and
harquebuss are on our track; we
die by hemp or leaden bullet II we
are overtaken-so pull amain. You
have been Ia as great straits before
and found lucky ending. We
shall see Rob anon, when this mist
shall lift It's curtain: and. once 10
sight Of our good bark, we shall
fight our way 10 her side. Courage.
friendsl"
In this strain OF exhortation,
Cocklescraft spoke at intervals to
his men, whilst anxiously looking
to the rear he watched the progress
Of bis pursuers and seemed to count
every wave that broke against their
bows. Not even his experienced
eye could tell which Of the strug-
Cling rivals In this race had the
swiftest keel. So intense became
decomposition that soon all other
cares were absorbed In the engros.
sing thought OF the escape. The
boats crew fell into silence, and
when the necessary orders were de.
livered they were spoke the low
tone Of familiar couyef4 tiOn, as II
the speakers were afraid hey might
be overheard by the enemy In their
wake. If the concern Of the leader
and his crew In their present condi-
tfon was eager, still more did II
awaken the feelings Of Blanche War
den and Mistress Bridget. The
maiden seemed TO have forgotten
her tears; occupied with o more ab.
sorbing emotion than her grief, she
found herself renovated 10 strength,
and by degrees assuming an upright
posture In the boat, whence, with
an ardent and unblenching gaze,
she kept her eye fxed upon the bar
ges that swept alonk as messengers
Of hope to her delivefance.
Some threeor four miles yet lay be-
tween the parties in the chase
Cocklescraft steered towards the
upper headlsnd Of Piney Point TO
use it's modern designation land