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

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The seamen bad since their landins
been busy in depositing she bo1y O
the mate in Q shallow grave, and
had just set up q wooden cross. O
fallen timber. chance found IN ths
forest OF the island. to mark the spos
when the alarm from the look-ou,
reached them Cocklescraft repair
ed with all haste TO the beach, and
was soon aware, not only OF the boal
70 which the seaman alluded, bul
also of q second Of the same descrip
tion, dimly seen Ia the haze, at nc
great distance behind the frst
They were both holding their course
towards the mouth of St. Mary's
river, close on the eastern margin
As II their purpose were 20 proceed
down the Posomac. 81. Geornsss
Island lay abreast the opposite os
western shore, and 10 was tberefore
necessary for these boats, IL thev
were destined f,r the island. 10 take
q course nearly across the entire
breadth Of the river. at It's mouth
AS, at the moment when FIRST des.
cried, they gave no indication OF
such q purpose. Cocklescraft (who
did not doubt that these were par.
ties In pursuit OF him) began to as
sure himself that bis retreat 20 the
island was not discovered, and that
bis pursuers were most probably
bound to st. Jerome's. Again be
cast troubled eye over the waters,
In the hope TO perceive the brigan.
tine, for which, at this rooment. be
looked with increased solicitude.
as be had reason to apprehend that,
on her voyage up the Potomac, she
must pass the boats that were an
on their voyage down ward.
For some time, he gazed keenly
abroad In silence, or mutteriug only
inaudibIe curses on the delay Of Rob
with the Escslfador. and on his own
folly in committing the vessel to The
guidance. IL was not long
beforethe boats had reached the Poto.
mac: Here. instead OF shaping their
further voyage, as the skipper had
been led to expect, towards the
Chesapeake, they took the opposite
course and stood directly for the is
land. They were near enough TO
make 10 apparent TO Cocklescraft
that each was filed with armed
men, and II any doubts OF their hos
tile purpose had existed before, il
now became altogether uuquestion-
able. fastening towards the spot
where the yawl was drawn up on
The straud. the buccaneer ordered
bis crew Immediately to thier posts.
Blanche and Mistress Bridget were
forced 10 take their former seats,
and the boat being showed OF, was
towards the point OF land
opposite the western extremity OF the
upper islaud.-theu only known as
\ nameless sandy fat. thinly cover.
ed with pines, but OF late rendered
more familiar TO public
repute, by the comfortable accom-
modation with which it has been
provided as q place Of refuge against
the heats OF summer, aud for the
luxury OF It's bathing.
by ST. Iago, we are hotIy follow
edf said the retreating and anxi-
Dus rover as he now measured the
size OF the barges with his eve,
whilst they shot out from behind
The cover OF the extreme eastern
point Of the islands and disclosed
themselves in full pursuit; ''and
with swift craft, we'll manned. The
devil hath sent US a dead calm
otherwise, with this rag OF canvass.
would show these lurchers the
srick Of sea-6ght: as ID is, we must
show them our heels. Oh. that my
good brigantine were herel Iwould
defy twenty barges. and sweep
through them ell. Lustily, good
fellowsl slacken not: halter and
harquebuss are on our track; we
die by hemp or leaden bullet IL 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: aud. once in
sight OF our good bark, we shall
light our way TO her side. Courage,
In this strain OF exhortation,
Cocklescraft spoke at intervals to
his men, whilst auxiously looking
10 the rear he watched the progress
Of bis pursuers and seemed 70 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
the competition that soon ell other
cares were absorbed in the eugros-
sing thought of the escape. The
boats crew fell into silence. and
when the necessary orders were de-
livered they were spoken 10 the low
tone OF familiar conversation, as II
the speakers were afraid they might
be overheard by the enemy in their
wake. II the concern Of the leader
and bis crew in their present condi.
tion was eager, still more did 10
awaken the feelings Of Blanche War
den and Mistress Bridget. The
maiden seemed 10 have forgotten
her tears; occupied with q more ab-
emotion than her grief, she
found herself renovated ia strength,
and by degrees assuming an upright
posture In the boat, whence, with
an ardent and unblenching gaze,
she kept her eye fixed upon the bar
ges that swept along as messengers
OF hope 70 her deliveraoce.
Some three or four miles yet lay be
tween the parties in the chase.
Cocklescraft steered towards the
upper headland Of Piney Point-to
use it's modern designation-and
reaching this. found o long sweep
of the river ahead of him bounsled