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

haZard.-
1T I can bnt keep my way till
night, l shall bafie these hounds
upon my track" he said, in pon.
dering over the emergency. "a
weary day 10 is before me, and q
long run till night. Perchance, I
may meet some stouter craft upon
the water. some up river trader.
whom / may easily master,-and
once on O broader deck, / will fRht
these landsmen with oil their odds
against me. Or, ct the worst,
shall run ashore, II I am pressed.
and take 10 the thicket, where at
least. till day done, may lie con-
cesled. aud then find my way 10 the
Chapel
In this psrplsxisy ofdoabt he still
parsusd his Voyage. The point
which he had passed momentarily
screened him from the view OF his
pursuers; but la due time the barges
were again seen acrosss the white
sandy hat. looming to twice their
natural size. and seemingly sus.
pended in the air. by that refrac-
ton which, in certain conditions of
the atmosphere. Is often observed
upon low shore.
They come, they come-Heaven
be praised, they gain upon usl" in
voluntarily eiaculsted Blanche, as
she rose from her seat, and gazed
across the extremity OF the point.
Not 50 fast. my merry queen"
said CockiSscraft. for the moment
attracted by sae lively utterance OF
the maiden; they do not gain upon
US. mistress: you will learn pre-.
sently that they must weather the
point by that sams circuit which
you may see traced by our wake.
Thou wilt be q better sailor anon.
Steadily. good ladsl do not overwork
yourselves; we shall make q long
run of IT,"
Now, for some milas. the chase
continued with little diminution OF
the space between the parties. At
length it began TO be perceptible that
the barges drew nearer to the object
oftheir pursuit: the shortened stroke
OF the oar denoted the tagging
strength OF the laboring buccaneers,
whilst the unabated vigor OF the
pursuers showed that the chase was
urged by men enured to the toll of
rowing. Still, there was the energy
OF desperate men In the force with
which the flying band held on their
way, and Cocklsscraft did not ct
abandon .he hope OF wearying
downthestrength Of those from whom
he fed. Another hour, and NE
barges still crept up nearer TO thei.
chase. A death like stiffness preH
vailed on board the latter, broke
only by the monolouQps dipping %.
the oar and its dull jar upon the
boat, as the seaman, with uuyary-
ing time, turned il in the row-lock
and repeated his stroke. Still near
or came the barges and nearer. with
fearful certainty.
They come within musket shotl"
exclaimed Cocklescraft. ITO the
land, boysl We must even fight them
on the land"
Back your oarsl" cried out
Dauntrees, from the leading barge:
back, and lay tol" At the same
moment be discharged a musket, OF
which the bullet was seen touching
the water. 10 short leaps, immedia-
tely across the bow OF the pursued
boat.
A scream from Bridget Coldcale
was, for moment. the only answer
that reached the ears OF the Captain.
ITO your feet. mistressl" said
Cocklescraft, as seizing Blanche by
the arm he placed her erect in the
boat. Fire ut your perill" was the
reply he now gave to the accost OF
his enemy; my crew sail under
the protection OF the Rose OF st.
Msry's. Have your weapons at
handl' he added, addressing his
men; we must cen leave our
boat, and this precious freight to
these land-rats. and take TO the
wood. You cannot call me cruel,
pretty maiden.-for | give you up,
in pure courtesy, to your friends.
You will remember the Master OF
the Escalfador as q gallant who
would have made you mistress of as
pretty q dowry as ever won maid
ems good will, We have had a
merry morning OF it, GIRL would
10 had been longer-but these churls
behind forbid it: so, without more
ceremony in the leave-taking-fo for
I must needs be Ia haste-fare thee
well, grill Even without asking
this favor, | kies your cheek. To
the shore, ladsl"
AS he spoke, and made good his
word by STOPPING over the maiden
and enforcing her submission TO
this token Of his gAllantrv, the boat
struck the sand, and, Ia 90 instant.
leader and crew had sprung into the
shallow water. and bounded to the
shore, leaving but their wounded
comrade aud the maiden with her
faithful companion on board OF the
boat. A volley was discharged
from the nearest barge at the fugi-
tives, but as the bucc4neer, appre
hen ding this, had given such a di-
rection TO his retreat as 20 keep the
women in q line between him and
his enemy. the balls were thrown
wide Of their mark, and the escap.
ing crew were soon out OF sight in
the forest that covered the shore.
Upon the land side ar enterprise
was afoot Of almost equal excitement
to that upon the water. The party
Of horsemen that bad crossed with
Colonel Talbot 70 the opposite shore
Of st. Mary's river. submitting TO
the guidance Of Arnold de lagrange
and his old Indian comrade, were
conducted along path which