Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-09-09


the welcome sight Of q taper glim.
mering through the glade, and by
It's steady light, assuring him thai
no Will-o.the- wisp, rs sometimes
he feared, had risen 10 bewilder bis
journey.
With new courage and reviving
strength he shaped bis course TO-
wards the friendly ray ;-on which
pursuit we must now leave him m
attend TO other personages In our
story.
CHAPTER XVIII.
eommonweaith amongst ourselves, y0
A AcOmmonwealsh9 kinxdomi And I am
inc prince Of oui-va-ias. your sovereign
And you are an my suA,ss..; 49,.
ssss.s =. <sszs~ss...s 4
| When Cocklescraft asked for God.
freys horse on the night that sue
ceeded the prize play. she render
will remember that, as Captain
Dauntress overheard the converse
tion, IL was accompanied With an
ayowal OF o purpose to warn an
enemy, whose name was not dis
closed. OF some premeditated harm
which the speaker designed 10 In
flict.
The broad arrow scratched on the
door Of the Collectors dwelling.
when discovered on The ensuing
morning, plainly enough referred 20
the fearful menace of the seaman.
and Sufficiently indicated how bitter
was his change Of feeling against
the peaceful inmates of the Rose
Croft. Mr.. Warden attached but
little consequence 10 the implied
threat, nor troubled himself with
measures 10 guard against the in
tended mischief. believing 10 10 be
but an ebullition Of that spirit of
disaffection which the prompt mea-
sures OF the council had already so
far rebuked as TO leave but little 10
apprehend.
Cocklescraft, Immediately after
returning to the town from his mid
night ride, went on board OF his
brigantine, and quietly weighing
anchor, set sail down the river aud
thence across the Potomac-here
some eight miles wide-and finally,
before daylight, made his way into
q small creek on the Virginia shore,
o few miles above Smiths Point. or
Cape st. Gregory. Here his vessel
lay sheltered from the observation
OF the few boats which passed up
and down the Potomac-thus afford
ing him probable security against
pursuit; whilst, at the same time,
the inhabitants of this region were
reputed generally 10 be friends to
the cause Of the Fendalls, and enc
mics OF long standing to the Pro-
prietary. He had, therefore, only
TO make known the colours under
which he had lately taken service,
and he might assure himself OF stout
partisans In his defence.
| On the second night after his ar
rival at this retreat, up TO which
period he had remained ignorant of
all that had transpircd In the town
in regard to the arrest OF his COM
rades, he threw q cloak over his
shoulders and taking o common sail
or cap got into his yawl, which was
now rugged with q mast and sail,
and steered for q point on the Mary
land shore but short distance be-
low the hut OF the fisherman. His
motive for this caution, In not ap-
preaching nearer 10 the town, arose
from an apprehension that he might
be watched by the garrison OF the
fort, and perhaps pursued 70 his
4 N nj hnr
gested by that sense OF guilt which
predominated over every other feel.
ing, since his desertion OF bis late
friends and-what weighed with
heavier terror upon his mind-his
abandonment Of his church. To
avoid this notice he landed near
the mouth OF st. Mary's river, and
proceeded from that point, on foot,
to the town, distance OF some FIVE
or six miles. In his journey along
the beach. he had passed by the hut
Of the fisherman, and had crossed
the creek OF st. Inigo's, immedia-
tely from the Jesuit House over TO
the Collectors landing place, being
enabled 10 make this passage In the
manner detailed by the Superior to
the Lord Proprietary. Upon bis ar
rival at the Grow and Archer after
night, he became acquainted, for the
first time, with the arrest of the con-
spirators. This intelligence hasten
ed him away TO hold a short inter-
view with Chiseldine, by whom he
was admonished to tarry as shcr. a
time as possible in the port, as or
ders were already abroad for bis
apprehension. The advice thus
timely offered enabled him TO effect
q speedy retreat 10 his boat, by the
same route that be had taken ia
coming TO the town; and he was thus
saved from the fate that would have
overtaken him, II he had remained O
half hour longer than the moment Of
the fiddler's visit TO Captain Daun-
trees.
Tired Of lying perdue so long on
the Virginia shore, he determined
to proceed with bis brig. first 20 St.
Jerome's. where proposed TO wait
two or three days 70 observe the
course OF events, and then either 20
sail abroad or take bis course up the
Chesapeake. where, If pursued, he
was willing 70 trust 10 the speed Of
bis vessel 10 baffie all endeavors To-
wards his arrest. Upon the deck
Of the Olive Branch-or, az she has
has now laid aside her peaceful
character, we may call her the Es-
calfador-he felt himself secure
against annoyance from any naval
force at the disposal OF the Proprie-