Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-10-17
THE ROCK OF
INCH CAPE.

In the North sea there Is q great
rock called the Inch Cape rock. 1t L.
twelve miles from any land and u
covered most Of the time with water.
Many boats and ships have been
wrecked on that rock. for II Is SO near
the top Of the water that no vessel can
sail over 1t without striking II.
More than Il hundred years ago there
lived not far away kind hearted
man who was called the abbot OF
Aberbrothock.
ut is a pity" he said. that 50
many brave sailors should lose their
lives on that hidden rock"
So the abbot caused a buoy to be
fastened to the rock. The buoy 6oated
| buck and forth In the shallow water.
A strong chain kept 1t from floating
| away.
On the top Of the buoy the abbot
placed bell. and when the waves
dashed against II the bell would ring
out loud and clear.
Sailors now were no longer afraid
to cross the yea at that place. When
they heard the bell ringing they knew
Just where the rock was, and they
steered their vessels around It
God bless the good abbot OF Aber-
brothock" they al said.
One calm summer day ship with
black tag happened to SAL not far
from the Inch Cape rock. The ship
belonged to n sen robber called Ralph
the Rover. and she was q terror to all
honest people.
There was but little wind that day.
and the sea was as smooth as glass.
The ship stood almost still. There
was hardly breath Of air to oil hef
sails.
Ralph the Rover was walking on the
deck. He looked out upon the CLASSY
sea. He saw the buoy floating above
the Inch Cape rock. II looked like q
big black speck upon the water. But
the bell wns not ringing that day.
There were no waves to set 1t In mo-
tion
Boys" cried Ralph the Rover. put
out the boat and row me to the Inch
Cape rock. We will play trick on the
old abbot"
The boat wns lowered Strong arms
soon rowed It to the Inch Cape rock.
Then the robber with heavy az
,t,,, hat haI hn
He cut the fastenings Of the bell. II
fell into the water. There WINS CUR.
Cling sound as 1t sank out Of sight.
"Tbe next one that comes this way
will not bless the abbot" said Ralph
the Rover.
Soon breeze sprang up. and the
black ship sailed away. The sea rob
ber laughed as he looked back ana
saw that there was nothing TO mark
the place Of the hidden rock.
For many days Ralph the Rover
secured the seas. and many were tho
ships that he plundered. At last no
chanced to sail back toward the place
from which he had started.
The wind had blown hard all day.
The waves rolled high. The ship was
moving swiftly. But in the evening
the wind died away. and thick fos
came on.
Ralph the Rover walked the deck.
He could not see where the ship was
going. IF the fog would only clear
away" he said.
II thought heard the roar Of break
ers." said the pilot I'VE must be
near the shore"
~ cannot tell" said Ralph the Row
er, but I think we are not far from
the Inch Cape rock. l wish we eoulo
hear the good abbot's bell"
The next moment there was q great
crush. "It is the Inch Cape rockr the
sailors cried as the ship gave q lurch
to one side and began to sink.
"Oh. what a wretch am IT. cried
Ralph the Rover. "This ia what comes
Of the joke that played on the good
abbott"
What was It that he heard rs tha
waves rushed over him? Was II the
abbot's bell. ringing for him far down
at the bottom of the seal