The Washington herald., 1912-04-07
A Tale of Lord Dunmore's War in Virginia.


coast" He pointed with his finger to
the window. Out there, mile from
your friendly light, the gallant vessel is
breaking rapidly into frewood, pound
ed to death by the fury of these roll
ing pillows. And all because our cap
tain was as silly all ass as ever steered
ship, and did not heed the warning
of the becLloning light"
"Her name?" asked the landlord
But here the look upon the strangers
face changed TO one OF quite a different
stamp. He knit his brows and looked to-
ward the ceiling. "Aye, she was a stout
vessel, as stout vessel as ever steered a
passage i'll these parts, and that III vouch
for with my life. Her name, you say.
What does that matter, host, to you?
The landlord was now busy putting
plates, knives and saucers upon the lit
tie table in the tap room.
Aye, It does not matter much, It's
sure. simply asked out of the curios-
ity OF a seaman" he replied. You
know ] live a much retired life here
upon the lonely Devon coast, and
know not aught to think of save Of fish
and boats. Now, would you think it,
stranger, but I'll warrant that | know
the name OF every vessel, lugger, smack
and gallant ship which passes near the
light through twelve months Of the year
mean nothing by my question, in sooth,
save that | would like to see il she was
not one of which | have some knowl-
edge"
The expression on the strangers face
had changed materially, since the land
lord had begun this speech, and, after
throwing off his cloak, so that it hung
upon the back of a chair near the fire,
he replied, with a dry and cynical smile:
Aye, I'll wager you ne'er heard the
name of this brave craft. Now tell me,
have you ever heard of the Red Rover,
of Virginia. my genial bonifacel"
AS the stranger spoke the name of
the fated vessel, the hand of the land
lord shook with such violence that he
near dropped the platter which he was
laying upon the table. He looked tip.
wonderingly, and the color came and
went in his highly crimoned cheeks.
Aye, aye he stammered. The
Red Rover say you. know her well.
She halls from Virginia, say you, and
that is good, indeed, for should she have
remained in these parts and should she
have continued in the trade which she
carried on upon this peaceful coast,
It would not have been well for Capt
Thrace and those who manned her They
were rough fellows. | knew them when
they were striplings in the trade. And
| tell you, stranger. it is excellent that
the Kings officers did not meet with any
of them before they sailed for Virginia,
or where e'er she went. Perhaps there
were others with you who escaped?
Others-l mean-who had lived in Eng
landi"
Not one. was the only one to get
ashore"
How do you know" a..
"She split upon rock, full one hun
dred yards from the coast. She lrifched,
careened, rolled and went down in a
yawning pit of eddying spume. Jump
ed from the quarterback where | was
standing for a boat Eve had five
aboard). But, before / could grasp it,
it too was sucked into the whirlpool,
and went down, down. into the seething
caldron. | struck out vigorously for
the shore. As luck would have 1.-THE
luck OF lost mani seized upon a bit
along with it upon the beach. With
terrific force | was driven far up upon
a jutting point of rock. with SO much
violence that it near stunned me, but
when ! came to and looked back across
the white sea Of foam not thing could
be seen Of any man or thing. True,
twas dark--just as night was falling
and, although | waited, waited for
hours, and tramped the beach calling
out into the wild and beating storm,
there was naught to answer my lone
and cherries cry. At last, growing
tired, and half spent with hunger and
fatigue. | hastened toward the light of
your inn, and here | am, thanks to; a
guiding Providence, whilst all my COM
panions sleep in watery grace be-
meath the Atlantic"
This impassioned speech did not seem
TO arouse the landlord. who was now
carving good roast of meat, which he
laid before the half dried-out seafarer.
for the keeper of "The Stormy Petrol"
was well used to shipwrecked men, and
to those half drowned through i'll usage
by the sea.
"Your story does not surprise me-"
he said, but am certain that if you
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