South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-28

On a late afternoon OF a winters
day. during the American Revolu-
ton, rakish schooner and a ma
5estIc frfgate anchored well inside
little bay on the northeastern coast
of England 4 whalc-boat drove
shoreward. young officer scram-
bled up tho steep cliffs and a few
minutes later a mysterious stranger
was transferred 20 the friEate's deck
IIe answered 90 the name Of MI.
Gray and was said 20 be merely a
pilot but he was greeted with sur
prisiug Difference.
For no ordinary man would these
} essels have ventured SO near that
coast OF sand-bars and hidden rocks
The wind was a mere rufrle Of air.
But the iucessant mutter or the
long. slow waves foretold that a
storm was brewing Ever more fit-
fully and family blew the land
breeze: the mutter OF the waters
grew deeper only here and there
did "a few stars twinkle between the
fast gathering clouds. II was time to
beat out % open sea, If 10 were not
even now too late Men swarmed
aloft and hung upon the yards. sails
nuttered out: the anchor was pulled
in. the frigate gathered Roadway.
Then the faint breeze died. The
spread of canvas hung useless; the
currents drove the ship shoreward.
With a roar the wind came sud
denly from the east. White spray
dashed from the bow. Yet the Pilot
paced the quarterback seemingly
Obvious 70 danger. But open water
was far ahead and suddenly from
the forecastle came that dreaded
cry. Breakers breakers. dead
ahead" The Pilot shook off his
trance OF thought. His orders thun-
dered forth. ss,ilors sprang hither
and thither az his bidding. the Fri
gate swung about at his cry Of
Hold on everything" Tortuously
she picked her way through the
twisting channels, i'm darkness amid
The howlings OF the great winds.
She shiver-ed from bow TO stern
as a hundred men loosed the hug
mainsaf. The jib was torn free with
90 crash like a lannon's blast, but
the big sail held and the frigate
bowed like q reed in the wind. White
foam showed dimly upon both sides,
but the Pilot kept the ship. as by
miracle. within q narrow ribbon Of
dark water He took the wheel him.
~lf Time and again the frigate
SEEMED TO have reeled free from
peril. time and again she plunged
anew toward a weller Of white
water. But she drove ever on and at
last she rode the great waves Of the
open sea.
not the storm alone had these
ships dared. They were American
vessels. lurking about an enemy's
coast. This little bay had a peCu-
liar fascination for two young lieu
tenants aboard. Edward Griffith and
Richard Barnstable. Not far inland
lived Col Howard. a Tory who had
lied from America when the colon
lists revolted. With him dwelt his
niece Cecilia Howard. beloved by
Criaith. and his ward. Katherine
Plowden. betrOthed by Bdrnstable.
Iu 81 Ruth's abbey fingered too
Christopher Dillon. q poor kinsman
anxious To better his condition by
wedding the wealthy Cecilia. Red
coats lent a picturesquepes to the
venerable abbey for a small garri-
SON under Capt Borroughcliffe had
beeu summoned by the owner. For
aucht that men knew. John Paul
Jones himself might be aboard these
ships lowering nearby.
While accommodating the next
NIGHT. Mr. Gray and Griffith were
captured but BOrroughCliffe' s
drunkenness enabled them 90 es-