El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-10
Condensed Nooel Series-One 4 Day
'THE PILOT"
Bv JAMES KENMORE COOPER
CcOndsusatOn by Alfred 5. Clark

ON a late afternoon OF & winters
day during the American revolu-
tion. s rakish schooner.and a majestic
frigate anchored veil inside little
hay on the northeastern coast Of Eng
land A whaleboat drove shoreward. a
young officer scrambled up the steep
cliffs and a few minutes later mys-
serious stranger was Transferred to
the frigate's deck. He answered to
the name OF .8lr Cray and was said
70 be merely a pilot. but he was
greeted with surprising Difference
For no ordinary man would these
vessels have Ventured so near that
coast Of sandbars and hidden rocks.
The wind was a mere ruffle OF ira
But the incessant mutter Of the Ions,
slow waves foretold that z storm was
brewing Ever more tltfully ana
family blew Ghe isnd-breeze; the
nutter Of the waters grew deeper
Only mere ana there did a Few stars
twinkle between The fast gathering
clouds IT was time to beat out to
open sea il Il were not even oW too
late Men sWarmed aloft and hung
upon the Yards. sails fluttered out;
the anchor was pulled in; the fTigate
gathered headway- Then the faint
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 OBJ
far ahead and suddenly from the fore
castle came that dreaded cry, break
ersi breakers, dead ahead-" The pilot
shook of his trance Of thought His
hither and rhither at his bidding, the
frigate swung about al Is cry OF Hold
on everything" Tortuously she picked
her way through the twisting chan {
nels, in darkness amid the hoWlings
Of the great winds.
She shivered from bow to stern as
q hundred men ioossd the huge main I
sail The jib was torn free with a /
crash like a lannon's blast. but the big 4
sail held and the frigate bowed like 4
reed In the wind White foam I
showed dluly upon both sides, but the 1
pilot kept tie ship. as By a miracle.
within a narrow ribbon Of dark water.
BE took the wheel himself Time and /
again the frigate seemed TO have 4
eeeled free from peril; time and again
sne plunged anew toward a Welter 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 That,
little bay had a peculiar fascination
Tor two young Ieutenants aboard. Ed j
2 ard Griffith and Richard Barnsta bic.
Aot Tar inland lived colonel Howard. a
Tory who had fed from America whsn
the colonists revoIted. With him
lWeit his niece, Cecilia Howard. be-
loved by Griffith. and his ward. Eath-
crime PloWden- betnrothed 70 Barn
stable. In st. Ruth,s Abbey fingered
man anxious 70 better his condition
lT wedding the wealthy Cecilia Red
oats lent a picturesQuenass to the
venerable abbey for 4 small garrison
inder captain Borroughciiffe had been
iummoued by the owner. For aught
go 1nlett De aboard these ships how
ring nearby
While accommodating the next night.
-lr. Gray" and Griffith were captured
az boIrough drunkeness en- ]
-n-ea them le escape. Griffith was q
however, retaken- a
The impetuous BarnstabIe. frsttine O
LLshore with his enormous coEsWafn. 7
-ong Tom Cctfin, had been nearly cut Q
II from his schooner by an Fuuiizr I
after. but ne scrambled aboard sSfelv Y
M me drum beat to quarters. While P
'roacsides roared and the decks crew c
z pperE with blood the little fighting
nips met and grappled. Before Barn c
= ule eoula ieza his bearders TO the {
-e-ll deck L111-n Eumblsd into the =
ca shouting Revenge Long Toni I
De lieutenant rushed with his men n
pom the foe It was fighting al close
qarters and the issue was in doubt
Then the drenched and furious ny {
VAN emerged from the sea and with 2
rs narpoon pinioned the English can- Z
am 70 his mast In a few minutes c
ne Americans were masters Of he g
utter. Covering IN that scene III &
looas1ed the victors discovered theI
Ialty Dillon Hho pleaded tol Be sent s
II as a hostage PROMISING ~ -e+r.-- . q
3 person or 70 have Griffith deIirered e
3 his stead {
his word OF honor was trusted and Z
e was sent away with Long Tom ne z
lckily overheard Dillon's treacherous !.
~ % sntrap Barnsta bie's waiting q