The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-08-28

n a late afternoon of winters
day, during the American Rev.
olution, rakish schooner and 8
majestic frigate anchored well inside
little bay on the northeastern coast of
England. whaleboat drove shore
ward, young officer scrambled up
the steep cliffs and few minutes later
mysterious stranger was transferred
to the frigate's deck. He answered to
the name Of "Mr. Gray and was said
to be merely pilot. but he was greet
ed 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 air. But
the incessant mutter of the long, slow
waves foretold that a storm was
brewing. Ever more fitfully and faint
ly blew the land-breeze; the mutter of
the waters grew deeper. Only here and
there did few stars twinkle between
the fast gathering clouds. 1t was time
to beat out to open sea, IL 1t were not
even now too late. Men swarmed aloft
and hung up the yards; sails fluttered
out; the anchor was pulled in; the
frigate gathered Roadway. Then the
faint breeze died. The spread of can
vas hung useless: the currents drove
the ship shoreward.
With q roar the wind came suddenly
from the east White spray dashed
fvsnv hn VA< a.
quarterback seemingly oblivious to
danger. But open water was far
ahead and suddenly from the forecas-
tie came that dreaded cry. Breakers!
breakers, dead ahead" The Pilot
shook Off his trance Of thought. His
orders Numbered forth. sailors sprang
hither and thither at his bidding, the
frigate swung about at his cry of
"Hold on everything" Tortuously she
picked her way through the twisting
channels, in darkness amid the howl
ings Of the great winds.
a hundred men loosed the huge main
sail. The jib was torn free with a
crash like lannon's blast. but the big
sail held and the frigate bowed like
reed in the wind. White foam showed
dimly upon both sides, but the Pilot
kept the ship. as by miracle, within
a narrow ribbon Of dark water. He
took the wheel himself. 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 bad a peculiar fascination
for two young lieutenants aboard. Ed
ward Griffith and Richard Barnstable.
Not far inland lived Colonel Howard.
Tory who had fed from America
when the colonists revolted. With him
dwelt his niece, Cecilia Howard, be-
loved by Griffith, and his ward. Kath-
crime Plowden, betrothed to Barnsta-
bic. In st. Ruth's abbey fingered. too,
Christopher Dillon. poor kinsman
anxious to better his condition by we'd
ding the wealthy Cecilia. Redcoats
lent picturesqueness to the venerable
abbey. for small garrison under
Captain Borroughcliffe had been sum-
moned by the owner. For aught 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 RESPONSIBILITIES drunkenness ena-
bied them to escape. Griffith was, how
ever, retaken.
The impetuous Barnstable. fretting
offshore with his enormous coxswain.
Long Tom Coffin. had been nearly cut
of from his schooner by an English
cutter, but he scrambled aboard safely