The Penn's Grove record., 1920-08-06

A NJ late afternoon of a winters
D day. during the American Rev
olution. a rakish schooner and a
majestic frigate anchored well inside
a little bay on the northeastern coast of
England A whaleboat drove shore
ward, a young officer scrambled up
the steep cliffs and a few minutes later
a mysterious stranger was transferred
to the frigate's deck. He answered to
the name of "Mr. Gray and was said
to be merely a pilot, but he was greet
ell with surprising Difference.
For 10 ordinary man would these
vessels have ventured so near that
coast of sandbars and hidden rocks,
The wind was a mere rufie 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 a few stars twinkle between
the fast gathering clouds. 1t was time
to beat ,out to open sea. if it were not
even now too late. Men swarmed aloft
and hung up the yards; sails 1uttered
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 a roar the wind came suddenly
from the east. White spray dashed
from the bow. Yet the Pilot paced the
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 al his cry OF
Hold on everythingw Tortuously she
picked her way through the twisting
channels, in darkness amid the howl
ings of the great winds.
She shivered from bow to stern as
a hundred men loosed the huge main
sail. The jib was torn free with a
crash like a lannon's blast, but the big
sail held and the frigate bowed like a
reed in the wind. White foam showed
dimly upon both sides, but the PHO.
kept the ship. as by a 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 q 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. This
little bay had a peculiar fascination.
for two young li~eutenants aboard. Ed
ward Griffith and Richard Barnstahle.
Not far inland lived Colonel Howard,
a Tory who had fled from America
when the colonists revolted. With him
dwelt his niece. Cecilia Howard. be-
loved by Griffith, and his ward, Katn-
crime Plowden, betrothed to Barnsta-
BILE. In st. Ruth's abbey fingered. toe
Christopher Dillon. a poor kinsmau
anxious to better his condition by weU-
ding the wealthy Cecilia. Redcoau,
lent a picturesqueness to the veneraDI'
abbey, for a small garrison undei
Captain Borroughcliffe had been suir-
Doned by the owner For aught thai
men knew, John Paul Jones himseti
might be aboard these ships hoverihe
nearby.
While accommodating the next nigh
.r 60 r-.TxI x,@nA aa-Sr-.1
but Borroughcliffe's drunkenness q
bied them to escape. Griffith was, he"
ever. retaken.
The impetuous Barnstable, frettir
offshore with his enormous coxSw;t.
Long Tom Coffin, had been nearly cat
off from his schooner by an EDgii.:.. |