Year: 1866

Let me listen first
Ned's object was to ascertain whether OF
not the tide was well up to the base of the
cliffs. 1t was fortunate thing for him
that the mist or fog was at that moment
acted upon by the breeze from the sea, and
rolled away somewhat from the cliff and the
beach, so that they could plainly see the
| water below.


That will do = be said Its not at all
difficult descent, sir, if you will follow
mep


Ned had his fears that the officer
would not be able to accomplish the descent,
but be said not word to discourage him,
and be thought if he partially fell, be
would not be materially hurt, as the tide
was evidently coming in. As soon as Ned
began the descent, the dog followed, and
then Lieutenant Tanning commenced it
The fog shifted about in strange fashion,
as it was acted upon by some capricious
breezes from the sea- Sometimes it COW
cred them completely up aud they could
see nothing, while at others they we're in a
tolerably clear atmosphere and could see
the water below.


Ned fell first into the waves and found
they we're not above knee deep.


sAll's well, SIR he said Il think we
shall get clear! Leap into it, sir, now"


d. h. npl tha 1or, hap
lesped into the sea, and then they ran on
for a little way, till they got into sort Of
small bay, into which the advancing tide
had not yet penetrated. and then they
paused.


Saved p said Ned. 'Look here p


"A boat p


sAy, sir, boat! Now for it =


He dashed into the water and drew it up
into the shallow, and in another moment
had sprung into it,


sHold = cried the Lieutenant.


With a sudden rush, from another open.
ing in the cliff, on level with the beach,
there came some half dozen of the pirates
with arms in their hands, and the passage
of the Lieutenant and the dog to the boat
was intercepted. To be sure, the dog would
have made bis way, but Ned Bowers called
out to him, Back, Walla, back !! and the
dog remained with the Lieutenant.


The first idea of Ned Bowers was to
spring out of the boat again, aud rush to
the assistance of the young officer, even a.
gainst the fearful odds that we're arrayed
against them, but to do so was certain death,
and, in the momentary pause that ensued,
Ned found another reason for acting differ
emily from his first impulse.


IL the ofiug, just where the fog was
clearing off, aud seen family through the
mists of that day, was ship. Ned might
not have noticed it, but dull Aash-like
the appearance of summer lightning
from her side.


Ned saw the fash, and heard faint re.
port. His course was open before him.


Seizing one of the oars that were in the
boat, he pushed it off into deeper water and
then, in voice that echoed from cliff to
cliff, be cried:


sHark ye, all-pirates and murderers that
ye are If you hurt so much as a single
hair of the Lieutenant's head, 1 will come
back with yonder guu.brig in my wake, and
not one stone shall lie upon another in this
old cavern Pirates of the Gulf! l know
you, and 1 warn you But let him go now
and -


DO not mind me, cried the young off,
Ger. 'Go and do your duty Denouuce
these rascals; aud then if you can really
find that she-tbat my-tbat Helen Sin
clair is in life, tell


Emotion choked the utterauce of the
Lieutenant, and be paused, and at the same
moment severe shots were fired at Ned
Bowers, one of which narrowly grazed his
temples. The slight pause, brief as it was,
had the effect of letting him see that if he
landed, he could only die with the officer,
while there was just chance that if he
left him and brought assistance, the pirates
might hesitate to add his murder to their
other crimes, for fear of more certain and
speedy retribution.


i will 60, sir!


God bless you, and FAREWELL said the
Lieutenant. $50 at once =


Ned's heart was too full to permit him
to speak now, aud he turned the boats head
to seaward at the same time sharp cry
reached his ears, and he looked just in time
to see the dog rolling down from sort of
level plateau of the cliff, with one of the
pirates clinging to him, apparently. The fact
was, the william had attempted to kill the
dog, but Walla was not to be taken by sur
prise, and had flown at the throat of the
rufian, and thus they both rolled down the
rock together.


The consequences Of the fall were much
more serious to the biped than to the quad
ruped, for the man fell stunned and bleed,
ing into the water, while the dog swan to
Ned Bowers, in the boat, aud was helped
over its guuwale by the sailor


"A good heart' cried Ned. 'All may
yet be we'll =


The Lieutenant waved his hand in reply,
and Ned thought that he saw his lips move
to the expression Of the name of Helen,
and then the pirate hurried him through
the recess in the cliff, while Ned bent to
the oars with his eyes fixed upon the dis
tant ship.