The Pilot

the thre

invisible and

ottoms through

the loft

espe

g each moment more distinct, and, consequently, more alarming. Several dark clouds overhung the vessel, whose towering masts apparently propped the black vapor, while a few stars were seen twinkling, with a sickly flame, in the streak of clear sky that skirted the ocean. Still, light currents of air occasionally swept across the bay, bringing with them the fresh odor from the shore, but their flitting irregularity too surely foretold them to be the expiring breath of

hrown from both officers and men at their commander and the pilot, who still continued their secret communion in a distant part of the vessel. Once, an ungovernable curiosity, or the heedlessness of his years, led one of the youthful midshipmen near them; but a stern rebuke from his captain sent the boy, abashed and cowering, to hide his mortification among his fe

the officer next in rank to Griffith; "but we should call the hands

ng sea," returned the first lieutenant; "but the land-breeze yet flutters aloft, and if our lig

f they feel the air above; 'twill be a hint at least

uest, and when he received the customary rep

ave you the

sir," returned the sturdy captain of the top; "but ou

e this question and answer were exchanged, and then resumed the

added greatly to his perception of the danger, but who, from pure idleness, made more jokes than any other man in the sh

utenant, "and he does not seem a man to stomach such hints as you advise. Although he l

re disheartening effect; "I am sure it would have been a great waste of time: there are so many charts of the coast,

usly desired, by putting an end to the mysterious conference between their captain and the pilot. As the former came forw

make sail on the ship; the hour h

dly uttered, before the cries of half a dozen midshipmen we

suspense. The silence was first broken by the sound of the boatswain's whistle, followed by the hoarse cry of "All hands, up anchor, ahoy!"-the former rising on the night air, from its f

every quarter so rapidly, that in an instant the deck of the frigate was alive with men. The profound silence, that had hitherto been only interrupted by the low dialogue of the officers, was now chan

cers which is called "idlers" to unusual activity, though frequently reminded by their more experienced messmates that, instead of aiding, t

ng in one hand a short speaking, trumpet, and grasping with the other one of th

sir," was th

" repeated Gr

ion, and the measured tread of the seamen was heard, as they stamped the deck in the circle of their march. For a few minutes no other sounds were heard, if we except

uivering notes of the whistle were again suc

trip the anchor? There seems not a breath of air; and as the tide

tion afforded by the decks of the frigate, to look abroad on the waters, in a vain desire to pier

stood a short time by the side of Griffith, anxiously stu

s the others; but as he answered he turned his face towards the speaker, and the light from the deck fell full upon hi

at is brewing in the east finds us waiting its fury in this wild anchorage. All the hemp that ever was spun into cordage would not hold a ship an hour, cha

boy in the ship can see for himself," sai

rough the gloom, moving heavily under their feeble impulse. As she passed slowly under the stern of t

ied; "but I thought I heard your fife, sir. I trust in

alm manner, in which anxiety was, however, beginning to grow evident. "We are short; but are af

he land-breeze fills your sails, you will wait another moon. I believe I've got my eggshell out of t

rnstable," returned his commanding officer,

words that fell from the man on whom, even the boys now felt, depended their only hopes for safety. A sh

d east-and-by-north, you are doing well, and you can stand on till you open the light from that northern headland, when you can heave to and fire a gun; but if, as I dread, y

ne tack as on the other," said Barnst

from east-and-by-north, in going large, you will find both rocks and points

? you will let me trust to n

ow you the dangers, when you are not able to make out the bearings of the

navigation with a vengeance, and all for no purpose that I can see-see! damme, e

oth vessels that even the rattling of the schooner's rigging was heard, as she rolled in the trough

ssel in such a place as this. However, it is a time to do, and not to talk. But if there be such danger to an easy

ve the advantage of knowing the ground well, and must trust to my memory and God's good

oner was so light that she succeeded in stemming her way over the rising waves, aided a little by the tide; and in a few minutes her low hull was just discernible in

nior officers, in profound silence; but when the Ariel began to grow ind

from the stocks! Shall I tri

aptain. "You hear the question, Mr

tide to get us to a place of safety," said the pilot "I would give five years f

stan. At the same time that the anchor was heaving up, the sails were loosened from the yards, and opened to invite the breeze. In effecting this duty, orders were thundered through the trumpet of the first lieutenant, and executed with the rapidity of thought. Men were to be seen, like spots in the dim light from the heavens, lying on every yard or hanging as

oom was cast athwart the decks of the ship, that served to render the brilliancy of the lanterns

pstan announced that nothing but the weight of the anchor was to be lifted. The hauling of cordage, the rattling of blocks, blended with the shrill calls of the boatswain and his mates, succeeded; and though to a landsman a

the heavy sails flapped lazily against the masts, the light duck on the loftier

"ah! the hussy! she has as much antipathy to the land a

to startle Griffith, at whose elbow they were unexpectedly uttered. "Let us forget, young man,

do well," returned the lieutenant, in the same tone. "Remember, whatever may be your feelin

the vessel requiring the constant and clos

of a mile, fluttered for a few minutes amid their light canvas, and then left them entirely. The quartermaster, whose duty it was to superintend the helm, soon announced that he was losing the command

captain; "he is the pilot, sir, and wi

know you the man well, Captain Munson, who holds all our lives in hi

etent and faithful. Thus much I tell you, to relieve your anx

f that northeaster catches us within the s

bt which way the currents of air were passing, or whether there existed any that were not created by the flapping of their own canvas. The head of the sh

apathy that so often came over him, even in the most critical moments of trial and danger. He was standing with one elbow resting on his capstan, shading his eyes from the light of the battle-lantern

sic, Mr.

. "Nor do I believe there is a man in the ship who would not rath

ting in the Jerseys, before your good old grandfather use

mixture of it in all sorts of veins. I wish I could hear one of the old gentleman's chants now, sir; I could alw

ng aloft; even that pilot, who struts the quar

sound to open a

t the night air carries it heavily to our ears. K

o not wish to know it better. How fast a

sing again; "though we had better anchor. Luf

ntelligence, adding a suggestion, that he

riffith," said Captain Munso

lt. Several contradictory opinions were, at length, hazarded among the officers, when Griffith seized the candle from the lantern, and springing on one of the guns, held it on high, exposed to the action of the air. The little flame waved, with uncertain glimmering, for

ew up and furl everything but your three topsails, and let th

tranger struck his ears so unexpectedly; but turning his eyes to seaward, he sprang on