"There is a strange sail on our weather-quarter, sir," said Tom Rockets,
rousing me up. "Grampus don't like her looks."
Nor did I, when a moment afterwards I stood on deck and made her out
through the pale light of a grey cold November morning. "Make all
sail!" I sung out. "If she is an enemy, the sooner we are out of the
way the better." It was blowing fresh, but I cracked on the little
schooner as much as she could carry, and away we went staggering under
it with the wind on our larboard quarter. The stranger, apparently, had
not made us out, and I was in hopes that we might escape observation.
The increased motion, I suppose, awoke the ladies, and to my surprise
before long they came on deck.
"What is the matter, Mr Hurry?" asked Mrs Tarleton. "It appeared in
the cabin as if there was a fearful gale blowing."
"You see that the weather is not so very bad," I answered evasively,
"and I am naturally anxious on your account to reach port."
I never could act the hypocrite, and the lady was not satisfied. As her
quick-sighted eye ranged round the horizon she caught sight of the
stranger.
"What is that vessel out there?" she asked.
"That I cannot exactly say, madam," I answered. "She may be a friend or
she may be a foe. Under present circumstances I think it best to avoid
her."
"If she is an American vessel her captain would never think of detaining
you; and if she is English, you at all events need not fear her," she
replied quickly.
"I would rather not run the risk of detention," said I. "It is
possible, should she be an American vessel, that her people may not
believe our story."
"Well, sir, I have no doubt that you act for the best," answered the
lady, evidently not satisfied as she saw the vessel tearing furiously
through the water.
Her niece had said nothing, but seemed rather to enjoy the rapid motion
and the fresh air.
While they were still on deck, the stranger caught sight of us and bore
up in chase. Mrs Tarleton soon discovered what had occurred, and was
constantly watching the stranger.
I kept away a little, and, trusting to the Pigot's superior sailing
qualities, I had little fear of continuing ahead of her during the day,
and of escaping her observation in the night. The state of the weather,
however, gave me most concern. I saw Grampus looking up anxiously at
our spars, and ever and anon at the heavy seas which came up hissing and
foaming astern. One of our best hands was at the helm, but he came aft
and stood by him. I caught his eye as he was glancing over his
shoulder.
"Beg pardon, sir; the more haste the worst speed, Mr Hurry, you know,"
said he in a low voice, thinking the ladies would not hear him.
Thick heavy clouds were rushing up, one past the other, rapidly astern
of us. I saw that the time had indeed come to shorten sail if I would
not run the risk of losing my masts, or, perhaps, of broaching-to and
capsizing. I entreated my passengers in a few hurried words to go below
to be out of the way of danger. Mrs Tarleton seemed inclined to stay.
I was obliged to be somewhat peremptory, and I did not lose her good
opinion by being so.
"Indeed, madam, there is considerable danger for you on deck. I cannot
allow you to run it. You must go."
She gave me a look of surprise, and, without another word, allowed me to
conduct her and her niece to the companion.
In the meantime the crew had come aft to take in the mainsail and
gaff-topsail. I next had the fore-topgallant-sail and foresail off her.
This was done only just in time, before the squall came down on us and
I had to lower away and close-reef the foresail. The wind had at the
same time caught the ship. I took her to be a flush-decked vessel, a
corvette probably. She had been looking at us and not thinking of
herself probably, for I soon discovered that several of her sails had
been blown away, and I suspected that she had received further damage.
We at all events benefited by her misfortune, and kept well ahead of
her. Still she continued the chase. I felt the truth of the saying
that it is much pleasanter chasing than being chased. All day long we
ran on, plunging into the seas, and wet from the foam which blew off
them over our counter. More than once I thought we should have been
pooped. The vessel also began again to leak. Night came on; the leak
increased. We lost sight of our pursuer, but our condition became very
trying. I endeavoured to make the best of matters, but my anxiety
increased. We were off the northern coast of New Jersey. The wind was
veering round more to the eastward, and we were getting a rock-bound
shore under our lee. There were harbours I might run into, but the
thick weather had prevented me from taking any observations, and though
by my log I could tell pretty well how far we had run, yet I could not
be certain, and, unless from dire necessity, I was unwilling to attempt
to make any port short of the Delaware. At times the wind hauled a
little more round to the northward, and as it did so my hopes
proportionally rose of being able to keep off shore.
Only for a moment did I at times leave the deck to speak a word of
comfort to my passengers. Mrs Tarleton was, I saw, fully aware of our
danger. I think her niece suspected it, but if she did she completely
concealed all signs of fear. On one occasion, when I entered the cabin,
they rose from their knees. Together they had been offering up prayers
to Him who alone can quell the tempest, for our safety. Their last
words reached my ears. I stood at the door and humbly joined in their
petition. I quickly had to return on deck. I had been obliged, when
the wind shifted, to get some after-sail on the vessel. She heeled over
fearfully, yet I knew must be making great lee-way. I could not venture
to take any canvas off her.
"What do you think of it, Grampus?" said I, after some time.
"Why, sir, I don't like it," was his unsatisfactory reply.
I did not again ask him his opinion. The sea kept flying over us, the
night grew darker and darker, and the gale blew stronger and stronger.
The leak was increasing. Two hands were kept constantly at the pumps.
I wished for Mr Saul Cobb and his companions. Nothing could be well
worse. Still I never for a moment lost courage. I felt sure that the
prayers of those below would not be uttered in vain. The hours wore
away. I kept a bright look-out on the starboard bow to discover
breakers, should they be near, while my ears were constantly awake to
detect their terror-inspiring sound. How I longed for daylight! I
dared not lay-to: I dared not shorten sail. I could only stand on with
any prospect of safety. The gale increased: the sea was constantly
making a clean breach over the deck. All hands had to hold on fast, or
we should have been washed overboard. At the same time the water was
gaining terribly on us. A new danger threatened the schooner; she might
founder before we could gain a harbour, even if she escaped shipwreck.
A considerable part of the New Jersey shore consists of long, low, sandy
beaches, which in thick weather can scarcely be seen till a vessel is
nearly on them. I judged by my calculations that we were by this time
close in with Squan Beach, or Island Beach or Long Beach. My chart told
me that there was a passage between the two latter, and several inlets
to the south of the last, up which I could run and be safe; but to find
them in the dark was impossible.
"Grampus! listen! what is that sound?" said I.
"Breakers, sir!" he answered in a slow way; "there's no doubt about it.
But we shall have daylight soon. Ah, look-out, there sir, there it is!"
I looked seaward, and a pale streak was just appearing in the eastern
sky. It grew wider and wider, and at length darkness gave way to the
rays of the yet hidden sun. The prospect revealed to us was not
cheering. The sea broke as heavily as ever, and not a mile to leeward
of us a terrific surf rolled over a long white sandy beach. As I
watched the foaming broken mass of waters as they rolled furiously up to
it, I felt convinced that, should the schooner once get within their
power, not a human being on board would escape. Not a break was to be
seen. The wind was dead on-shore, blowing with a determined heavy
pressure; and the little vessel, though she made fair headway, was
surely drifting nearer and nearer to destruction. Oh, what agony of
mind I suffered! I cared not for myself, but I thought of that fair
girl and her lovely relative doomed to so hard a fate. I called Grampus
to me and asked him if he could advise anything. He shook his head--
"You've done all that a man can do, Mr Hurry," was his answer.
"Then I must prepare those two poor ladies for their inevitable fate," I
thought to myself.
Before going into their cabin, I took another look at the chart which I
kept outside it. At the south end of Long Beach was a passage, I found,
leading into Little Egg Harbour.
Grampus hailed me. My heart bounded into my mouth again.
"There is an opening, sir. I make it out clearly. Keep her close and
by, my lad!" he sang out to the man at the helm. "If we just clear the
point we shall do it."
I held my breath. The schooner dashed on, half buried by the seas. She
was almost among the breakers--then broad on our bow appeared an
opening--heavy rollers went foaming over it.
"Up with the helm! In with the main-staysail! Square away the
fore-yard! Hold on for your lives!"
I rapidly uttered these orders, one after the other. Away before the
gale we flew, the sea breaking high on either hand of us. One roller
after the other came hurrying on, but we rose to their summits, and then
with one more frantic plunge we sank down into smooth water, and in
another moment, rounding the vessel to, I let go the anchor and we rode
safely under the lee of the sand-bank.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1. I had at first thought, from what Miss Carlyon said, that she
was herself warmly attached to Royalist principles; and so in truth she
was, but love of country and love of freedom, with a clear sense of
justice, had overpowered them, and although she did not possess the
enthusiasm of her aunt, she was still a strong advocate of the popular
cause. Had she indeed the bias I originally supposed, her aunt would
have thrown all her influence to prevent me from making any further
advance than I had already done, and I am certain that the young lady
would not have acted in opposition to the wishes and advice of her
family. Very unromantic principles these, but the young lady in
question was totally unlike any heroine of any novel I ever read.