 Chapter 14 of the pilot by James Fenimore Cooper, this LibriVox recording is in the public domain. As when a lion in his den hath heard the hunter's cries, and rushes forth to meet his foes, so did the Douglas rise. Percy. Alice Danscombe did not find the second of the prisoners buried like Griffith in sleep, but he was seated on one of the old chairs that were in the apartment with his back to the door, and apparently looking through the small window on the dark and dreary scenery over which the tempest was yet sweeping in its fury. Her approach was unheeded until the light from her lamp glared across his eyes when he started from his musing posture and advanced to meet her. He was the first to speak. I expected this visit, he said, when I found that you recognized my voice, and I felt a deeper assurance in my breast that Alice Danscombe would never betray me. His listener, though expecting this confirmation of her conjectures, was unable to make an immediate reply, but she sank into the seat he had abandoned and waited a few moments as if to recover her powers. It was then no mysterious warning, no airy voice that mocked my ear but a dread reality, she had length said. Why have you thus braved the indignation of the laws of your country on what errand of fell mischief has your ruthless temper again urged you to embark? This is strong and cruel language coming from you to me, Alice Danscombe, returned a stranger with cool asperity, and the time has been when I should have been greeted after a shorter absence with milder terms. I deny it not, I cannot if I would conceal my infirmity from myself for you. I hardly wish it to continue unknown to the world if I have once esteemed you, if I have plighted to you my truth, and in my confiding folly forgot my higher duties, God has amply punished me for the weakness in your own evil deeds. Nay, let not our meeting be embittered with useless and provoking recriminations, said the other, for we have much to say before you communicate the errand of mercy on which you have come hither. I know you too well, Alice, not to see that you perceive the peril in which I am placed, and are willing to venture something for my safety. Your mother, does she yet live? She is gone in quest of my blessed father, said Alice, covering her pale face with her hands. They have left me alone truly, for he who was to have been all to me was first false to his faith and has since become unworthy of my confidence. The stranger became singularly agitated, his usually quiet eye glancing hastily from the floor to the countenance of his companion as he paced the room with hurried steps. At length he replied, there is much perhaps to be said in explanation that you do not know. I left the country because I found in it nothing but oppression and injustice, and I could not invite you to become the bride of a wanderer without either name or fortune. But I have now the opportunity of proving my truth. You say you are alone, be so no longer, and try how far you were mistaken in believing that I should one day supply the place to you of both father and mother. There is something soothing to a female ear in the offer of even protracted justice, and Alice spoke with less of acrimony in her tones during the remainder of their conference, if not with less severity in her language. You talk not like a man whose very life hangs but on a thread that the next minute may snap asunder, whether would you lead me? Is it to the tower at London? Think not that I have weakly exposed my person without a sufficient protection. Return the stranger with cool indifference. There are many gallant men who only wait my signal to crush the paltry force of this officer like a worm beneath my feet. Then has the conjecture of Colonel Howard been true in the manner in which the enemy's vessels have passed the shoals is no longer a mystery? You have been their pilot? I have. What would you pervert the knowledge gained in the springtime of your guileless youth to the foul purpose of bringing desolation to the doors of those you once knew and respected? John, John, is the image of the maiden whom in her morning of beauty and simplicity, I believe you did love so faintly impressed that he cannot soften your heart-heart to the misery of those among whom she has been born and who compose her little world. Not a hair of theirs shall be touched, not a thatch shall blaze, nor shall a sleepless night befall the vilest among them. And all for your sake, Alice, England comes to this contest with a seared conscience and bloody hands, but all shall be forgotten for the present when both opportunity and power offer to make her feel our vengeance even in her vitals. I came on no such errand. What then has led you blindly into snares, where all your boasted aid would avail you nothing? For should I call aloud your name even here in the dark and dreary passages of this obscure edifice, the cry would echo through the country air the morning, and a whole people would be found in arms to punish your audacity. My name has been sounded, and that in no gentle strains return the pilot scornfully when a whole people have quailed at it. The craven cowardly wretches flying before the man they had wronged. I've lived to bear the banners of the New Republic proudly inside of the three kingdoms, when practice skill and equal arms have in vain struggled to pluck it down. I, Alice, the echoes of my guns are still roaring among your eastern hills and would render my name more appalling than inviting to your sleeping yeoman. Boast not of the momentary success that the arm of God has yielded to your unhallowed effort, said Alice, for a day of severe and heavy retribution must follow, nor flatter yourself with the idle hope that your name, terrible as ye have rendered it to the virtuous, is sufficient of itself to drive the thoughts of home and country in kin from all who hear it. Nay, I know not that even now in listening to you, I am not forgetting a solemn duty which would teach me to proclaim your presence, that the land might know that her unnatural son is a dangerous burden in her bosom. The pilot turned quickly in his short walk, and after reading her countenance with the expression of one who felt his security, he said in gentler tones, would that be Alice Dunn's comb? Would that be like the mild generous girl whom I knew in my youth? But I repeat the threat would fail to intimidate, even if you weren't capable of executing it. I've said that it is only to make the signal to draw around me a force sufficient to scatter these dogs of soldiers to the four winds of heaven. Have you calculated your power justly, John, said Alice, unconsciously betraying her deep interest in his safety? Have you reckoned the probability of Mr. Dillon's arriving, accompanied by an armed band of horsemen with the morning sun for its no secret in the abbey that he is going in quest of such assistance? Dillon exclaimed the pilot, starting who is he and on what suspicion does he seek this addition to your guard? Nay, John, look not at me, as if you would know the secrets of my heart. It was not I who prompted him to such a step. You cannot, for a moment, think that I would betray you, but too surely he has gone, and as the night wears rapidly away, you should be using the hour of grace to effect our own security. Fear not, for me, Alice, return the pilot proudly while a faint smile struggled around his compressed lip, and yet I like not this movement, either. How call you his name? Dillon, is he a minion of King George? He is, John, what you are not, a loyal subject of his sovereign Lord the King, and though a native of the revolted colonies, he has preserved his virtue uncontaminated amid the corruptions and temptations of the times. An American, and disloyal to the liberties of the human race, by heaven he better not cross me, for if my arm reach him, it shall hold him forth as a spectacle of treason to the world. And as not the world enough of such a spectacle in yourself, are you not, even now, breathing your native air, though lurking through the mists of the island with desperate intent against its peace and happiness? A dark and fierce expression of angry resentment flashed from the eyes of the pilot, and even his iron frame seemed to shake with emotion as the answer called you his dastidly and selfish treason, aiming, as it does, to aggrandize a few, at the expense of millions, a parallel case to the generous order that impels a man to fight in the defense of sacred liberty. I might tell you that I am armed in the common cause of my fellow subjects and countrymen, that though an ocean divided us in distance, yet are we a people of the same blood, and children of the same parents, and that the hand which oppresses one inflicts an injury on the other. But I disdain all such narrow apologies. I was born on this orb, and I claim to be a citizen of it, a man with a soul not to be limited by the arbitrary boundaries of tyrants and hirelings, but one who has the right as well as the inclination to grapple with oppression in his name, so ever it is exercised, or in whatever hollow and specious shape it founds its claim to abuse our race. Ah, John, John, though this may sound like reason to rebellious ears, to mind it, seemeth only as the ravings of insanity, it is in vain you build up your new and disorganizing systems of rule, or rather misrule which are opposed to all that the world has ever yet done, or ever will see done in peace and happiness. What avail your subtleties and false reasonings against the heart? It is the heart which tells us where our home is and how to love it. You talk like a weak and prejudiced woman, Alice, said the pilot more compulsively than one who would shackle nations with the ties that bind the young and feeble of your own sex together. And by what holier or better bond can they be united, said Alice, are not the relations of domestic life of God's establishing, and have not the nations grown from families as branches spread from the stem till the tree overshadows the land to his ancient and sacred tie that binds man to his nation, neither can it be severed without infamy. The pilot smiled disdainfully and, throwing open the rough exterior of his dress, he drew forth in succession several articles while a glowing pride lighted his countenance as he offered them singly to her notice. See, Alice, he said, call you this infamy, this broad sheet of parchment is stamped with a seal of no mean importance, and it bears the royal name of the princely Louis, also, and view this cross decorated as it is with jewels, the gift of the same illustrious hand it is not apt to be given to the children of infamy, neither is it wise or decorous to stigmatize a man who has not been thought unworthy to consort with princes and nobles by the approprious name of the Scotch pirate. And have you not earned the title, John, by ruthless deeds and bitter animosity? I could kiss the babbles, ye show me if they were a thousand times less splendid had they been laid upon your breast by the hands of your lawful prince, but now they appear to my eyes as indelible blots upon your attainted name. As for your associates, I've heard of them, and it seems that a queen might be better employed than encouraging by her smiles the disloyal subjects of other monarchs, though even her enemies. God only knows when his pleasure may suffer a spirit of disaffection to rise up among the people of her own nation, and then the thought that she has encouraged rebellion may prove both bitter and unwelcome. That the royal and lovely Antoinette has deigned to repay my services with a small portion of a gracious approbation is not among the least of my boasts return the pilot in effective humility, while secret pride was manifested even in his lofty attitude. But venture not a syllable in her dispraise for you know not whom you censure, she is less distinguished by her illustrious birth, an elevated station than by her virtues and loveliness. She lives the first of her sex in Europe, the daughter of an emperor, the consort of the most powerful king, and the smiling and beloved patroness of a nation who worship at her feet. Her life is above all reproach as it is above all earthly punishment, where she so lost as demerited, and it has been the will of Providence to place her far beyond the reach of all human misfortunes. Has it placed her above human errors, John? Punishment is the natural and inevitable consequence of sin, and unless she can say more than has ever fallen to the law of humanity to say truly, she may yet be made to feel the chastening arm of one to whose eyes all her pageantry and power are as vacant as the air she breathes, so insignificant must it seem when compared to his own just rule. But if you thought that you have been permitted to kiss the hem of the robes of the French queen, and have been the companion of high-born and flaunting ladies, clad in their riches, array, can ye yet say to yourself that amid them all ye have found one whose tongue has been bold to tell you the truth, or whose heart has sincerely joined in her false professions? Certainly none have met me with the reproaches that I have this night received from Alice Downscombe after a separation of six long years. Return the pilot. If I have spoken to you the words of holy truth, John, let them not be the last welcome, because they are strangers to your ears. O think that she who has thus dared to use the language of reproach, to one whose name is terrible to all who live on the border of this island, is led to the rash act by no other motive than interest in your eternal welfare. Alice, Alice, you maddened me with these foolish speeches, am I a monster to frighten unprotected women and helpless children? What mean these epithets as coupled with my name? Have you too lent a credulous ear to the vile calamities with which the policy of your rulers has ever attempted to destroy the fair fame of those who oppose them and those chiefly who oppose them with success? My name may be terrible to the officers of the royal fleet, but where and how have I earned a claim to be considered formidable to the helpless and unoffending? Alice Downscombe cast a furtive and timid glance at the pilot, which spoke even stronger than her words as she replied, I know not that all which is said of you and your deeds is true. I have often prayed in bitterness and sorrow that a tenth part of that which is laid to your charge may not be heaped on your devoted head at the great and final account. But John, I have known you long and well, and have been forbid that on this solemn occasion, which may be the last, the last of our earthly interviews, I should be found wanting in Christian duty through a woman's weakness. I have often thought when I have heard the gall of bitter reproach and in benign language hurled against your name that they who spoke so rashly little understood the man they bytuperated. But though ye are at times, and I may say almost always as mild and even as the smoothest sea over which ye have ever sailed, ye had got as mingled in your nature a fearful mixture of fierce passions which roused are more like the southern waters when troubled with the tornado. It is difficult for me to say how far this evil spirit may lead a man who has been goaded by fancied wrongs to forget his country and home and who is suddenly clothed with power to show his resentments. The pilot listened with rooted attention and his piercing eye seemed to reach the seat of those thoughts which he but half expressed. Still he retained the entire command of himself and answered, more and sorry than in anger. If anything could convert me to your own peaceful and unresisting opinions, Alice, it would be the reflections that offer themselves at this conviction that even you have been led by the base tongues of my dastardly enemies to doubt my honor and conduct. What is fame when a man can be thus reduced to his nearest friends but no more of these childish reflections? They are unworthy of myself, my office, and the sacred cause in which I have enlisted. Nay, John, shake them not off, said Alice, unconsciously laying her hand on his arm. They are as the dew to the parched herbage and may freshen the feelings of your youth and soften the heart that has grown hard, if hard it be, more by unnatural indulgence than its own base inclinations. Alice Dunscombe said the pilot approaching her with solid earnestness. I have learned much this night, though I came not in quest of such knowledge. You have taught me how powerful is the breath of this lander, how frail is the tenure by which we hold our good names. For twenty times have I met the harlings of your prince in open battle fighting ever, manfully under that flag which was first raised to the breeze by my own hands in which I think my God I have never yet seen lowered an inch, but with no one act of cowardice or private wrong, in all that service can I reproach myself, and yet how am I rewarded? The tongue of the vile columniator is keener than the sword of the warrior and leaves a more indelible scar. Never have ye uttered a truer sentiment, John, and God send that ye may encourage such thoughts to your own eternal advantage, said Alice, with engaging interest. You say that you have risked your precious life in twenty combats, and observe how little of heaven's favor is bestowed on the abetters of rebellion. They tell me that the world has never witnessed a more desperate and bloody struggle than this last, for which your name has been made to sound to the furthest ends of the isle. It will be known wherever naval combats are spoken of, interrupted the pilot, the melancholy, which had begun to lower in his countenance, giving place to a look of proud exaltation, and yet its fancy groi cannot shield your name from wrong, nor are the rewards of the victor equal in a temporal sense to those which the vanquished has received. Know ye that our gracious monarch, deeming your adversaries' cause so sacred, has extended to him his royal favor. Aye, he has dubbed him night, exclaimed the pilot with a scornful and bitter laugh, let him be again furnished with a ship and me with another opportunity, and I promise him an earldom, if being again vanquished can constitute acclaim. Speak not so rashly, nor wrought yourself of possessing a protecting power that may desert you, John, when you most need it, and least expect to change. Returned his companion, the battle is not always to the strong, neither is the race to the swift. Forget you, my good Alice, that your words will admit of a double meaning, has the battle been to the strong, though you say not well in denying the race to the swift. Yes, yes, often and again, have the dastards escape me by their prudent speed. Alice Danscombe, you know not a thousandth part of the torture that I've been made to feel by high-born miscreants who envy the merit they cannot equal and detract from the glory of deeds that they dare not attempt to emulate. How have I been cast upon the ocean like someone worthy vessel that is commissioned to do a desperate deed and then to bury itself in the ruin it has made? How many malignant hearts have triumphed as they beheld my canvas open, thinking that it was spread to hasten me to a gibbet or to a tomb in the bosom of the ocean, but I have disappointed them? The eyes of the pilot no longer gaze with their piercing and subtle meaning, but they flashed with a fierce and wild pleasure as he continued in a louder voice. Yes, bitterly have I disappointed them, though the triumph over my fallen enemies has been tamed to this heartfelt exaltation which places me immeasurably above those false and craven hypocrites. I beg to implore the Frenchmen for the meanest of their craft which possessed but the common qualities of a ship of war. I urge the policy and necessity of giving me such a force for even then I promise to be found in harm's way, but envy and jealousy rob me of my just dues and of more than half my glory. They call me power if I have claimed to the name. It was furnished more by the paltry outfit of my friends than by any act towards my enemies. And do not these recollections prompt you to return to your allegiance to your prince and native land? John said Alice in a subdued voice away with the silly thought interrupted the pilot recalled to himself as if by a sudden conviction of the weakness he had betrayed it is ever thus where men are made conspicuous by their works, but to your visit I have the power to rescue myself and companions from this paltry confinement, and yet I would not have it done with violence for your sake, bringing the means of doing it in quiet. When the morning arrives you will all be conducted to the apartment where we first met. This will be done at the solicitation of Miss Howard under the plea of compassion and justice and with the professed object of inquiring into your situations. Her request will not be refused and while your guard is stationed at the door you will be shown by another entrance through the private apartments of the wing to a window when you can easily leap to the ground where a thicket is at hand afterwards we shall trust your safety to your own discretion. And if this Dylan of whom you have spoken should suspect the truth how will you answer to the law for aiding our escape? I believe he little dreams who is among the prisoners said Alice Musing, though he may have detected the character of one of your companions, but it is private feeling rather than public spirit that urges him on. I have suspected something of this but turned the pilot with a smile that crossed those features where ungovernable passions that had so lately been exhibited with an effect that might be likened to the last glimmering of an expiring conflagration serving to render the surrounding ruin more obvious. This young Griffith has led me from my direct path with his idle imprudence and it is right that his mistress should incur some risk but with you Alice the case is different. Here you are only a guest and it is unnecessary that you should be known in the unfortunate affair. Should my name get abroad this requient American this Colonel Howard will find all the favor he has purchased by advocating the cause of tyranny necessary to protect him from the displeasure of the ministry. I fear to trust so delicate a measure to the young discretion of my Amy Boat friend said Alice shaking her head remember that she has her attachment to plead in her excuse but dare you say to the world that you still remember was gentle feelings the man whom you stigmatized with such appropriate epithets a slight color gleamed over the brow of Alice Dunscomb as she uttered in a voice that was barely audible there is no longer a reason why the world should know of such a weakness though it did exist and as the faint glow passed away leaving her face pale nearly as the hue of death her eyes kindled with unusual fire and she uttered they can but take my life John and that I'm ready to lay down in your service Alice exclaimed the softened pilot my kind my gentle Alice the knock of the Sentinel at the door was heard at this critical moment without waiting for a reply to his summons the man entered the apartment and in hurried language declared the urgent necessity that existed for the lady to retire a few brief remonstances were uttered by both Alice and the pilot who wished to comprehend more clearly each other's intentions relative to the intended escape but the fear of personal punishment rendered the soldier obdurate and a dread of exposure length induced the lady to comply she arose and was leaving the apartment with lingering steps when the pilot touching her hand whispered to her impressively Alice we meet again before I leave this island forever we meet in the morning John she returned in the same tone of voice in the apartments of miss Howard he dropped her hand and she glided from the room when the impatient Sentinel closed the door and silently turned the key on his prisoner the pilot remained in a listening attitude until the light footsteps of the retiring pair were no longer audible when he placed his confined apartment with perturbed steps occasionally pausing to look out at the driving clouds and the groaning oaks that were trembling and rocking their broad arms in the fiftiful gusts of the gaol in a few minutes the tempest in his own passions had gradually subsided to the desperate and still calmness that made him the man he was when he again seated himself where Alice had found him and began to muse on the events of the times from which the transition to projecting schemes of daring enterprise and mighty consequences was but the usual employment of his active and restless mind end of chapter 14 chapter 15 of the pilot by James Fenimore Cooper this Lieberbach's recording is in the public domain chapter 15 sir and I have no exquisite reason for it but I've reasoned good enough 12th night the countenance of captain borough cliff when the sentinel admitted him to the apartment he had selected was in that state of doubtful illumination when looks a peculiar cunning blend so nicely with the stare of vacancy that the human face is rendered not unlike an April day now smiling and inviting and at the next moment clouded and dreary it was quite apparent that the soldier had an object for his unexpected visit by the importance of his air and the solemnity of that manner with which he entered on the business he waved his hand for the sentinel to retire with lofty dignity and continued balancing his body during the closing of the door and while a sound continued audible to his confused faculties with his eyes fixed in the direction of the noise with that certain sort of wise look that in many men supplies the place of something better when the captain felt himself secure from interruption he moved round with quick military precision in order to face the man of whom he was in quest Griffith had been sleeping though uneasily and with watchfulness and the pilot had been calmly awaiting the visit which it seemed he had anticipated but their associate who was no other than captain manual of the marines was discovered in a very different condition from either though the weather was cool and that night tempestuous he had thrown aside his p-jacket that most of his disguising was sitting ruefully on his blanket wiping with one hand the large drops of sweat from his forehead and occasionally grasping his throat with the other with a kind of convulsed mechanical movement he stared wildly at his visitor though his entrance produced no other alteration in these pursuits than a more diligent application of his anchor chip and a more frequent grasping of his naked neck as if he were willing to ascertain by actual experiment what degree of pressure the part was able to sustain without exceeding a given quantity of inconvenience comrade agregi said burrow clip staggering to the side of his prisoner where he seated himself with an entire absence of ceremony comrade agregi is the kingdom in danger that gentlemen traverse the island in the uniform of the regiment of incognitus incogniti torum dammy how i forget my latin say my fine pillow are you one of these torums manual breath a little hard which considering the manner he had been using his throat was a thing to be expected but swallowing his apprehensions he answered with more spirit than his situation rendered prudent or the occasion demanded say what you will of me and treat me as you please i defy any man to call me tory with truth you are no torum well then the war office has got up a new dress your regiment must have earned their facings in storming some water battery or perhaps it has done duty as marines am i right i'll not tonight said manual more stoutly i've served as a marine for two years though taken from the line of the army said burrow clip interrupting a most damning confession of which state line the other had belonged to i kept a dog watch myself once on board the fleet of my lord howe but it is a service that i do not envy any man our afternoon parades were dreadfully unsteady for it is a time you know when a man wants solid ground to stand on however i purchased my company was some prize money that fell in my way and i always remember the marine service with gratitude but this is dry work i've put a bottle of sparkling madera in my pocket with a couple of glasses which we will discuss while we talk over more important matters thrust your hand into my right pocket i've been used to dress through the front so long that it comes mighty awkward to me to make this backward motion as if it were into a cartridge box manual had been at a loss how to construe the manner of the other perceived it once a good deal of plain english in this request and he dislodged one of colonel howards dusty bottles with a dexterity that denoted the earnestness of his purpose burrow cliff had made a suitable provision of glasses and extracting the cork in a certain scientific manner he tended to his companion a bumper of the liquor before another syllable was uttered by either of the expectants the gentleman concluded their drafts with a couple of smacks that sounded not unlike the pistols of two practice dualists though certainly a much less alarming noise when the entertainer renewed the discourse i like one of your musty-looking bottles that is covered with dust and cobwebs with a good southern tan on it he said such liquor does not abide in the stomach but it gets into the heart at once and becomes but in the beating of a pulse but how soon i knew you that sort of knowledge is the free masonry of our craft i knew you to be the man you are the moment i laid eyes on you in what we call our guard room but i thought i would humor the old soldier who lives here by letting him have the formula of an examination as a sort of deference to his age and former rank but i knew you the instant i saw you i've seen you before the theory of burrow cliff in relation to the incorporation of wine with the blood might have been true in the case of the marine whose whole frame appeared to undergo a kind of magical change by the experiment of drinking which the reader will understand was diligently persevered in while a drop remained in the bottle the perspiration no longer rolled from his brow neither did his throat manifest that uneasiness which had rendered such constant external applications necessary but he settled down into an air of cool but curious interest which in some measure was the necessary concomitant of his situation we may have met before as i have been much in service and yet i know not where you could have seen me said manual were you ever a prisoner of war um not exactly such an unfortunate devil but a sort of conventional non-combatant i shared the hardships the glory the equivocal victories where we killed and drove countless numbers of rebels who were not and what was me the capitulation of burgoing but let that pass which was more than the Yankees would allow us to do you know not where i could have seen you i've seen you on parade in the field in battle and out of battle in camp in barracks in short everywhere but in a drawing room no no i've never seen you before this night in a drawing room manual steered in a good deal of wonder and some uneasiness at these competent assertions which promise to put his life in no little jeopardy and it is to be supposed that the peculiar sensation about the throat was revived as he made a heavy draft before he said you will swear to this can you call me by name i will swear to it in any court in christendom said the dogmatical soldier and your name is is fugalman if it is i'll be damned exclaimed the other with exulting precipitation swear not said burrow quick with a solemn air for what matter if an empty name call thyself by what appellation thou wilt i know thee soldier is written on that marshal front by knee bend if not may i even doubt if the rebellious member bow in prayer come sir interrupt the manual a little sternly no more of this trifling but declare your will at once rebellious member indeed these fellows will call the skies of america rebellious heavens shortly i like that spirit lad return the undisturbed burrow clip it sits as gracefully on a soldier as his sash and gorge but it is lost on an old campaigner i marvel however that thou take as such umbrage at my slight attack on thy orthodoxy i fear the fortress must be weak where the artworks are defended with such a waste of unnecessary courage i know not why or wherefore you have paid me this visit captain burrow cliff submanual with a laudable discretion which prompted him to reconorder the others views a little before he laid himself more open if captain be your rank and burrow cliff be your name but this i do know that if it be only to mock me in my present situation it is neither soldier like nor manly and it is what in other circumstances might be attended by some hazard um said the other with his immovable coolness i see you set the wine down as nothing though the king drinks not as good for the plain reason that the son of england cannot find its way through the walls of winzer castle as easily as the son of carolina can warm a garret covered with cedar shingles but i like your spirit more and more so draw yourself up in battle array and let us have another charge at this black bottle when i shall lay before your military eyes a plan of the whole campaign manual first bestowed an enquiring glance on his companion when discovering no other expression than foolish cunning which was fast euling before the encroaching footsteps of stupid and nebriety he quietly placed himself in the desired position the wine was drunk when burrow cliff proceeded to open his communications more unreservedly you are a soldier and i am a soldier that you are a soldier my orderly could tell for the dog has both seen a campaign and smelt the linus salt peter when compounded according to a wicked invention but it required the officer to detect the officer privates do not wear such linen as this which seemed to me an unreasonably cool attire for the season nor velvet stocks with silver buckles nor is there often the odorous flavor of sweet scented pomatum to be discovered around their greasy locks in short thou art both soldier and officer i confess it's a manual i hold the rank of captain and shall expect the treatment of one i think i have furnished you with wine fit for a general return burrow cliff but have your own way now it would be apparent to men whose faculties had not been rendered clear by such cordials as this dwelling aboundeth with that when you officer's journey through the island clad in the uniform incognitorum which in your case means the marine corps that something is in the wind of more than usual moment soldiers owe their allegiance to their prince and next to him to war women and wine of war there's none in the realm of women plenty but wine i regret to say that is good wine grows both scarce and dear do i speak to the purpose comrade proceeds and manual whose eyes were not less attentive than his ears in a hope to discover whether his true character were understood all avan in plain english forward march well then the difficulty lies between women and wine which when the former are pretty and the latter rich is a very agreeable sort of an alternative that it is not wine of which you are in quest i must believe my comrade captain or you would not go on the adventure in such shabby attire you will excuse me but who would think of putting anything better than their port before men in a pair of tarred trousers no no hollands green and yellow hollands is a quotation good enough to set before one of the present bearing and yet i have met with him who has treated me to the choices to the south side madera know you the various side from which the precious fluid comes that looks more in favor of the wine but after all woman dear capricious woman who one moment fancies she sees a hero in regimentals and the next a saint in a cassock and who always sees something admirable in a suitor whether he be clad in toe or velvet woman is at the bottom of this mysterious masquerading am i right comrade by this time manual had discovered that he was safe and he returned to the conversation with the revival of all his ready wits which had been strangely paralyzed by his previous disorder in the region of the throat first bestowing a wicked wink on his companion and a look that would have outdone the wisest aspect of Solomon he replied ah woman has much to answer for i knew it exclaimed burrow clip and this confession only confirms me in the good opinion i have always entertained of myself if his majesty has any particular wish to close this american business let him have a certain convention burnt and a nameless person promoted and we shall see but answer as you love truth is it a business of holy matrimony or a mere deliance with the sweets of cuban of honest wedlocks a manual with an air as serious as if hymen already held him in his spatters dishonest is their money is their money repeated manual without sort of contemptuous echo with a soldier part with his liberty but with his life unless the chains were made of gold that's the true military doctrine cried the other faith you have some discretion in your amphibious core i find but why this disguise are the seniors grave as well as potent and reverend why this disguise i can ask why this disguise repeated manual coulee is there any such thing as love in your regiment without disguise with us it is a regular symptom of the disease our most just and discreet description of the passion my amphibious comrades at the english officer and yet the symptoms in your case are attended by some very malignant tokens does your mistress loved her no but she loved with me and of course whatever attire i choose to appear in still discreet and sagacious and yet only a most palpable faint to avoid my direct attack you have heard of such a place as gretna green a little to the north of this i dare say my aquatic comrade am i right gretna green said manual a little embarrassed by his ignorance some parade ground i suppose i for those who suffer under the fire of master cupid a parade ground well there is some artful simplicity in that but all will not do with an old campaigner it is a difficult thing to impose on an old soldier my water battery now listen and answer and you shall see what it is to possess a discernment therefore deny nothing you are in love i deny nothing said manual comprehending at once that this was his safest course your mistress is willing and the money is ready but the old people say halt i'm still mute tis prudent you say march gretna green is the object in your flight is to be by water unless i can make my escape by water i shall never make it said manual with another sympathetic movement with his hand to his throat keep mute you need tell me nothing i can see into a mystery that is as deep as a well tonight your companions are harlings perhaps your shipmates or men to pilot you on this expedition one is my shipmate and the other is our pilot said manual with more truth than usual you are well provided one thing more and i shall become mute in my turn does she whom you seek lie in this house she does not she lies but a short distance from this place and i should be a happy fellow could i but once more put foot eyes on her now listen and you shall have your wish you possess the ability to march yet which considering the lateness of the hour is no trifling privilege open that window is it possible to descend from it manual eagerly comply but he turned from the place in disappointment it would be certain death to attempt to leave the devil only could escape from it so i should think return burrow cliff dryly you must be content to pass for that respectable gentleman for the rest of your days in st ruth's abbey for through that identical hole must you wing your flight on the pinions of love but how the thing is impossible in imagination only there is some stir a good deal of foolish apprehension and a great excess of vital curiosity among certain of the tenants of this house on your account they fear the rebels who we all know have not soldiers enough to do their work neatly at home and do of course we never think of sending any here you wish to be snug i wish to serve a brother in distress through that window you must be supposed to fly no matter how while by following me you can pass the sentinel and retire peaceably like any other mortal on your own two stout legs this was a result that exceeded all that manual had anticipated from their amicable but droll dialogue and the hint was hardly given before he threw on the garments that agitation had before rendered such encumbrances and in less time than we have taken to relate it the marine was completely equipped for his departure in the meantime captain burrow cliff raised himself to an extremely erect posture which he maintained with the inflexibility of a rigid martinette when he found himself established on his feet the soldier intimated to his prisoner that he was ready to proceed the door was instantly opened by manual and together they entered the gallery who comes there cried the sentinel with a vigilance and vigor that he intended to compensate for his previous neglected duty walk straight that he may see you said burrow cliff with much philosophy who goes there repeated the sentinel throwing his musket to a poise with a rattling sound that echoed along the naked walls walk crooked added burrow cliff that if you fire he may miss we shall be shot at with this folly muttered manual we are friends and your officer is one of us stand friends advance officer and give the counter sign cried the sentinel that is much easier said than done returned his captain forward mr. amphibious you can walk like a postman move to the front and proclaim the magical word loyalty there's a standing counter sign ready furnished to my hands by mine hosts the colonel your road is then clear before you but hark manual made an eager step forward when recollecting himself he turned and added my assistance the seamen i can do nothing without them low the keys are in the doors ready for my admission said the englishman turn them and bring out your forces quickest thought manual was in the room of griffith to whom he briefly communicated the situation of things when he reappeared in the passage and then proceeded on a similar errand to the room of the pilot follow and behave as usual he whispered say not a word but trust all to me the pilot arose and obeyed these instructions without asking a question with the most admirable coolness i'm now ready to proceed some manual when they had joined burrow cliff during the short time occupied in these arrangements the sentinel and his captain had stood looking at each other with great military exactitude the former ambitious of manifesting his watchfulness the letter awaiting the return of the marine the captain now back into manual to advance and give the counter sign loyalty whispered manual when he approached the sentinel but the soldier had been allowed time to reflect and as he well understood the situation of his officer he hesitated to allow the prisoner to pass after a moment's pause he said advance friends at this summons the whole party moved to the point of his very in that when the man continued the prisoners have the counter sign captain burrow cliff but i dare not let them pass why not ask the captain am i not here sir do you not know me yes sir i know your honor and respect your honor but i was posted here by my sergeant in order not to let these men pass out on any account that's what i call good discipline said burrow cliff with an exalting laugh i knew the lad would not mind me anymore than that he would obey the orders of that lamp here are no slaves of the lamp my amphibious comrade drill your marines in this consummit style do niceties what means this trifling said the pilot sternly i thought i should turn the laugh on you cried manual affecting to join in the mirth we know all these things well and we practice them in our core but though the sentinel cannot know you the sergeant will so let him be called and orders be given through him to the man on post that we may pass out your throat grows uneasy i see said burrow cliff you crave another bottle of the general fluid well it shall be done sentinel you can throw up beyond window and give a call to the sergeant the outcry will ruin us said the pilot in a whisper to grip it follow me said the young sailor the sentinel was turning to execute the orders of his captain as griffith spoke when springing forward in an instant he wrenched the musket from his hands heavy blow with its butt fell the astonished soldier to the floor then poisoning his weapon griffith exclaimed forward we can clear our own way now on said the pilot leaping lightly over the prospect soldier a dagger gleaming in one hand and a pistol presented in the other manual was by his side in an instant armed in a similar manner and the three rushed together from the building without meeting anyone to oppose their flight burrow cliff was utterly unable to follow and so astounded was he by this sudden violence that several minutes past before he was restored to the use of his speech a faculty which seldom deserted him the man had recovered his senses and his feet however and the two stood gazing at each other and mute condolence at length the sentinel broke the silence shall i give the alarm your honor i rather think not peter's i wonder if there be any such thing as gratitude or good breeding in the marine corps i hope your honor will remember that i did my duty and that i was disarmed while executing your orders i can remember nothing about it peter's accepted it is rascally treatment and such as i show yet make the amphibious aquatic gentleman answer for but lock the door look as if nothing had happened and ah your honor that is not so easy done as your honor may please to think i've not any doubt but there is the print of the breach of a musket stamped on my back and shoulders as plainly to be seen as that light then look as you please but hold your peace sir here is a crown to buy a plaster i heard the dog throw away your musket on the stairs go seek it and return to your post and when you are relieved to act as if nothing had happened i take the responsibility on myself the man obeyed and when he was once more armed burrow cliff a good deal sobered by the surprise made the best of his way to his own apartment muttering threats and execrations against the core of marines and the whole race as he called them of aquatic amphibia end of chapter 15 chapter 16 of the pilot by james fenimore cooper this liber box recording is in the public domain chapter 16 away away the cubbies fled the cover put forth the dogs and let the falcon fly i'll spend some leisure in the keen pursuit nor longer waste my hours and sluggish quiet the soldier passed the remainder of the night in the heavy sleep of a bacchanalian and awoke late on the following morning only when aroused by the entrance of his servant when the customary summons had induced the captain to unclose his eyelids he arose in his bed and after performing the usual operation of a diligent friction on his organs of vision he turned sternly to his man and remarked with an ill humor that seemed to implicate the innocent servant in the fault which his master condemned i thought sir that i ordered sergeant drill not to let a drumstick touch a sheepskin while we courted in the dwelling of this hospitable old colonel does the fellow despise my command so does he think the role of a drum echoing through the quicked passages of saint ruth a melody that is fit to disturb the slumbers of its inmates i believe sir return the man it was the wish of colonel howard himself that on this occasion the sergeant should turn out the guard by the role of the drum the devil it was i see the old fellow loves to tickle the drum of his own ear now and then with familiar sounds but have you had a muster of the cattle from the farmyard too as well as a parade of the guard i hear the trampling of feet as if the old abbey were a second ark and all the beasts of the field were coming aboard of us this is nothing but the party of dragoons from blank who are wheeling into the courtyard sir where the colonel has gone out to receive them courtyard light dragoons repeated burrow cliff and amazement and as it come to this that 20 stout fellows of the nth are not enough to guard such a rookery as this old abbey against the ghosts and northeast storms but we must have horse to reinforce us hum i suppose some of these booted gentlemen have heard of this south carolina madera oh no sir cried his man it is only the party that mr. dillon went to seek last evening after you saw fit sir to put the three pirates in irons pirates in irons said burrow cliff again passing his hands over his eyes though in a more reflecting manner than before uh oh i remember to have put three suspicious looking rascals in the black hole or some such place but what can mr. dillon or the light dragoons have to do with these fellows that we do not know sir but it is said below sir as some suspicions had fallen on there being conspirators and rebels from the colonies that they were great officers and tories in disguise some said that one was general washington and others that it was only three members of the yankee parliament come over to get our good old english vassians to set themselves up with washington members of congress go go simpleton and learn how many these troopers muster and what halt they make but stay place my clothes near me now do as i bid you and if the dragoon officer inquire for me make my respects and tell him i shall be with him soon go fellow go when the man left the room the captain while he proceeded with the business of the toilet occasionally gave utterance to the thoughts that crowded on his recollection after the manner of a soliloquy i my commission to a half pay in insincy that some of these lazy fellows who must have a four legged beast to carry them to the wars have heard of the south side south side i believe i must put an advertisement in the london gazette calling that amphibious soldier to an account if he be a true man he will not hide himself under his incognito but will give me a meeting if that should fail dammy i'll write across to yarmouth and call out the first of the mongrel breed that i fought in with steve was ever such an insult practiced on a gentleman and a soldier before with that i only knew his name why if the tale should get abroad i shall be the standing joke of the mess table until it's some greater fool than myself can be found it would cost me at least six duels to get rid of it no no not a trigger will i pull in my own regiment about the silly affair but i'll have a crack at submarine in very revenge for that is no more than reasonable that peter's if the scoundrel should dare whisper anything of the manner in which he was stamped with the breach of the musket i can't flog him for it but if i don't make it up to him the first time he gives me a chance i'm ignorant of the true art of balancing regimental accounts by the time the recruiting officer had concluded this soliloquy which affords a very fair exposition of the current of his thoughts he was prepared to meet the newcomers and he accordingly descended to the courtyard as in duty bound to receive them in his proper person burrow cliff encountered his host in earnest conversation with a young man in a cavalry uniform in the principal entrance of the abbey and was greeted by the former with a good morning to you my worthy guard and protector here is rare news for your loyal ears it seems that our prisoners are enemies to the king in disguise and cornet Fitzgerald captain burrow cliff of the nth permit me to make you acquainted with mr. Fitzgerald of the nth light dragoons while the soldiers exchange their salutations the old man continued the cornet has been kind enough to lead down a detachment of his troops to escort the rogues up to london or some other place where they will find enough good and loyal officers to form a court martial that can authorize their execution as spies christopher dillon my worthy kinsman kit saw into their real characters at a glance while you and i like to unsuspecting boys thought the rascals would have made fit men to serve the king but kit has an eye and a head that few enjoy like him and i would that he might receive his dues at the english bar it is to be desired sir said burrow cliff with that grave aspect that was produced deeply by his effort to give effect to his sarcasm but a little also by the recollection of the occurrences that were yet to be explained but what reason has mr christopher dillon to believe that the three seamen are more or less than they seem i know not what but a good insufficient reason i will venture my life cried the colonel kit is allowed for reasons which you know is the foundation of his profession and knows how to deliver them manfully to the proper place but you know gentlemen that the members of the bar cannot assume the open and bold front that becomes a soldier without often endangering the cause in which they are concerned no no trust me kit has his reasons and in good time will he deliver them i hope then said the captain carelessly that it may be found that we haven't had a proper watch on our charge colonel howard i think you told me the windows were too hot for an escape in that direction for i had no sentinel outside of the building fear nothing my worthy friend cried his host unless your men have slept instead of watching we have them safe but as it will be necessary to convey them away before any of the civil authority can lay hands on them let us proceed to the rear and uncannled the dogs a party of the horse might proceed at once with them to blank while we are breaking our fast it would be no very wise thing to allow the civilians to deal with them for they seldom have a true idea of the nature of the crime pardon me sir said the young officer of course i was led to believe by mr dylan that we might meet with a party of the enemy in some little force and that i should find a pleasant duty than that of a constable besides sir the laws of the realm guarantee to the subject or trial by his peers and it is more than i dare do to carry them into the barracks without first taking them before a magistrate i you speak of loyal and beautiful subjects said the colonel and as respects them doubtless you are right but such privileges are withheld from enemies and traders it must be first proved that they are such before they can receive the treatment or the punishment that they merit return the young man a little positively who felt the more confidence because he had only left the temple the year before if i take charge of the men at all it will be only to transfer them safely to the civil authority let us go and see the prisoners cried burrow cliff with a view to terminate a discussion that was likely to wax warm in which he knew to be useless perhaps they may quietly enroll themselves under the banners of our sovereign when all other interference save that of wholesome discipline will become unnecessary nay if they are of our rank in life to render such a step probable return the cornet i'm well content that the matter should be thus settled i trust however that captain burrow cliff will consider that the inth light dragoons has some merit in this affair and that we are far short of our numbers in the second squadron we shall not be difficult that a compromise return the captain there is one a piece for us and a toss of a guinea shall determine who has the third man sergeant follow to deliver over your prisoners and relieve your sentry as they proceeded in compliance with this arrangement to the building in the rear colonel howard who made one of the party observed a dispute not the penetration of captain burrow cliff but i understand mr christopher dylan that there is reason to believe one of these men at least to be of a class altogether above that of a common soldier in which case your plans may fall to the ground and who does he deem the gentleman to be asked for a cliff a bourbon in disguise or a secret representative of the rebel congress nay nay he said nothing more mike hensman kit keeps a close mouth whenever dame justice is about the balance rescales there are men who may be said to have been born to be soldiers of which number i should call the url cornwallis who make such head against the rebels in the two carolinas others seem to be intended by nature for divines and saints on earth such as their graces of york and canterbury while another class appears as if it were impossible for them to behold things unless with discriminating impartial and disinterested eyes to which i should say belong my lord chief justice man's field and my kinsman mr christopher dylan i trust gentlemen that when the royal arms have crushed this rebellion his majesty's ministers will see the propriety of extending the dignity of the peerage to the colonies as a means of reward to the loyal and a measure of policy to prevent further disaffection in which case i hope to see my kinsman decorated with the ermine of justice bordering the mantle of a pier your expectations my excellent sir are right reasonable as i doubt not your kinsman will become at some future day that which he is not at present unhappily for his desserts right honorable said burrow cliff but be of good heart sir from what i have seen of his merits i doubt not that the law will yet have its revenge in due season and that we shall be properly edified and instructed how to attain elevation in life by the future exaltation of mr christopher dylan though by what title he is to be then known i am at a loss to say colonel howard was too much occupied with his own ex parte views of the war and things in general to observe the shrewd looks that were exchanged between the soldiers but he answered with perfect simplicity i reflected much on that point and have come to the opinion that as he has a small estate on that river he should cause his first barony to be known by the title of paddy barony echoed burrow cliff i trust the new nobles of a new world will disdain the old worn out distinctions of a hackneyed universe as shoe all baronies mine host and chas erldoms and dukedoms to the shades the immortal lock has unlocked his fertile mind to furnish you with appellations suited to the originality of your condition and the nature of your country ah here comes the casique of paddy in his proper person as burrow cliff spoke they were ascending the flight of stone steps which led to the upper apartments where the prisoners were still supposed to be confined and at the same moment the sullen gloomy features of dylan were seen as he advanced along the lower passage with an expression of malicious exaltation hovering above his dark bra that denoted his secret satisfaction as the hours passed away the period had come round when the man who had been present at the escape of griffith and his friends was again posted to perform the duty of sentinel as this soldier well knew the situation of his trust he was very coolly adjusted with his back against the wall endeavoring to compensate himself for his disturbed slumbers during the night when the sounds of the approaching footsteps warned him to assume the appearance of watchfulness how now fellow crab burrow cliff what have you to say to your charge i believe the men sleep your honor for i have heard no noises from the room since i relieved the last sentinel the lads are weary in our right to catch what sleep they can in their comfortable quarters return the captain stand to your arms sir and throw back your shoulders and do not move like a crab or a train band corporal do you not see an officer of horse coming up would you disgrace your regiment ah your honor haven't only knows whether i shall ever get my shoulders even again by another plaster said burrow cliff sipping a shilling into his hand observe you know nothing about your duty which is your honor blank to mind me and be silent but here comes the sergeant with his guard he will relieve you the rest of the party stopped at the end of the gallery to allow the few files of soldiers who were led by the orderly to pass them when they all moved towards the prison in a body the sentinel was relieved in due military style when dylan placed his hand on one of the doors and said with a malicious sneer open here first mr sergeant this cage holds the man we most want softly softly my lord chief justice the most recent casseed said the captain the hour has not yet come to impanel a jury of fat yeoman and no man must interfere with my boys but myself the rebuke is harsh i must observe captain burrow cliff said the colonel but i pardon it because it is military no no kid these nice points must be left to marshal usages be not impatient my cousin i doubt not the hour will come when you shall hold the scales of justice and satisfy your loyal longings on many a trader zooms i could almost turn executioner myself in such a cause i concurred by impatience sir returned dylan with hypocritical meekness and great self command though his eyes were gleaming with savage exaltation a big part of captain burrow cliff if in my desire to render the civil authority superior to the military i have trespassed on your customs you see burrow cliff exclaim the colonel exaltingly the lad is ruled by an instinct in all matters of law and justice i hope it to be impossible that a man thus in doubt can ever become a disloyal subject but our breakfast waits and mr fitzchild has breathed his horse this cool morning let us proceed at once to the examination burrow cliff motion to the sergeant open the door when the whole party entered the vacant room your prisoner has escaped cried the coronet after a single moment employed in making sure of the fact never it must not shall not be cry dylan quivering with rage as he glanced his eyes furiously around the apartment here has been treachery and foul treason to the king by whom committed mr christopher dylan said burrow cliff knitting his bra and speaking in a suppressed tone dare you or any man living charged reason to the end a very different feeling from rage appeared now to increase the shivering propensities of the future judge who at once perceived it was necessary to moderate his passion and he returned as it were by magic to his former plausible and insinuany manner as he replied colonel howard will understand the cause of my warm feelings when i tell him that this very room contained last night that disgrace to his name and country as well as traded to his king edward griffith of the rebel navy what exclaimed the colonel starting has that recreation youth dared to pollute the threshold of saint ruth with his footstep but you dream kid there would be too much hardy hood in the act it appears not serve return the other for though in this very apartment he most certainly was he is here no longer and yet from this window the open escape would seem to be impossible even with much assistance if i thought that the contumely as boy had dared to be guilty of such an active gross impudence cried the colonel i should be tempted to resume my arms in my old age to punish his effrontery what is it not enough that he entered my dwelling in the colony availing himself of the distraction of the times with an intent to rob me of my choice's jewel i gentleman even of my brother harry's daughter but that he must also invade this hallowed island without like purpose thus thrusting his prison as it were into the presence of his abused prince no no kid thy loyalty misleads thee he has never dared to do the deed listen sir new shall be convinced return the client christopher i do not wonder at your unbelief but as a good testimony is the soul of justice i cannot resist its influence you know that two vessels corresponding in appearance to the two rebel cruises that annoyed us so much in the carolinas have been seen on the coast for several days which induced us to beg the protection of captain burlcliffe three men are found the day succeeding that on which we hear that these vessels came within the shoals stealing through the grounds of saint ruth in sailor's attire they are arrested and in the voice of one of them sir i immediately detected that of the trader griffith he was disguised it is true and cunningly so but when a man has devoted his whole life to the business of investigating truth he added with an air of much modesty it is difficult to palm any disguise on his senses colonel howard was strongly impressed with the probability of these conjectures and the closing appeal confirmed him immediately in his kinsman's opinion while burlcliffe listened with deep interest to the speakers and more than once bit his lip with vexation when dylan concluded the soldier exclaimed i swear there was a man among them who has been used to the drill nothing more probable my worthy friends said dylan for as the landing was never made without some evil purpose rely on it he came not unguarded or unprotected i dare say the three were all officers and one of them might have been of the marines that they had assistance is certain and it was because i felt assured they had a force secretive hand that i went in quest of the reinforcement there was so much plausibility and in fact so much truth in all this that conviction was unwillingly admitted by burlcliffe who walked aside a moment to conceal the confusion which in spite of his ordinary inflexibility of countenance he felt was manifesting itself in his rubric visage while he muttered the amphibious dog he was a soldier but a trader and an enemy no doubt he will have a marvelous satisfaction in delighting the rebellious ears of his messmates by rehearsing the manner in which he poured cold water down the back of one burlcliffe of the nth who was amusing him at the same time by pouring good rich south side medira down his own rebellious throat i have a good mind to exchange my scarlet coat for a blue jacket on purpose to meet the sly rascal on the other element where we can discuss the matter over again well sergeant do you find the other two they are going together your honor return the orderly you just then re-entered from an examination of the other apartments and unless the evil one helped them off it's a mysterious business to me colonel howard said burlcliffe gravely your precious south side cordial must be banished from the board regularly with the cloth until i have my revenge for a satisfaction of this insult is mine to claim and i seek it this instant go drill detail a guard for the protection of the house and feed the rest of your command then beat the gentle and we will take the field i'm a worthy veteran host for the first time since the days of the unlucky charles stewart there shall be a campaign in the heart of england a rebellion rebellion a cursed unnatural and holy rebellion caused the calamity then and now exclaimed the colonel had i not better take a hasty refreshment for my men and their horses that's the cornet and then make a sweep for a few miles along the coast it may be my luck to encounter the fugitives or some part of their force you have anticipated my very thoughts return burlcliffe the casique of paddy may close the gates of saint ruthen by barring the windows and arming the servants he can make a very good defense against an attack should they think proper to assail our fortress after he has repulsed them leave it to me to cut off their retreat dylan but little relish this proposal for he thought an attempt to storm the abbey would be the most probable course adopted by griffith in order to rescue his mistress and the jurist had none of the spirit of a soldier in his composition in truth it was this deficiency that had induced him to depart in person the preceding night inquest of the reinforcement instead of sending an express on the errand but the necessity of devising an excuse for a change in this dangerous arrangement was obviated by colonel howard who exclaimed as soon as burlcliffe concluded his plan to me captain burlcliffe belongs of right the duty of defending saint ruthen it shall be no boy's play to force my works but kit would rather try his chance in the open field i know come let us to our breakfast and then he shall mount an actor's guide to the horse along the difficult passes of the seashore to breakfast then let it be cried the captain i distrust not my new commander of the fortress and in the field because seek forever we follow you my worthy host this arrangement was hastily executed in all its parts the gentleman swallowed their meal in the manner of men who ate only to sustain nature and as a duty after which the whole house became a scene of bustling activity the troops were mustered and paraded burlcliffe setting apart a guard for the building placed himself at the head of the remainder of his little party and they moved out of the courtyard in open order and at quick time dylan joyfully beheld himself mountain on one of the best of colonel howard's hunters where he knew that he had the control in a great measure of his own destiny his bosom throbbing with a powerful desire to destroy griffith while he entertained a lively wish to affect his object without incurring any personal risk at his side was the young cornet seated with practiced grace and his saddle who after giving time for the party of foot soldiers to clear the premises glanced his eye along the few files he led and then gave the word to move the little division of horse wheeled briskly into open colon and the officer touching his cap to colonel howard they dashed through the gateway together and pursued their route towards the seaside at a hand gallop the veteran lingered a few minutes while the clattering of hoofs was to be heard or the gleam of arms was visible to hear and gaze at sounds and sights that he still loved after which he proceeded in person and not without a secret enjoyment of the excitement to barricade the doors and windows with an on down to determination of making in case of need a stout defense st. Ruth lay but a short two miles from the ocean to which numerous roads led through the grounds of the abbey which extended to the shore along one of these paths dylan conducted his party until after a few minutes of hard riding they approached the cliffs when posting his troopers undercover of a little cops the cornet rode in advance with his guide to the verge of the perpendicular rocks whose bases were washed by the foam that still whitened the waters from the surges of the subsiding sea the gale had broken before the escape of the prisoners and as the power of the eastern tempest had gradually diminished a light current from the south that blew directly along the land prevailed and though the ocean still rolled in fearful billows their surfaces were smooth and they were becoming at each moment less precipitous and more regular the eyes of the horsemen were cast in vain over the immense expanse of water that was glistening brightly under the rays of the sun which had just risen from its bosom in quest of some object or distant sail that might confirm their suspicions or relieve their doubts but everything of that description appeared to have avoided the dangerous navigation during the violence of the late tempest and dylan was withdrawing his eyes in disappointment from the vacant view when as they fell towards the shore he beheld that which caused him to exclaim there they go and by heaven they will escape the cornet looked in the direction of the other's finger when he beheld at a short distance from the land and apparently immediately under his feet a little boat that looked like a dark shell upon the water rising and sinking amid the waves as if the men it obviously contained were resting on their oars in idle expectation did they continue doing or what is more probable it is their boat waiting to convey them to their vessel no common business would induce seaman to lie in this careless manner within such a narrow distance of the surf and what is to be done they cannot be made to feel hoarse where they are nor would the muskets of the foot be of any use a light three pounder would do its work handsomely on them the strong desire which dylan entertained to intercept or rather to destroy the party rendered him prompt at expedience after a moment of musing he replied the runaways must yet be on the land and by scouring the coast and posting minute proper intervals their retreat can easily be prevented in the meantime i will ride under the spur to blank bay where one of his majesty's cutters now lies that anchor it is but half an hour of hard riding and i can be on board of her the wind blows directly in her favor and if we can once bring her down behind that headland we shall infallibly cut off or sink these midnight depredators often cried the cornet whose young blood was boiling for a skirmish you will at least drive them to the shore where i can deal with them the words were hardly uttered before dylan after galloping furiously along the cliffs and turning short into a thick wood that lay in his root was out of sight the loyalty of this gentleman was all together of calculating nature and was intimately connected with what he considered his fealty to himself he believed that the possession of miss howards person and fortune were advantages that would much more than counter imbalance any elevation that he was likely to obtain by the revolution of affairs in his native colony he considered griffith as the only natural obstacle to his success and he urged his horse forward with a desperate determination to work the ruin of the young sailor before another son had set when a man labors in an evil cause with such feelings and with such incentives he seldom slights or neglects his work and mr dylan accordingly was on board the alacrity several minutes short of the time in which he had promised to perform the distance the plain old seaman who commanded the cutter listened to his tale with cautious ears and examined into the state of the weather and other matters connected with his duty with a slow and deliberate decision of one who had never done much to acquire a confidence in himself and who had been but niggardly rewarded for that little he had actually performed as dylan was urgent however and the day seemed propitious he had linked decided to act as he was desired and the cutter was accordingly gotten underway a crew of something less than 50 men moved with no little of their commander's deliberation but as the little vessel rounded the point behind which she had been anchored her guns were cleared and the usual preparations were completed for immediate and actual service dylan sorely against his will was compelled to continue on board in order to point out the place where the suspecting boatmen were expected to be in trap everything being ready when they had gained a safe distance from the land the alacrity was kept away before the wind and glided along the shore with a swift and easy progress that promised a speedy execution of the business in which her commander had embarked in the chapter 16 chapter 17 of the pilot by james fenimore cooper this lever box recording is in the public domain chapter 17 polonius very like a whale shakespeare notwithstanding the object of their expedition was of a public nature the feelings which had induced both griffith and barn stable to accompany the pilot with so much willingness it will easily be seen we're entirely personal the short intercourse that he had maintained with his associates enabled the mysterious leader of their party to understand the characters of his two principal officers so thoroughly as to induce him when he landed with the purpose of reconnoitering to ascertain whether the objects of his pursuit still held their determination to assemble at the appointed hour to choose griffith and manual as his only associates leaving barn stable in command of his own vessel to await their return and to cover their retreat a good deal of argument and some little of the authority of his superior officer was necessary to make barn stable quietly acquiesced in this arrangement but as his good sense told him that nothing should be unnecessarily hazardous until the moment to strike the final blow had arrived he became gradually more resigned taking care however to caution griffith to reconnoiter the abbey while his companion was reconnoitering blank house it was the strong desire of griffith to comply with this injunction which carried them a little out of their proper path and led to the consequences that we have partly related the evening of that day was the time when the pilot intended to complete his enterprise thinking to entrap his game while enjoying the festivities that usually succeed their sports and an early hour in the morning was appointed when barn stable should appear at the nearest point to the abbey to take off his countrymen in order that they might be as little as possible subjected to the gaze of their enemies by daylight if they failed to arrive at the appointed time his instructions were to return to his schooner which lay snugly imbued in a secret and retired haven that but few ever approached either by land or water while the young cornet still continued gazing at the whale boat for it was the party from the schooner that he saw the hour expired for the appearance of griffith and his companions and barn stable reluctantly determined to comply with the letter of his instructions and to leave them to their own sagacity and skill to regain the aerial the boat had been suffered to ride in the edge of the surf since the appearance of the sun and the eyes of her crew were kept anxiously fixed on the cliffs though in vain to discover the signal that was to call them to the place of landing after looking at his watch for the 20th time and as often casting glances of uneasy dissatisfaction towards the shore the lieutenant exclaimed a charming prospect this master coffin but rather too much poetry in it for your taste i believe you relish no land that is of a harder consistency than mud i was born on the water sir returned the coxswain from his snuggle boat where he was bestowed with his usual economy of ruin and it's according to all things for a man to love his native soil i'll not deny captain barn stable but i would rather drop my anchor on a bottom that won't brew mackerel though at the same time i harbor no great malice against dry land i shall never forgive it myself if any accident has befallen griffith in this excursion rejoin the lieutenant his pilot may be a better man on the water than on terror firma long tom the coxswain turned his solemn visage with an extraordinary meaning towards his commander before he replied for as long a time as i have followed the waters sir and that has been ever since i've drawn my ration seeing that i was born while the boat was crossing nantucket shoals i've never known a pilot come off in greater need than the one we fell in with when we made that stretch of two on the land in the dog watch of yesterday i the fellow has played his part like a man the occasion was great and it seems that he was quite equal to his work the frigates people tell me so that he handled the ship like a top continue the coxswain but she is a ship that is a natural enemy of the bottom can you say as much for this boat master kaufman cried barn stable keep her out of the surf or you'll have us rolling in upon the beach presently like an empty water cask you must remember that we cannot all wade like yourself in 2000 water the coxswain cast a cool glance at the crests of foam that were breaking over the tops of the billows within a few yards of where their boat was riding and called it loud to his men pull a stroke or two away with her into dark water the drop of the oars resemble the movements of a nice machine and the light boat skimmed along the water like a duck that approaches to the very brink of some imminent danger and then avoids it at the most critical moment apparently without an effort while this necessary movement was making barn stable arose and surveyed the cliffs with keen eyes and then turning once more in disappointment from his search he said pull more from the land and let her run down at an easy stroke to the schooner keep a look out at the cliffs boys it is possible that they are stowed in some of the holes in the rocks for its no daylight business they are on the order was promptly obeyed and they had glided along for nearly a mile in this manner in the most profound silence when suddenly the stillness was broken by heavy rush of air and a dash of the water seemingly had no great distance from them by heaven tom cried barn stable starting there is the blow of a whale ii sir returned the coxswain with undisturbed composure here is his spout not half a mile to seaward the easterly gale has driven the creature to leeward and he begins to find himself in shoal water he's been sleeping while he should have been working to winward the fellow takes it coolly to he's in no hurry to get an offering i rather conclude sir said the coxswain rolling over his tobacco in his mouth very composedly while his little sunken eyes began to twinkle with pleasure at the site the gentleman has lost his reckoning and don't know which way to head to take himself back into blue water tizza fin back exclaimed the lieutenant he will soon make headway and be off no sir tizza right whale answered tom i saw his spout he threw up a pair of as pretty rainbows as a christian would wish to look at he's a rail oil but that fellow barn stable laugh turned himself away from the tempting sight and tried to look at the cliffs and then unconsciously bent his longing eyes again on the sluggish animal who was throwing his huge carcass at times for many feet from that water in idle gambles then temptation forced sport in the recollection of his early habits that link prevailed over his anxiety in behalf of his friends and the young officer inquired of his coxswain is there any whale line in the boat to make fast to that harpoon which you bear about with you in fare whether or foul i never trust the boat from the schooner without part of a shot sir return the coxswain there is something natural in the side of a tub to my old eyes barn stable looked at his watch and again at the cliffs when he exclaimed enjoy his tones give strong way my hearties there seems nothing better to be done let us have a stroke of a harpoon at that impudent rascal the men shouted spontaneously in the old coxswain suffered his solemn visage to relax into a small laugh while the whale boat sprang forward like a coxser for the goal during the few minutes they were pulling towards their game long time arose from his crouching attitude in the stern sheets and transferred his huge form to the bowels of the boat where he made such preparations to strike the whale as the occasion required the tub containing about half of a whale line was placed at the feet of barn stable who had been preparing an ore to steer with in place of the rudder which was unshipped in order that if necessary the boat might be world round when not advancing their approach was utterly unnoticed by the monster of the deep who continued to amuse himself with throwing the water into circular spouts high into the air occasionally flourishing the broad flukes of his tail with a graceful but terrific force until the hearty seamen were within a few hundred feet of him when he suddenly cast his head downward and without an apparent effort reared his immense body for many feet above the water waving his tail violently and producing a whizzing noise that sounded like the rushing of winds the coxswain stood erect poisoning his harpoon ready for the blow up but when he beheld the creature assume this formidable attitude he waved his hand to his commander who instantly signed to his men to cease rowing in this situation the sportsman rested a few moments while the whale struck several blows on the water in rapid succession the noise of which re echoed along the cliffs like the holler reports of so many cannon after this wanton exhibition of his terrible strength the monster sank again into his native element and slowly disappeared from the eyes of his pursuers which way did he head tom cried barn stable the moment the whale was out of sight pretty much up and down sir returned the coxswain whose eye was gradually brightened with the excitement of the sport he'll soon run his nose against the bottom if he stands long on that course and we'll be glad to get another snuff of pure air send her a few fathoms to starboard sir and i promise we shall not be out of his track the conjecture of the experienced old seamen proved true for in a few moments the water broke near them and another spout was cast into the air when the huge animal rushed for half his length in the same direction and fell on the sea with a turbulence and foam equal to that which is produced by the launching of a vessel for the first time into its proper element after this evolution the whale rolled heavily and seemed to rest for further efforts his slightest movements were closely watched by barn stable and his coxswain and when he was in a state of comparative rest the former gave a signal to his crew to apply their oars once more a few long and vigorous strokes sent the boat directly up to the broad side of the whale with its bowels pointing towards one of the fins which was at times as the animal yielded sluggishly to the action of the waves exposed to view the coxswain poised his harpoon with much precision and then darted it from him without violence that buried the iron in the blubber of their flow the instant the blow was made long time shouted with singular earnestness star and all star and all echoed barn stable when the obedient seaman by united efforts forced the boat in a backward direction beyond the reach of any blow from their formidable antagonist the alarmed animal however meditated no such resistance ignorant of his own power and of the insignificance of his enemies he sought refuge in flight one moment of stupid surprise exceeded the entrance of the iron when he cast his huge tail into the air with a violence that threw the sea around him into increased commotion and then disappeared with the quickness of lightning amid a cloud of foam snub him shouted barn stable hold on time he rises already i serve applied the composed coxswain seizing the line which was running out of the boat with a velocity that rendered such a maneuver rather hazardous and causing it to yield more gradually round the large loggerhead that was placed in the bowels of the boat for that purpose presently the line stripped forward and rising to the surface with tremulous vibrations it indicated the direction in which the animal might be expected to reappear barn stable had cast the bowels of the boat towards that point before the terrified and wounded victim rose once more to the surface whose time was however no longer wasted in his sports but who cast the waters aside as he forced his way with prodigious velocity along the surface the boat was dragged violently in his wake and cut through the billows with a terrific rapidity that at moments appeared to bury the slight fabric in the ocean when long tom beheld his victim throwing his spouts on high again he pointed with exaltation to the jetting fluid which was streaked with the deep red of blood and cried i i've touched the fellow's life it must be more than two foot of blubber that stops my arm from reaching the life of any whale that ever scald the ocean i believe you have saved yourself the trouble of using the bayonet you have rigged for a lance that his commander who entered into the sport with all the ardor of one whose youth had been chiefly passed in such pursuits through your line master caulkman can we haul alongside of our enemy i like not the course he is steering as he toes us from the schooner tis the creature's way sir said the coxswain you know they need the air in their nostrils when they run the same as a man but they hold boys and let's haul up to him the seaman now sees the whaline and slowly drew their boat to within a few feet of the tail of the fish whose progress became sensibly less rapid as he grew weak with the loss of blood in a few minutes he stopped running and appeared to roll uneasily on the water as if suffering the agony of death shall we pull in and and finish him tom cried barn stable a few sets from your bayonet would do it the coxswain stood examining his game with cool discretion and replied to this interrogatory no sir no he's going into his flurry there's no occasion for disgracing ourselves by using a soldier's weapon and taking a whale star and off sir star and off the creatures in his flurry the warning of the prudent coxswain was promptly obeyed and the boat cautiously drew off to a distance leaving to the animal a clear space while under its dying agonies from a state of perfect rest the terrible monster through its tail on high as went in sport but its blows were traveled in rapidity and violence till all was hid from view by a pyramid of foam that was deeply died with blood the rowings of the fish were like the bellowing of a herd of bulls and to one who was ignorant of the fact it would have appeared as if a thousand monsters were engaged in deadly combat behind the bloody mist that obscured the view gradually these effects subsided and when the discolored water again settled down to the long and regular swell of the ocean the fish was seen exhausted and yielding passively to its fate as life departed the enormous black mass rolled to one side and when the white and glistening skin of the belly became apparent the semen well knew that their victory was achieved what's to be done now said barn stable as he stood engaged with a diminished excitement at their victim he will yield no food and his carcass will probably drift to land and furnish our enemies with the oil if i had about that creature in boston bay said the coxswain it would prove the making of me but such is my luck forever pull up at any rate and let me get my harpoon in line the english i'll never get them while old tom colvin can blow don't speak too fast said the strokesman of the boat whether he get your iron or not here he comes in chase well mean you fellow cried barn stable captain barn stable can look for himself return the semen and tell whether i speak truth young sailor turned and saw the alacrity bearing down before the wind with all her sails set as she rounded a headland but a short half league to winward of the place where the boat lay past that glass to me said the captain was steady composure this promises us work in one of two ways if she be armed it has become our turn to run if not we are strong enough to carry her a very brief survey made the experienced officer acquainted with the true character of the vessel in sight and replacing the glass with much coolness he said that fellow shows long arms and 10 teeth besides king george's pendant from his top mast head now my lads you are to pull for your lives for whatever may be the notions of master colvin on the subject of his harpoon i have no inclination to have my arms pinion by john bull though his majesty himself put on the irons the men well understood the manner and meaning of their commander and throwing aside their coast they applied themselves an earnest to their task for half an hour a profound silence reigned in the boat which made an amazing progress the many circumstances conspired to aid the cutter she had a fine breeze with smooth water and a strong tide in her favor and at the expiration of the time we have mentioned it was but too apparent that the distance between the pursuit and the pursuers was less than nearly by half barn stable preserved his steady countness but there was an expression of care gathering around his dark brow which indicated that he saw the increasing danger of their situation that fellow has long legs master colvin he said in a cheerful tone your whale line must go overboard and the fifth or it must be handled by your delicate hands tom arose from his seat and proceeding forward he cast the tub in his contents to get into the sea when he seated himself at the bow or and bent his athletic frame with amazing vigor to the task there is much of your philosophy in that stroke long time quite his commander keep it up boys and if we gain nothing else we shall at least gain time for deliberation come master colvin what thank you we have three resources before us let us hear which is your choice first we can turn and fight and be sunk secondly we can pull to the land and endeavor to make good our retreat to this schooner in that manner and thirdly we can head to the shore and possibly by running under the guns of that fellow get the wind of him and keep the air in our nostrils after the manner of the whale damn the whale but for the toe the black rascal gave us we should have been out of sight of this rover if we fight said tom with quite as much composure as his commander manifested we shall be taken or sunk if we land sir i should be taken for one man as i never could make any headway on dry ground and if we try to get the wind of him by pulling under the cliffs we shall be cut off by a parcel of lovers that i can see running along their edges hoping i dare say that they shall be able to get a skulking shot at a boat's crew of honest seafaring men you speak with as much truth as philosophy tom said barn stable who saw his slender hopes of success curtailed by the open appearance of the horse and foot on the cliffs these englishmen have not slept the last night and i fear griffith and manual will fare but badly that fellow brings a cap full of wind down within to his just his play and he walks like a racehorse how he begins to be an urnist while barn stable was speaking a column of white smoke was seen issuing from the bowels of the cutter does the report of a cannon was wafted to their ears the shot was seen skipping from wave to wave tossing the water and spray and flying to a considerable distance beyond them the seaman cast cursory glances in the direction of the passing ball but it produced no manifest effect in either their conduct or appearance the coxswain who scanned its range with an eye of more practice than the rest observed that's a lively piece for its metal and it speaks with a good clear voice but if they hear it aboard the aerial the man who fired it will be sorry it wasn't born dumb you are the prince of philosophers master coffin cried barn stable there is some hope in that let the englishmen talk away and my life on it the aerials don't believe it is thunder hand me a musket i'll draw another shot the piece was given to barn stable who discharged it several times as if to taunt their enemies and the scheme was completely successful goaded by the insults the cutter discharged gun after gun at the little boat throwing the shot frequently so near as to wet her crew with the spray but without injuring them in the least the failure of these attempts of the enemy excited the mirth of the reckless seaman instead of creating any alarm and whenever a shot came near then common the coxswain would utter some such expression as a ground swell a long shot and a small object make a clean target or a man must squint straight to hit a boat as notwithstanding their unsuccessful gunnery the cutter was constantly gaining on the whale boat there was a prospect of a speedy termination of the chase when the report of a cannon was thrown back like an echo from one of the englishman's discharges and barn stable and his companions had the pleasure of seeing the aerial stretching slowly out of the little bay where she had passed the night with the smoke of the gun of defiance curling above her taper mass a loud and simultaneous shout of rapture was given by the lieutenant and all his boat's crew at this cheering site while the cutter took in all her light sails and as she hauled up on a wind she fired a whole broadside at the successful fugitives many stands of great with several round shot flew by the boat and fell upon the water near them raising a cloud of foam but without doing any injury she dies in a flurry said tom casting his eyes at the little vortex into which the boat was then entering if her commander be a true man quad barn stable he'll not leave us on so short and acquaintance give away my souls give away i would see more of this loquacious cruiser the temptation for exertion was great and it was not disregarded by the men in a few minutes the whale boat reached the schooner when the crew of the latter received their commander and his companions were shouts and cheers that rang across the waters and reached the ears of the disappointed spectators on the verge of the cliffs end of chapter 17