The Pilot (Volume 2); A Tale of the Sea (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1823. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. "Ay, marry, let me bare bim to sit under. He's like to be a cold soldier." Fabtoff. * Barnstable lingered on the sands for a few minutes, until the footsteps of Dillon and the cockswain were no longer audible, when he ordered his men to launch their boat once more into the surf. While the seamen pulled leisurely toward? the place he had designated, as the point wherelie would await the return of Tom, the lieutenant first began to entertain serious apprehensions concerning the good faith of his prisoner. Now, that Dillon was beyond his control, his imagination presented, in very vivid colours, several little circumstances in the other's conduct, which might readily excuse some doubts of his good faith, and, by the time they had reached the place of rendezvous, and had cast a light grapnel into the sea, his fears had rendered him excessively uncomfortable. Leaving the lieutenant to his reflections, on this unpleasant subject, we shall follow Dillon and his fearless and unsuspecting companion, in their progress towards St. Ruth. The mists, to which Tom had alluded, in his discussion of the state of the weather with his commander, appeared to be settling nearer to the earth, and assuming, more decidedly, the ap* pearance of a fog, hanging above them, in sluggish volumes, but little agitated by the air. The consequent obscurity added deeply to the floom of the night, and it would have been difcult for one, less acquainted than Dillon with the surrounding localities, to have found the path which led to the dwelling of Colonel Howard. After some little search, this desirable object was effected, and the civilian led the way, with rapid strides, towards the Abbey. "Ay, ay " said Tom, who followed his steps, and equalled his paces, without any apparent effort, " you shore-people ...