BY J. F. COOPER
James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851): A famous American novelist. His best novels describe backwoods and seafaring life, with both of which Cooper"s early experiences had made him familiar. The most popular of these stories are "Deerslayer," "The Last of the Mohicans," and "The Pilot."This selection is from "The Pilot," the best of Cooper"s sea novels. The scene is laid during the American Revolution, and John Paul Jones, the hero of so many Revolutionary sea-fights, is one of the characters in the story.
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As the first mist of the gale passed over, it was succeeded by a faint light that was a good deal aided by the glittering foam of the waters, which now broke in white curls around the vessel in every direction. The land could be faintly discerned, rising like a heavy bank of black fog, above the margin of the waters, and was only distinguishable from the heavens by its deeper gloom and obscurity. The last rope was coiled and deposited in its proper place by the seamen, and for several minutes the stillness of death pervaded the crowded decks. It was evident to every one that their shipwas dashing at a prodigious rate through the waves, and was approaching with velocity1 the quarter of the bay where the shoals2 and dangers were known to be situated.
"Tack3 your ship, sir, tack your ship," said the pilot toGriffith; "I would see how she works before we reach the point where she must behave well or we perish."Griffith gazed after him, while the pilot gave forth the cheering order that called each man to his station to perform the desired evolution4. The helm was no sooner put alee5, than the huge ship bore up gallantly against the wind, and, dashing directly through the waves, threw the foam high into the air, as she looked boldly into the very eye of the wind; and then, yielding gracefully to its power, she fell off on the other tack, with her head pointed from those dangerous shoals that she had so recently approached with such terrifying velocity. The heavy yards swung round, as if they had been vanes to indicate the currents of the air; and in a few moments the frigate again moved with stately progress through the Water, leaving the rocks and shoals behind her on one side of the bay, but advancing toward those that offered equal danger on the other.
During this time the sea was becoming more agitated, and the violence of the wind was gradually increasing. The latter no1Velocity: speed; quickness of motion.
2Shoals: shallow water; advances into shallow water.
3Tack: change the direction of a vessel by shifting the position of the helm and sails; the direction of a vessel with regard to the position of its sails.
4Evolution: prescribed movement, as of a ship or a body of troops. 5 Alee: on the side away from the wind.
longer whistled amid the cordage of the vessel, but it seemed to howl surlily as it passed the complicated machinery that the frigate obtruded in its path. An endless succession of white surges rose above the heavy billows, and the very air was glittering with the light that was disengaged from the ocean. The ship yielded each moment more and more before the storm, and in less than half an hour from the time that she had lifted her anchor she was driven along with tremendous fury by the full power of a gale of wind. Still the hardy and experienced mariners who directed her movements, held her to the course that was necessary to their preservation, and still Griffith gave forth, when directed by their unknown pilot, those orders that turned her in the narrow channel where alone safety was to be found.
So far the performance of his duty appeared easy to the stranger, and he gave the required directions in those still, calm tones that formed so remarkable a contrast to the responsibility of his situation. But when the land was becoming dim in distance as well as darkness, and the agitated sea alone was to be discovered as it swept by them in foam, he broke in upon the monotonous roaring of the tempest with the sound of his voice, seeming to rouse himself to the occasion.
"Now is the time to watch her closely, Mr. Griffith," he cried; "here we get the true tide and the real danger. Place the best quartermaster1 of your ship in those chains, and let an1 Quartermaster: an officer of low rank who attends to the helm, signals, etc., under the direction of the master of the ship.
officer stand by him and see that he gives us the right water.""I will take that office on myself," said the captain; "pass a light into the weather main chains.""Stand by your braces1!" exclaimed the pilot, with startlingquickness. "Heave away that lead!"2These preparations taught the crew to expect the crisis, and every officer and man stood in fearful silence at his assigned station, awaiting the issue of the trial. Even the quartermaster gave out his orders to the men at the wheel in deeper and hoarser tones than usual, as if anxious not to disturb the quiet and order of the vessel.
While this deep expectation pervaded the frigate the piercing cry of the leadsman, as he called "by the mark3 seven," rose above the tempest, crossed over the decks, and appeared to pass away to leeward, borne on the blast like the warnings of some water-spirit.
""Tis well," returned the pilot calmly; "try it again."The short pause was succeeded by another cry, "and a half- five!""She shoals! she shoals!" exclaimed Griffith; "keep her a good full.""Aye! you must hold the vessel in command now," said the pilot, with those cool tones that are most appalling in critical1Braces: ropes by which the yards are moved horizontally.
2Heave away that lead: take soundings with the lead and line.
3Mark: one of the bits of leather or colored bunting placed upon a sounding line at distances of from two to five fathoms; the unmarked fathoms are called deeps.
moments, because they seem to denote most preparation and care.
The third call, "by the deep four!" was followed by a prompt direction from the stranger to tack.
