“Percy, are you aware of the fact that when I am dead and gone that you will be the only living man who can safely run our brig into the Cove?”
“Rodney can do it, father,” the youth replied, with much surprise.
“No, no, he cannot. The last time in I gave up the command to him when we were about a mile outside Hood’s Island; and, if you will believe me, we came within an ace of losing the old Staghound; and, most likely, losing a few of ourselves as well. While I was looking in another direction, never dreaming of danger, we were within a dozen fathoms of the northern point of Dead Man’s Reef! Yes, my boy, had I been ten seconds later no power on earth could have saved us. Poor old Donald! He said he had no idea the reef made up so far.
“Perhaps I have been wrong. I have kept our secret too close for my own good. You learned the course almost by instinct. By the way--didn’t you tell me that you had discovered a safe channel some where about midway of that reef?”
“Yes, father, I found it last spring. It is just about midway between the southern headland of the bay and the northern extremity of the reef. I took soundings, and got all the necessary bearings for coming in. There are no reliable bearings by which to run out.”
“They’re not needful, boy. But the time may come when that way of running in may be of use. My soul! it doesn’t seem possible. I wouldn’t have believed that a course through that reef could have been found for a fair sized barge, let alone a brig. But, my dear boy, this isn’t getting on with business, and I feel that my voice is giving out.”
“Yes, father--your second request. Has it to do with piloting the brig?”
“Yes, Percy. I want you to give me your promise that, while you find a home here in the old cottage, you will pilot the brig in whenever you are asked to do so. As you know, we have other havens. For the year to come she may not have occasion to run in here more than once or twice. This is the refuge when the king’s cruisers are at our heels. On other occasions we come here but seldom.”
“Of course,” said the youth, “until I can teach others how to find the true course, I will find it for them; but, when I shall have taught Rodney, he can, in turn, teach others--”