Laura Brayton — page 156: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

LAURA BRAYTON, : 147 “We may have even more than that, sir,” said the old grizzly-haired, weather-bronzed pilot. “I’m more used to this coast than any of you, and more hike to see what you wouldn’t notice. When por- poises heave their heads for deep water, it is no time for ships to hug the shore.” And he pointed to asquad of the sharp-snouted sea-hogs, puffing and blowing as they worked off to eastward.” | “Ay, that looks bad. I’ve seen it before,” said the old captain, looking: anxiously all around the horizon. “Yet there’s no bad weather sign in the sky.” ae “Tsn’t there in the air? Do you hear that?” And as they listened, they heard distinctly the stroke of a bell—heard it so plainly that each stroke was counted. “That is a ship’s bell, clear in at Hampton Roads, where the ships are almost hull down,” said the pilot.. “When you can hear sounds so far as that it is time thata ship was put in trim for heavy weather.” | “You’re right, nilot.- Will you shorten sail, or shall I? You’re in charge, you know.” | “You had better do it, captain; the crew are more used to you thanme. They’ll work with a better will at your commands.” g The captain at once began to reduce sail. & “What does this mean, sir?” asked a tall, fine- , looking man, who from his extreme pallor, as well 4 as his slender, fragile form, seemed to be in very ill - health; a man whose age might be fifty, not more, perhaps less; for those who suffer grow old in look - beyond Bete years. “It means, sir, that those old fogies are scared at aa gy Sy ee aie »~ -comicbooks.co