e was discovered
by a Federal gunboat, which gave chase and fired upon her. Without
returning fire, she raced in for shelter amongst the dangerous islands
off Cape Sable, and was lost in the fog. Rumor had it that she ran on
the rocks off that perilous coast, and sank with all on board. As time
went by, and there was no more sign of the corsair, the rumor was
accepted as proven. Men began to spin yarns in the forecastle about
Mogul Mackenzie, with an interest that was tinged with its former fear.
Skippers were beginning to feel at ease again on the grim waters, when
suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, came the awful news of the
discovery of the _St. Clare_.

Gunboats put off to scour the coast-line; and again with fear and
trembling the look-out began to eye suspiciously every new sail coming
up on the horizon.

One afternoon, toward the end of May, a schooner came tearing into
Portland harbor, with all her canvas, crowded on, and flying distress
signals. Her skipper said that off the island of Campabello he had seen
a long gray sailing-ship with auxiliary power sweeping down upon him. As
the wind was blowing strong inshore, he had taken to his heels and made
for Portland. He was chased all the way, and his pursuer did not drop
him until he was just off the harbor bar.

Many doubted his story, however, saying that no one would dare to chase
a peaceful craft so near to a great port in broad daylight. And, again,
it was urged that an auxiliary vessel could easily have overhauled the
schooner between Campabello and Portland. The fact that the captain of
the schooner was as often drunk as sober, and that when he was under the
influence of drink he was given to seeing visions, was pointed to as
conclusive proof that his yarn was a lie. After the New Bedford whaler
came into port with the abandoned _St. Clare_, it was known beyond doubt
that the _Kanawha_ was still a real menace. But nobody cared to admit
that Mogul Mackenzie was as bold as the schooner's report would imply,
and hence countless arguments were put forward to allay such fears.

But a few days later the fact that the pirates were still haunting their
coast was absolutely corroborated. A coastal packet from Boston arrived
at Yarmouth with the news that she had not only sighted _Kanawha_ in the
distance, but they had crossed each other's paths so near that the name
could be discerned beyond question with a spyglass. She was heading up
the Bay of Fundy, and di