The Pirate Island

Set sail for adventure! A swash buckling tail of the high seas full of courage and danger.The barometer had been slowly but persistently falling during the two previous days; the dawn had been red and threatening with a strong breeze from S.E.; and as the short dreary November day waxed and waned this strong breeze had steadily increased in strength until by nightfall it had become a regular ""November gale "" with frequent squalls of arrowy rain and sleet which impelled by the furious gusts smote and stung like hail and cleared the streets almost as effectually as a volley of musketry would have done. It was not fit for a dog to be out of doors. So said Ned Anger as he entered the snug bar-parlour of the ""Anchor"" at Brightlingsea and drawing a chair close up to the blazing fire of wreck-wood which roared up the ample chimney flung himself heavily down thereon to await the arrival of the ""pint"" which he had ordered as he passed the bar.