A Romance of the Coast

Seeking local scenes for stories. Harry Myers leaves his home at Becket Castle to live among the fisher folks near Pond Cove. At the start of his stay, he falls in love with Ethel, daughter of Dick Drayton, a lobster fisherman whose cravings for drink causes him to mistreat his daughters, Ethel and Beatrice. In his love-making with Ethel, Myers incurs the enmity of Charles Cogan, who has forced unwelcomed attentions upon Ethel. When Ethel's father learns of Myer's infatuation for Ethel, he orders him away from the cabin. He also discourages a love affair between Beatrice and a fisherman. Due to their father's indolence, Ethel and Beatrice are forced to go out alone in their fishing punt and set the lobster pots. One day Ethel goes forth in the punt without Beatrice. She moors the boat to a rock, half a mile off shore, where pots have been set. While she is pulling in a pot, the boat becomes dislodged and drifts away. It is flood tide and Ethel is left alone on the rock, absolutely helpless. Slowly the incoming tide covers the rock. Myers, from the window of his room in Pete Wright's cabin, catches sight of the figure on the rock. He runs to Ethel's home, and from Beatrice learns that Ethel had gone alone. Down to the beach rushes Myers. Here Cogan's punt is moored. Myers starts to leap in the boat to go to Ethel's assistance, but Cogan refuses to let him. Myers knocks out Cogan, leaps into the boat, and rows to Ethel's assistance. He reaches her just as the waves have climbed to her chin. Ethel is dragged safely into the boat, while the assembled villagers, on shore, applaud his bravery. When Ethel has recovered, Myers asks for her hand in marriage, and discloses his identity. Ethel's father approves of the match.