Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-30

HpaNo adVns lhe toctsi Whete many pieces OF
the wreck had been lodged, and where he found
the bodice gf three Of his men. He hastenedto to
the spot where they lay--two Of them being
clasped in eaee others arms--but he found no
signs Of lile
With sad, heavy heart, Lester passed on,
aud presently he found two more dead ones, and
one Of them was David Griffin, his chief mate.
lie kneeled down by the officers side, and
raised the head but Is was cold and lifeess and
the skull was broken Gently he laid It back
upon the sand, and then moved on again
Aad be saw more dead man alsol Could il be
possible that no had been the one left alivel
Ha!-wait-what is thisl II moves--il has
lfe
Captain Lester hurried forward, as fast az
his feeble strength would permit and found two
men lying by the side Of heavy spsr One of
them was dead but the other gazed up into his
comm anders face, andstrenched forth his hands
as though he would ask for mercy. His name
was Dick Mangle, and be had been one Of the
best seaman on b1arl the ship
''Poor Dickw said Lester, kneeIinp by his
side and lifting his head care you badly
hurti''
They've done Il for usl" the sailor answer.
ed, in weakening voice. They've killed
Tom. Amt be deadl''
1t was the body Of stout Tom Bribket that
lay close by, and when the captain had made
himself sure that there was no particle of life
10 IT, he reported the same to Dick
"But,7 be added ''what do you meant Who
has done you harml"
Haven't you seen eml" the man asked,
struggling for breath
seen whoml What do you meant" de-
IN ndod Lester, eagerly.
Dick started up to his elbow, and gazed
around; but he seemed to find nothing for which
he was looking, aud he sank back again. Had
he not made this effort he might have spoken
further, but the act of rising had exhausted
him, and the last grain of strength was leaving
him,
'What do you melr!" cried Lester, as he
saw that the poor fellow was sinking. "Ias
any body harmed youl"
Dick managed to raise his hand to his head
to point above the LETT ear-and, as he did
so, he whispered-
"Iook out they asked for the eaptn-
That's wheTo they struck!' He tired to speak
further, but his voice failed him.
What could this mean! Maurice Lester start
ed to his feet and gazed around Who had
killed his men!
The captain was disturbed in his meditation
by the sound OF voices not far of, and upon
turning he beheld four men coming up from
the water He who came in advance was a
'all, muscular man; with gaunt, heavy frame;
somewhere about fifty or fiity-fve wears of spe:
and habited in grab Of blue cloth, cut into a
frock, or shirt, which was secured at the waist
by broad pisiol belt.
Maurice Lester was startled V hen he behed
the etalwart leader aud his three rullianly com.
panlons; and considering all the circumstances,
il is no wonder that he was startled. How
ever, he had not much opportunity for ref c
tion, for by the time he had fairly mado out
the party, they were upon him.
"Hallo," the leader cried, as he saw our hero
shore we have another And, as he came up
he added "And guess we've found live one
too,-one that knows something Say who
are yel"
The last sentence was addressed to Maurice,
who quickly answered
MY name is Lester. And now, to be fair,
what is your namel"
"Weil-I guess you've heard it lefore. Men
call me Ryap WoltgauR."
'MoLFoANo!" repeated Lester, with ftart.
"Yes. That is my name"
Then WoIigang was not myth after all
That mysterious wrecker, whose name was a
source Of terror to honest sailors, was being
of flesh aud blood, like other men. Maurice
gaEed upon him with wonder; aud, as he nazed
he felt that he looked upon iend incarnate.
lie had often heard of tao pirate -wrecker. md
sU dark and mystic had been the tales which
the North Son sailors had told, that he had been
inclined to believe tn { the whole theme was a
fabrication. Now, however, he had no more
doubt, for the man before him looked as dark
aud bloody as were any of the pictures he had
heard drawn of him upon the lofecastle.
But our hero was not allowed much time for
reflection. Wolfgang piled him with queations
TO all Of which Lester gave straightforward an
swers; well knowing that evasion would serve
no practical purpose, and hoping by bis frank
ness to prOpitiate the merciless end in whose
unrestrained power he knew himself to be.
When the wrecker chief had ELECTED all the
information he could, and learned with what a
rich cargo the vefsel was lreighted, and that
she had $40 900 in specie on board he smiled
grmly, aud remarked TO one OF his confsder
ates that she would perhaps be richer prize
even than the White Fawn had been a few
years before. The mention Of the name of the
ill-iated ship ia which Carrie Thornton and her
father had been lost, gave Maurice Lester such
shock that he nearly fell to the earth. He
grew deadly pale, and his frame quiyered con
Vulsivey.
Whats the matIerl" said Wolfgang "Yuu
don't seem to have much strength left !--Pring
him along, boys, where we can doctor him
The sinister glance which accompanied this
last remark, and tho peculiarly emphasis laid
upon the word "dsefor," struck chill to our
hero's heart. But he could not give his own
safety much thought, while he was partly
forced and partly carried along after Wolfgang,
who strobe rapidly on for nearly half an hour
He could think only OF the White Faioa that
had been wrecked on that coast, and of his be-
loved Carrie who had, perhaps, in company
with those same men, tIod the same path he
was now treading What had been her fatcl-
Had she been murdered by these wretches, OF
reserved for some more deplorsble dooni-
These thoughts filled him with unutterable
agony.
Wollgang had now drawn near the waler's
edgej and soon coming TO the mouth of a
cave he entered it, followed by the ruflians
who had charge Of our hero. The bottom of
the cave sOped upwards from its entrance for
ssme distance, aid then became almost level
The captive flor such Maurice Lester now iel.
himself TO beg frequently hit his feet against
what he thought with chill Of horror, were
human bones stTewn around the cavern, but he
could not clearly make them out in the dim
light. lie also noticed that the bottom Of the
cave was very wet, as though il had recently
been covered with water. The wreeker chief.
tain stopped at last, near what seemed the
end Of the cave, and making a sign TO his fol.
lowers, they oapped manRCles on the wrists
and anoles before he had time TO note their in.
tentiOn.
"Now, Captain Lester said wOlfgang, "you
must remain in this place for short season.
You are psrtettiy safe hers.--Silence Say not
a word If you attempt TO leave ths spot,
you will be SLAIN tho moment you SCI foot outs
side the cave"
Thrs speaking, the ohieltain and his follow
ers silently bui repidly Withdrew, leaving
Maurice nearly siupsded with astonishment.--
As they passed from tue mouth of the cave,