Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-31
CHAPTER lI-WULFUASG.

4
| Maurice Lester was near tho slarbuard gang
way when tie ship Srgck having started ait 10
| look H. the helm The shock threw him upon his
back, aud he tiled 10 get up; but ere he could
gam his feet the hood Of mai waters came surgins
over III. bark. and hr was thrown-bo knew not
where He uuly knew that til. food cune--that
| il caught him III IL & ant srasp-that ii hurled
him is the gale hurls a icatLcr-that his head was
hurt--that his body was tossed and bruscd--and
then the lamp Of his consciousness went out
Wuen he came 10 himself IL was daylight, and the
rays Of the sun were brInng above him. At first
he did lot attempt IN move, any further than sim
ply to assure himself dat he was really alive and
sensible; but sOus hi recall the events Of the past
which he did. very clearly, up to the time when
his ship struck upon the r0cks,-be could 20 no
farther. After this he raised himself upon his ell
bow, and tried to gaze about him. lie found hun
.eif upon bed Of sand, between two immense
rocks. lie had been landed there in that deep
nook and the tide had gone cut aud left him. Ia
littic while lie to hi- feet, aud managed to
crawl up, by the aid Of stranded spar, over low
part OF one Ui the rocks.
After seeing all that was Ia be observed from
this point, he moved Oh towards where he thought
he should soonest lind open bench, tor he felt
faint and sick, aud he wished 10 find help US soon
possible. After toing over slippery, Shiny
rocks. and cruel, tearing crags, until his clothing
u,
hc finally reached an open space among the rocks,
whore lnany pieces Of the wreck had been lodged,
aud where he found the bodies oi three vi his men,
lie FASTENED TO the spot where they lay-tw0 Of
them being casped III each Others arms--but he
found no -lgns 81 iiie.
With rad, heavy heart Lester passed on, and
presently he found two dead ones. and one Of
them David Griffin. h- chief mate. He ku.el-
ell down 10y the officers side, aud ias,i the head;
huf 4 ,.tIl nl md L nll ~
ken tien'ly he laid it back upon the sand, and
then moved Oh again And he saw more dead
men also! Could II be possible that be had been
the only one ci alive:
la. wait-what is this, II moycs-it has
life.
Captain Lester hurried forward, rs fast as his
feeble strength would permit, and found two men
lying by the side Of heavy spar. One Of them
was dead: but the other gaLed up into his comman
ders face, and stretched forth his hands Us though
he would ask Tor mercy. His name was Dick
Manglo, AMI he had been oUe Of the best seaman
on board the ship.
''Pook Dcr" said Lester, knceling by Lis side
ami lifting his head. Are you badly hurr."
They done 1t for ~" the sailor ans wered, in
II weakening voice. They've killed Tom. Amt
he dead?'
II WIS the body Of stout Tom Brickct that Law
close by, and when the captain had made him self
sure that there partic. Of life in IT, no re-
ported the same 10 Dick.
But" he added, what do you mean, Who
has done you HARM"
Haven't you seen emp" the man asked, strug-
Cling for breath.
seen whom? What do you mean" demanded
Lester, eagerly
Dick started up to his elbow, and gaxed around;
but he seemed to find nothing tor which no WAS
looking, and he sank back again. Had he not M sds
this effort he might have spoken further, but the
act oirisng had exhausted him, and the las, grain
Of strength was leaving him.
w bat do you mean" cried Lester, as he saw
that tie poor fellow was sinking. HAS any body
harmed yuu?'
Dick managed to raise his hand to his hcad-to
point above tue left ear-and, as he did So, he
whispered
Look out-thcy asked for the capt'n. That's
where they struck He tried to speak further
but his voice failed him.
What could this mean! Maurice Lester started
T. his feet and ga1ed around. Who had killed his
men.
The captain was disturbed in hi. meditation hy
the sound Ot voices not far Oft and upon turpipy
he beheii four men coming up from the water
lie who came IN advance was tall, muscular m an
with a gaunt. heavy frame; somew here about If, v
or nifty i've years Of age; and habted in a garb of
blue cloth, cut into irock, shirt, which Was SEE
cured at the waist by u broud pistol belt,