Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-12-30


he came to himself 1t was daylight aud the
, rays of the sun were beaming above HIM.
Al first he did not attempt 10 move, any
fu tor than SIN ly TO Il sure hims II that
lie was really alive and sensible; bat
sought to recall the events OF the past,
which he did, very clearly, up to 'he time
when his ship struck upon the rocSs,--he
could 90 no farther. Amer this he raised
himself upon his elbow, and tried to gaze
about him. He found himself upon bed
of sand, between two immeuSe- rocks. He
had been landed there in that deep nook.
and the tide had gone out aud ieti him. In
little while he rose to his feet, and man
aged 10 crawl up, by the aid OF a stranded
spar, over low part of one Of the rocks.
After seeing all that was 10 he observed
from this point, he moved on towards
where he thought lie should soonest find an
open beach, for he felt faint and SILK. and
he wished to find help as soon as possible.
After toiling over slippery, Shiny rocks,
and cruel, tearing crd"s, until'hiS clothing
was all torn, and his flesh bruised and lace.
rated he finally rcache an open space
among the rocks, where many pieces OF the
wreck had been lodged and where he found
the bodies Of three men. lie fastened to
the spot where they lay-two of them be-
inc clasprd in eash others arms-but he
found no signs Of life.
With n sad, heavy heart, Lester passed
on, ana presently he found two more dead
ones, and one of them was David Griffin,
his chief mate. He kneelel down by the
officers side, and raised the head; but il
was cold and hteless and the skull was
/ broken! Gently he laid ii back upon the
! sand, and then moved on again. And he
saw more dead men also! Could il he
possible that he had been the only one left
alive !?
Ia!-wait what is Ills? 1t moves
il has life
Captain Lester hurried forward, as fast
as his feeble strength would permit, and
found two meu lying by the side of
heavy spar. One Of them was dead; but
1 the other cazed up INFO his commanders
/ face, and stretched forth his hands as though
he would ask for mercy. His name was
Dick Mangle, and he had been one Of the
best seamen on board the ship.
Poor Dick ! said Lester, kneeling BY
his side and lifting his head. Are you bad
ly hurt?'
They've done it for usr the sailor ans
wered, in a weakening voice. They've
killed Tom. Amt he dead 2
II was the body of stout Tom Brickct
that lay close by, and when The captain had
made himself sure that there was no par
ticle of life in it, he reported the same TO
Dick.
But, he added, 'what do you mean !?
Who has done you HARM
Haven't you seen emF the man asked,
struggling for breath.
Seen whom? What do you mean !? de-
manded Lester, eagerly.
Dick started up to his elbow, and gazed
around but he seemed to find nothing for
which he was looking, and 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 mean% cried Lester, rs he
saw that the poor fellow was sinking. Has
any body harmed you"
| Dick managed TO raise his hand TO his
head-to point above the left ear-and, as
he did 50, he whispered
Looh out-lHey aehtu lof tnc capt II.
That's where they struck 7 He tried to
speak further but his voice failed him.
What could this meant Maurice Lester
started TO his feet and gazed around. Who
had killed his men?
The captain was disturbed in his medita-
ton by the sound of voices not far off, and
upon turning he beheld four men coming up
from the water. He who cane in advance
was tall, muscular man; with gaunt,
heavy frame; somewhere about fifty or
! fifty-fvc years of age and habited in a
garb Of blue cloth, cut into a frock, or shirt.
which was secured at the waist by broad
pistol,belt
/ Maurice Lester was startled VIXEN he be-
held the stalwart leader and his three ruff
fianly companions; and, considering all the
circumstances, it is no wonder that lie was
startled. However. he had not much op-
portunity for reflection, for. by the time he
had fairly made out the party, they were
upon him.
Halo the leader cried, as he saw our
hero, 'here we have another And, as he
came up, he added: And guess we've
found a live one. too, that knows some
thing. Say-who are YET?
q Ibis last sentence was addressed TO Maui
rice, who quickly answered:
My name is Lester. And now, to be
fair, what is your name I!
Well guess you've heard it before.
Men ell me Ryan Woligang."
/ sWoLFGANGr repeated Lester, with a
start.
Yes. That is my name
Then WoLTGANG was not myth after
/ all. That mysterious wrecker whose name
was source of terror to honest sailors, was
a being of flesh and blood, like other men.
Maurice gazed upon him with wonder; and
as he gazed, he felt that he look ed npoa
| lend ircarnate. He had often heard of the
i pirate wrecker. and SO daik and mystic had
been the tales which the Norlh-Sea sailors
had tod. tLat he had been inclined to be-
lieve that the waoie theme was fabrica-
Y q <~s<kE ~ ~. ~ 4 =