Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-31
CHAPTER II.


Maurice Lester was near the starhonrd gangway
when the ship struck, having started AFT to look to
the helm. The shock threw him upon his back and
he tried to get up; but he could regain his feet
the flood of mad waters came surgng oter the bark
and he was thrown-hc knew not where. lie only
knew that the food came--that il caught him in its
giant grasp-that it hurled him the gale hurs n
feather-that his head was hurt-that his body was
tossed and bruised-nnd then the lamp of his con-
seriousness went out. When he came to himself il
WAS daylight, and the rays of the sun were beaming
above him. At first he did not attempt to move any
further than simply 10 assure himself that he
ally alive and sensible; but sought to recall the
events of the past, which he did very clearly up to
the time when his ship struck upon the rocks, he
could go no farther. After this he raised himself
upon his elbow, and tried to gaze about him He
found himself upon bed OF sand, between two i'm
rocks He had been landed there in that deep
nook, and the tide had gone out aud lsft him. In n
little while he to his feet and managed to crawl
up by the aid of a stranded spar, low part
Of one of the rocks.
After seeing all that to be observed from this
point he moved on towards where he thought he
should sooner find open beach, for he felt faint
and SICK and he wished to find help soon rs pos
sible After toling over slippery, Shiny rocks, and
cruel, tearing crags until his clothing was all torn
and his flesh bruised and laceraed he finally reached
an open space among the rocks where many pieces
OF the wreck had been lodged, and where he found
the bodies OF three of his Vie hasteued to the
spot where they lay-two of them being clasped in
each others arms-but he found no signs of life
| With a sad, heavy heart Lester passed on, and
presently he found two more dead Ones and one of
them David Griffin his chief mate. lie kneeled
down by the officers side and raised the head but
| 1t was cold and lifeess and the skull was broken
Gently he laid 1t back upon the sand and then moved
| on again And he saw more dead men also! Could
be possible that he had been the only left alive
Hai-wait-what is this 1t moves-it has lite
Captain Lester hurried forward as fast as his fee
BILE strength would permit, and found two men living
by the side Of heavy spar One of them was dead
but the other gazed up into his commanders face
and stretched forth his hands as though he would
ask for mercy His name was Dick Mangle, and he
had been OF the best seaman on board the shin
"Poor Dickp said Lester, kneeling by his side
and lifting his head. "Arc you badly hurt n
They've done it for usl" the sailor answered, in
a weakening voice. They've killed Tom. Amt he
dead 2"
1t was the body of stout Tom Bricket that lay
close by, and when the captain had made himself
sure that there particle Of life in IT, he report
ed the same to Dick
"But," he added, " what do you mean? Who has
done you harm 2"
Haven't you seen emp" the asked, strug-
Cling for breath
Seen whomr What do you mean ?" demanded
Lester, eagerly.
Dick started up to his elbow, and gazed around ::
but he seemed to find nothing for which lie was look
ing, and he sank back again. Had be not made this
effort he might have spoken firther but the act of
rising had exhausted him. and the last grain Of