The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-01-05


from the water He who came in advance
was tall muscular man. with sannt. heavy
frame, somewhere between fifty and sixty
years of age, and habited in garb of blue
cloth, cut into frock or shirt, which was
secured by broad pistol belt
Maurice Lester was startled when he be-
held the stalwart leader and three ruffianlv
companions; and considering all the circum-
stances. it was no wonder that he was start.
eled. However. he had not much opportu-
nifty for reflection. for. by the time ha had
fairly made out the party, they were upon
him.
"Hollo !" the leader cried, as he saw our
hero, ''here we have another" And As he
came up, he added: And guess We have
live one, too = one thai knows sonnet hing
Say, who ye?'
The last sentence was addressed to Mau.
rice, who quickly answered:
MY name is Lester And, now. to be
fair. what is your name?''
well, l guess you have heard i. before.
Men call me Ryan Wolfgans"
e WoLFGANsl y repeated Lester with a
start.
Yes. that is my name
Then Wolfsang was not a myth after all
That mysterious wrecker. whose name was
= source OF terror TO honest sailors, was a be-
ing OF flesh and blood. like other men. Mau-
rice gazed upon him with wonder; and, as
he gazed, he felt that he ga:ed on q fiend in
carnate. lie had often heard OF the pirate
wrecker. AMI dark aad mystic were the
tales which the North Sea sailors had told.
that he had been inclined to believe that the
whole theme WAS a fabrication. Now. how
ever, he had no more doubt, for the man be.
fore him looked as dark and BLOODY as were
many OF the pictures he had heard drawn Of
him upon the torecastle.
But our hero was not allowed mui.h time
for reflection. Wolfgang piled him with
questions. to all Of which Lester gave straight
forward answers. well knowing that evasion
would serve no practical purpose. and hop
ing By his frankuess to propitiate the merci-
less tend In whose unreleting power he felt
himself to be.
When the wrecker chief had ELECTED all
the information he could, aud learned with
what rich cargo the vessel was frieghted,
and that she had forty thousand dollars in spe-
Gle on board, he smiled grimly and remark
ed to oae of his contedcrates that slIa would,
perhaps. prove richer prz, even than the
White Fawn had been few wears agf-
The mention of the name of the i'll -fated ship
in 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 quivsred convul-
sively.
Whats the matter o. said Wolfgaug-
You don't seem to have much strength left
Bring him along boys where We can doctor
him."
The sinister glance which accompanied
this last remark, and the peculiar emphasis
laid upon the word doctor struck a chill!
his own safety much thought, while he was
partly forced and partly carrie along after
Wolfgang who strobe rapidly for nearly half
an hour. He could only think ot the White
Fawn that had baea wrecked on that coast.
and of his beloved Carrie who had, perhaps,
in company with those same men, trod the
same path that he was treadiug. Wha. had
been her fate? Had she been murdered by
these wretches. or reserved for some more
j. eplorable doom. These thou shis filed him
with unutterable agony.
Wolfgang had now drawn near the waters
edge; and soon coming to the mouth of
cave he entered it, followed by the three ruf-
fans who had charge Of our hero. The bot
tom Of the cave sloped upward from its en-
trance for soma distance. and then became
almost level. The captive, for such Maurice
Lester now felt himself to be, frequently hit
his feet against what he thought. with a chill
of horror. were human bones strewn aroun
the cavern, bur he could not clearly make
them out in the dim light. He also noticed
that the bottom of the cave was very wet, as
though it had recently been covered with wa
ter The wrecker chieftain stopped. at last.
near what seemed the end Of the cave, and
making sign to his follower they clapped
manacles upon the wrists and ankles OF Mau-
rice before he had time 10 note their in,en-
! tien.
/ Now. Captain Lester said Wolfgang.
you must remain in this place for short
season. Yo@ arc perfectly safe here.-Si-
lence, Say not word II you attempt to
leave this spot. you will be slain the moment
you Sc, foot outside the cave
Thus speaking. the chioftain and his fol-
/ lowers silently but rapidly withdrew. leaving
Maurice nearly supplied with astonishment.
AS they passed from the mouth of the cave,
/ their feet were wet by the rising waves. The
tide aoas fast coming an,
/ After short time the captive looked
about him with eyes somewhat accustomed
to the Dim light. and became satisfied that
what he had supposed to be human bones
were really such. There were many Of them
and moving among them were huge ra.s.
seeking for prey. The Top of the cavern, in
/ souae places, WAS Out ~ lev IeeI ABOVE MS
head, and in one place he discovered small
aperture. through which faint light strug-
gled. and on going underneath it, he though.
he smelt The odor of vegetation and flow
ers.
| On turning. from the contemplation Of
this Aperture, towards the mouth Of the
cave, Captain Lester observed with alarm.
that the water was creeping up the sloping
! bottom. What il it should fill the cavern7
All. now he could accouat for the presence
I there of those human bones They were sad
memorials Of other hapless prisoners who
had been left in that cave to perish By drown-
ing.
/ Slowly but surely the waters crept along
The vermin fed before them 20 the elevated
spot on which Maurice stood Slowly fol-
loving. the incoming water at length reached