The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1860-01-05
CHAPTER II.
wuLruANG.

| Maurice Lester was near the starboaft
gangway when the ship struck, having
started aft to hook 10 the helm. The
shock threw him upon his back, and h,
was lhrown--he knew not where, He
Only knew that the food came--'hat i,
hurled him as the gale hu'ls n feather
that his head was hurl---that his body
was tossrd and bruised--and then tn,
lamD Of his CONSEQUENCES went out -
When he came to himself it WAS daylight
and the rays of the sun were bramlng
above HIM At first he did not uitemp
to move, any farther than simply to AS
sure himself that he was really alive ant
sensible; but sought TO recall the events q
the past. which he hatk very clearly. ny
10 the time when his ship struck upp"
the rocks.--hc could 90 no farther. Al
ter this he raised himself upon his elbow
and tried to gaze about him. He found
himself uron bed Of sand, between tw'
immense rocks. He had been laude
there in that deep nook. and the tide ha
gone cut and left him. In little while
he rose to his feet, and managed to craw
up. by the aid Of stranded spar, over I
low part OF one of the rocks.
After seeing all that was to be observ-
ed from this point, he moved On towards
where he lhoughthe should soonest find
an open beach, for he felt faint and sick,
and he wished to find Eolp as soon as
possible. After toiling over slippery, slimy
rocks and cruel, tearing crags, until his
flesh bruised and lactratpd, 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 men. He fastened to the
spot where they lay--two OF them being
clasped in each others arms, but lie found
no signs Of life.
With II sad, heavy heart, Lester passed
on, and presently he found two more dead
ones. and one Of them was David Griffin,
his chief mate. lie kneelrd down by the
officers side, and raised his head; but it
was cold and iifelrss and the skull was
broken! Gently he laid it back upon the
sand, and then moved on again. And
he saw more dead men also! Could it b,
possible that he had been the only one
left alive?
wait--what is this? II moves
it has life!
Catain Lester hurried forward, as fas
as his feeble strength would permit, ant
found two men lying by the side of
heavy spar. One Of them was dead; bu
the other gazad up into his commander
face, and stretched forth his hands a
though he would ask fol mercy. HI
name was Dick Mangle, and he had.b
one Of the best seamen on board th'
ship.
"Poor Dick" said Lester, kneeling BY
his side and lifting his head. care you
badly hurl?"
"They have done it for usp' the sailor
answered. in weakening voice. They
have killed Tom. Amt he dead?'
1t was the bcdy of stout Tom Bricket
that lay close by, and wheu the captain
had made himself sure that there wasno
particle Of life in it. lie reported the same
to Dick.
"But." he added, "what do you mean
Who has done you harm?'
"Haven't YOU sren'em?" the man ask
ed. struggling for breath.
"Seen whom? What do you mean"
demanded Lester eagerly.
Dick started nd to his elbow. and gaz"d
around him: but he seemed TO find moth
ing for which he was looking. and he
ank back again. Had he not made this
effort be might have spoken further, bu'
the act Of rising had exhausted him, and
tie last grain Of strength was leaving
him.
"What do you mean?" cried Lester,
as he saw that the poor fellow was sin
king. HAS any body harmed you!"
Dick managed to raise his hand 20 his
head to point above the left car--and
as he did so, he whispered
Look out they asked for the capt'n.
That's where they struck" He tried to
speak further, bu. his voice failed him.
What could this mean? Maurice Les.
ter started to his feet and gazed around.
Who had killed his men?
The captain was disturbed in his med-
itaiion by the sound Of voices not far off,
and upon turning he behold four men
coming up from the water. He who
came in advance was a tall, muscular
man; with a gaunt. heavy frame; some
where about fifty-fve years Of age: and
habiled in garb Of blue cloth, cut into
frock or shirt, which was secured at the
waist by a broad pistol-belt.
Maurice Lester was startled waen he
beheld the stalwart leader and his three
ruffisnly companions; and, considering all
the circumstances, il is no wonder that he
startled. However. he had not much
opportunity for reflection, Tor by the time
he had fsiriy made out the party. they
were upon him.
"Hallo." the leader cried. as he saw
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