Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-09-09

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Bell, her lover and hero, was being carried
off to sea in the Quickstep, and that she
would never see him again.
The Colonel heard Hiley's story about
Ally's disappearance with breathless inter
est, as they walked along the beach; after
| which the two villains congratulated them
selves upon the boys being thus completely
taken out of their path.
While discussing the matter they heard
the sound of oars, and soon saw boat ap-
preaching the shore opposite cottage be-
longing to an old retired sailor named Nj
cholas Collins, which was situated at the
foot Of Mrs. Testers garden. In the boat
was man, and along with him was fe-
male sobbing convulsiVely. Colonel Nichols
with surprise and alarm, recognized the
voice of the weeper as that of Amy Lester:
| She and her companion left the boat and
entered the cottage, from the windows OF
which light soon shone. Colonel Nichols
and Captain Hiiey crept beneath win
dow, to spy and listen. They soon learned
that Collins had rowed Amy off to the brig
in search of Ally, and that she had there
| heard of his attempt to escape and his con-
| sequent death by drowning.
| Amy was vehement in her denunciations
| of Col Nichols, and declared that If Ally
was really dead, she would raise the whole
SpuhtiJ ukdlunt LID uhtiO n1o hao SoA4aPhooT
| ed his death.
On attempting to rise to 60 houe, Amy
| found she was too weak to walk, and sent
| Collins for her neither to come to her. AS
soon as the old sailor left the cottage, Col
onel Nichols proposed to Hiley that he
should carry Amy off instead of Ally, and
leave her on plantation of his on the coast,
| down by Cape Henry, SO as to silence her
dangerous tongue, and also to give him q
hold on her mother. The Captain agreed
to this, and they entered the cottage, coming
upon Amy so suddenly that, in her weak
state, she was so completely overcome that
she tainted away.
$50 much the better" said Nichols,
STOPPING and gathering her in his arms.
"Now lead the way to yonr boat, Hiley.
On our way, you must overcast Collins
boat, to make him think she did it herself in
wild mood"
He hurried out of the cottage bearing his
frail burden. Hiley followed hastily, and
| the two made their way to the spot where
Collins boat lay. 1t was but the work OF q
moment for Hiley to push off the little craft
and overset 1t.
"There, they'll think tho girl got wild
with grief and was drowned in an attempt
to search for Ally again !" said the Colonel
exultantly. tossing Amys white apron upon
the beach. .'That apron will fix the matter
beyond doubt The wind is rising Hiley.
You had better take advantage of it !"
The two hurried to the waiting boat.
Hiley laid the unsconscious Amy in the
bottom, and then seized the oars and rowed
rapidly towards the brig
Nichols. full of exultation, looked after
the boat until it was lost to view.
My first plan was successful" he NUT
tered. ''Ally is dead am rich man
And my second plan promises like success
When Margaret Testers heart is nearly
broken at Amy's loss, | will offer to restore
her child on condition that she will marry
me! The day of my full triumph IS near!''
Hc looked with gloating eyes seaward,
exulting in his evil success, until at last,
nearly an hour later, the sails of the Quick-
step filled, and the brig moved swiftly
toward the sea, taking with her Margaret
Testers only comfort-the distant fathers
star ofhope!
CHAPTER Nv.
LESTER ESCAPES AND HEARS FROM HOME.
We left David Lester on his lonely island.
planning his escape, with a ship in sight
from an elevated point where he was at
work. He waited till night and until priest
of the idolatrous temple came to chain him
in his dungeon, where they nightly confined
him and then suddenly leaping upon the
priest, he bore him to the floor, chained and
gagged him, disguised himself in his pricstly
robes, stained his face brown with dirt, went
to the shore where the canoes were lying,
entered one of them, and padded out to sea
in the direction in which he had seen the
ship.
He padded for hours with all his strength,
and had gone so far that the lights of the
island could not be seen, and yet no ship
had been found and now the wind was
rising and storm was threatening.
"Oh. God Am forsaken2 ?" he cried,
in an awful anguish, seized with fear that
the wind would take the ship from him.
Must perish here ?"
At that moment when hope was dying, he
bcheld sight that turned all his wild woe
into yet wilder ecstasy.
There, to the northward, was the ship,
standing directly towards him, with all sails
set to catch the rising breeze, and not half
q mile away.
"Yes, there she is" he shouted. "She
IS coming this way. am sayed-saved! !"
He raised his arms to heaven in mute
thanksgiving and sobbed aloud, the glad
tears streaming down his worn and hag-
gard cheeks.
The ship came nearer and nearer.
He redoubled his wild shouts, his heart
and soul in his voice.
An answering cry came suddenly from
the ship's deck, and she drew steadily nearer
-swerved from her course slightly, and
rope was thrown from her deck, falling into
his canoe.
He seized the rope in desperate eagerness,
and group of sailors leaning over the ships
side drew him aboard.
In an instant more the ship had resumed
her course, and was moving in stately fash
ion before the breeze.
"Safe at last !" murmured Lester, leaning
against the bulwarks, weak and nervelcss
as an infant. sob, the gladness of this
hour I"
Poor mani He did not dream at that
moment that his adverse fate was even then
relentlessly closing around him; that he
was on one of his own ships-the Cyclone;
that that ship was commanded by bitter
foe in league with Colonel Nichols, who, on
recognizing him, would without remorse
conslgn him again to the mercies of the Pa
cific in his Indian canoe.
On inquiry, Lester learned that the vessel
was the Cyclone, and in the light of the
cabin lamp recognized her Captain. Tear
ing off his priestly robe, and wiping the
stain from his face with its coarse folds, he
exclaimed:
"Captain Sales, don't You know me?"
"David Lester!" cried the Captain. turn
ing ashy pale, and grasping his stationary
seat as though he had received shock.
Lester wiped his brows and sat down, the
Captain taking seat opposite him.
He had so much to ask, that his emotions
choked his utterance, and prevented him
from observing the look of deadly hatred
with which the captain regarded him. But
he finally piled his questions fast, and learn
ed that his wife yet lived, that his daughter
Amy had grown into lovely girl, and that
both wife and daughter had long mourned
him as dead. He also learned Of his wifes
poverty.
&c Colonel Nichlos settled up the firm af-
fairs said the Captain reservedly, land
there was nothing left for Mrs Lester. She
has been living on his bounty these two or
three years When your interest in this
ship was sold, bought it. The Colonel
own owns the other half"
" But this base fraud!" exclaimed Les
ter. "The Colonel has been untrue TO the
trust / reposed on him have had suspi-
cions of his integrity during my long exile,
but have never dared to entertain them.
I'll make matters straight on my return.
can prove my claims and bring HIM to JUS
tice-the distardly villain! My poor Mar
garrett and he groaned
Testers threat concerning Nichols seemed