Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-10-21
CHAPTER Ill.

LESTER ESCAPES And HEARS FROM HOME.
W. Iaf De~i4 Lester on MS lonely
island, planning his escape, with ship IN
sight from the elevated point where he was
at work. lie waited till night and until
priest Of the idolatrous temple came 10
chain him IN bis dungeon, where they
nightly confined him and then suddenly
leaping upon the priest, he bore him to the
door, chained and gagged him, Disguised
himself in his prlestly robes, stained his
face brown with dirt, went 10 the shore
where the canoes were lying, entered one
OF them, and padded OUT to sea in the di-
rection 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
vet no ship had been found, and now the
wind was rising and storm was threat
enlng
"Oh, God Am l forsaken p he cried.
in an awful anguish, seized with fear
that the wind would take the ship from
him. Must | perish here r
Al ILat moment when hope was dying
he bcheld "A 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, ana not
halt mile away.
Yes, there She is he shouted. ''She
is coming this way. ! am sayed--saycd!
lie raised his arms to heaven in mute
thanksgiving and sobbed aloud the glad
tears streaming down his worn and bag
gard checks.
The ship came nearer and nearer
lie rcdoubled hs Wild q outs, his heart
and soul IN his voice.
An answering cry came suddenly from
the ships deck, aud she drew steadily
nearer sweryed from her conr,c slightly,
and Pc was thrown from her deck,
falling i1to his canoe
He So ned tie rope IN dc perate eager
ness, and a group Of sallora leaning over
the ships SIDE drew him aboard
In Al instant more the ship had rcsum
81 her course, and Was moving ia stately
fashion before the breeze.
"tafa al laAt !" murmured Lester, lean
ing against the bulaarka, weak aud
nefyeless as an infant. "Ob, the PlAdncas
Of this hour"
Poor man ile did not dream ~ that
moment that his adverse fate MAS even
iben felenileasiy closing around him Il
that hs WIS on ono Il his own ships tho
rDeionc ! hat ll,at ship Was commanded
~ IA otter igs ~ league with Colgpel /
Nichols, who, on recognizing HIM, would
without remorse cousign him again 10 the
merejes n tbs Pacific ~ bis Indian canoe.
On inquiry Lester learned that The YES
sci was thq CgetOne, and IN the light Of
her cabin lamp recognized her Captain. |
Tearing oa bis pflestiy robe, and wiping
the stalu from hs face with is c0arse
folds, be exclaimed
captain Sales, don't you know mo r.
"Dayid Lester 70 cried tbs Captain
turning asby pale, and Rrasfing his sta
tloDary seat ~ though he bad received
shock.
Lesier wiped bis broys and sat down,
the captain taking seat opposite him.
lie bad ~ mueh ~ AJAX, that Lis emo.
lions cboked his ulterance, and pnGv,tsd
him IRON Observing the look " sdly
hatred with which the Captain regarded
him. But be finally piled bia questions
iast, and learned that bis wlfe yet lived
that his daughter Amy bad grown into i
lively girl, aud ibat both wife and daugit
RI had long mourDed him as dead, lie
also learned ofbis wiie's poverty.
"Colonsl Nichols settled up lLe firm
Affairs" sad the Captain reseryedly, "and
.befs wss ndhiDg leh fur Mrs. Lester.
l3be has been living On his bounty ibese
two ~ Tires years. When your iplsrss,
~ this ship was soId, ! bought il. Tbs
Colonel owns the ether balfp5 IA
"Eut this " y base fraud ~ exclaimed