The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-09-15
Selett Storp.
TIE BOY MAGICIAN /;
OR,
THE SECRETS OF THE SEA.
CHAPTER /.

THE PRISONER OF MID-OCEAN.
Late one summer afternoon, a dOz-
en- years ago, solitary white man
stood before an idolatrous temple on
an island in the South Pacific
He was of middle age, tall, thin, and
gaunt, with rugged features and sor-
rowful eyes, and with every sign of
goodness and intelligence.
Beside him was a grim stone idol,
in grotesque human form more than
twice as tall as himself, which he had
Just finished, as was indicated by the
mallet and chisel in his hands.
at is done," he muttered. "And
these heather little suspect that 1 have
cut my name and story into the base
of this idol:
''The Sth of May, 1852, I, David Les
ter, of the firm of Lester & Nichols, of
Norfolk, Virginia, sailed as passenger
from Charleston for Hong Kong, Uil
Cape Horn, in the ship 'Hecla.' A cy-
clone struck us in mid-Ocean, the ship
foundered, and we took to the boats,
which all filed, with the exception of
the one was in. After drifting sever
al DAYS, during which my companions
L
idolatrous inhabitants made me slave
in their temple, and for more than four
years i have been doing menial offices
and carving images. i have been chain
ed every night, and watched continual
ly by day, but have nevertheless made
three attempts at escape, and shall soon
make another-doubtless my last, as
am resolved TO succeed or die, prefer
ring death to longer captivity. L
.. Al l.. @Is
idol, praying any one who may see
them to report my fate, if possible, to
my family, at Norfolk Va. Finished this
Inscription this 9TH day of July, 1857"
For several minutes the prisoner
contemplated these lines in silence,
and then aroused himself, looking wa
rily around. .....u.
.'Three times have tried to escape
in CANOE" he muttered, fand every
time was caught, and visited with
tortures. To be caught again in such
an attempt will be certain death. Yet
L will risk all the first opportunity that
offers. This longing for freedom and
my family is becoming positive mad
ness. Oh, my God! what is that p
He gazed in perfect stupefaction to
the eastward, far out upon the ocean.
There, miles and leagues away, was
ship, her white sails cleaning as she
Law becalmed upon the waters
ga ship! ship!" cried Lester, sob
bingly. cat last, oh Heaven! AT
last my prayer is answered."
THE PRISONERS HOME.
On the east bank of the Elizabeth
river, just out of Norfolk, and over
looking Hampton Roads, stood beau
tiful cottage, the home of the wife and
daughter of David Lester, the priso
ner of the lone island in the far Pacific.
Near the close of a lovely afternoon
in May, Mrs. Lester and her daughter
sat together upon their front verandah.
The mother was lovely, sweet fac
ed, sad-eyed woman of two and thirty
years.
The daughter, Amy Lester, not yet
fifteen, was n strange compound of
child and woman.
"You are thinking of father, dear
mother ?" murmured the maiden, as
she marked the lady's longing gaze.
eyes, child. Your father, my hus-
band where is he? Somewhere un-
der the sea waves, wrecked on a des-
ert island, or langulshing on hostile
shore? 1t is five years since he left
us on that fatal voyage to China. My
reason assures me that he is dead ;-yet,
Amy, can only think of him as liv-
ing"
"It is so with me, MOTHER" said
Amy, with tremulous qulver of her
lips. 81 dream often that he is living
that he is coming home" !"
eve need him in hundred ways"
said Mrs. Lester, signing. eff any
thing were to happen to me, Amy, l
shudder to think what would become
of you. You have been brought up
in luxury, and would feel keenly any
change to poverty"
care We not rich. then. mother ?'