New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-06
CHAPTER w,

LESTER ESCAPES AND HEARS FROM HONE.
We left David Lester on his lonely island planning his
escape with ashp In sight from the elevated point where
he at work He waited until night and until priest
Of the idolarous temple to chain him in his dun
geon, where they nightly confined him and then sud-
denly eapng upon the priest he bore him TO the door
chained and gagged him, disguised himself IN his priesy
robes stained his face brown with dirt went TO the shore
where the canoes lying, entered Of Them and
padded out to in the direction 10 which lie had seen
the ship. r4--s-- - '''.-- ~
He padded for hours with all his strength. and had
gone far that all the lights Of the island could not be
SEEM and yet ship had been found and the wind
was rising and a storm was threatening.
"Oh, God Am forsaken r. he cried in an awful an.
uish, seized With fear tS the wind would take the
ship from him. unjust perish hereV X
At that moment when homo was dying, he behold q
sight which turned all his wild woe into yet wilder
stacy. .-.~r
There, to tho northward was the ship standing di-
recty towards him, with all set o catch the rising
breeze, and not half mile away.
"Yes, there she 49," he shouted "she is coming this
way. am saved-savedy
He raised his to heaven in mute Thanksgiving and
sobbed aloud, the glad tears streaming down his
and haggard cheeks,
The ship came nearer and nearer
He redoubled his wild shouts, his heart and soul in his
voice.
and she drew steadily nearerswervcd 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 the ships side drew him aboard
In an instant more the ship had resumed her course,
and moving in stately fashion before tho breeze
"Safe at last % murmured Lester leaning against the
bulwarks weak and nerveess as an infant. "0h, the
gladness Of this hOurw
Poor man! He did not dream at that moment that his
adverse fate was even reentessy closing aroundhm
that he on one Of his own shIpsthe Cyclones that
that ship commanded by bitter foe In league with
Colonel Nichols who, recognizing him would, without
remorse, consgn him again to the moces Of the Pacific
In his Indian canoe.
On inquiry Lester learned that the vessel was tho
Cyclone and In tho light Of the cabin lamp recognized
her captain Tearing of his priesy robe, and wping
the stain from his face with its folds, he
caimed
captain Sales, don't you know mep
"Davd Lester cried the Captain, turning ashy pale,
and graspng his stationary seat though he had
ceiyed shock.
Lester wiped his brows and sat down. the Captain tax.
ing 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 learned that
his wife yet lived that his daughter Amy had grown into
lovely GIRL and that both wife and daughter had long
mourned him dead. He also learned OF his wifc's
poverty.
"Colonel Nichols settled up the firm affairs" said the
Captain reservedy and there nothing left for Mrs.
Lester She has been living his bounty these two or
three years. When your interest in this ship was sold,
bought it. The Colonel owns the other half"
"But this is o base fraudw exclaimed Lester "The
Colonel las been the trust reposed in him.
have suspicious OF his integrity during long exile
but have never dared to entertain them. I'll make
matters straight my return. can prove my claims
and bring him jusce--the dasardly villain! Mypoor
Margaret ~ and he grOaned
Testers threat concerning Nichols seemed to stir up all
the malice of the Captains nature. He beheld his inter-
In the ship fraudulenty acquired threatened aud
hated still the lawful whose right in the
Cyclone he had usurped.
4" II report speaks truly" he said, Mrs. Lester need
not DO called poor" Colonel Nichols has long been pay
ing her attentions and when left port, five months ago
the story that they engaged The Colonel told
himself that he loved her. and meant TO marry her.
No doubt by this time they married"
This cruel thrust struck home to tho poor husbands
heart and uterng great cry he fell forward with his
upon the table while the Captain regarded him with
q look OF mingled hatred and exutation The New-iork
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