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

The Secrets Of tho Sea.
CHAPTER /.
THE PRISONER OF MID-ocEAN.

the South Pacific.
He was of middle age, tall, thin, AM
gaunt, with rugged features and sorrow
ful eyes, and with every sign OF goodness
and intelligence.
Beside him was grim stone idol, II
grotesque human form, more than twice
as tall as himself, which he had Just fin
ished AS was indicated by the mallet anC
chisel in his hands.
at is DONE" he muttered. "And thes'
heather little suspect that | have cut my
name and story into the base of this idol.
He ran his eye rapidly over the inscrip
ton in question. IL was AS follows:
"1he 9Th OF May, 1852, /, David
Lester, Of the firm Of Lester * Mich
OILS, Of Norfolk, Virginia, sailed as
passenger from Charleston 20 Hong
Kong, via Cape Horn, in the ship
'lIecla. A cyclone struck ug IN mid
ocean, the ship foundered, and we
took 70 the boats, which all filed,
with the exception Of the one / was
IN. fer drifting several days, dur.
inQ which ny companions persisted,
! reached this island. The idolatfOHa
inhabitants made me- n slave ~ lbclr
temple, and for more than four years
/ have been doing menal oGces and
carving images. haze beeu chain
ed every night, aud watched c1ulin
hlly by day, bat base nevertheless
made three attempts n escape, and
sh1l s0on make another doubtless
my last, az ! an resolved ~ succeed
~ die, pfeiefripg death 10 lonpcr
captivity. ! therefore uuH these
words upon this IDOL, praying auy
one who may see them - report ny
fate If possible, 10 10y family, ~ Nor
folk, Va Finished this Inscription
Ibis 9TH day 81 July, lSj7"
For several minutes Tie prisoner cou.
lemplaled these lines in silence, and lhep
aroused himself, looked wanly around.
"1hree times ! have tired to escape IL
4 canoe" he muttcred, land eyerytme
was caught, and visited with tortures. 10
be caught again in such an attempt VIII
be certain death. Yet ! will risk all the
FIRST opportunity that offers. This long
ing for freedom AMI my family is bccop-
ing o positive madness. Oh, my God
what - that -
lie gazed IN perfect stupefactlon to the
eastward, far out upon the ocean.
There, miles and leagues away, was a
ship, her white sails cleaning as she lay
becalrned upon the waters.
"a ship shipl' cried Lester, sob
binglv. Sat last, ola Heaven! At last
4
TmE PRISONERS HOWE.
On the east bank Of the Elizabeth
river. lust out Of Norfolk and overlooking
Hampton Roads. stood beautiful cottage
The home Of the wife and daughter If Da
yid Lester, the prisoner Of the lone island
in the far Pacific.
Near tile close ii a lovely afternoon in
Nav. Mr.. Lester AMI her daughter sat
upon their font yerandah.
The mother was lively, sweet faced.
,ad-eved woman of two-and thirty wears
The daughter, Amy Lester. not vet IF
zen. was strange compound Of child and
woman.
.You are thinking &C father. dear
mother - murmured the maiden. A. she
marked the ladv's longing gaze.
ayes. child. Your father. ms husband.
where i he ? Somewhere under the sea
r,yos wreclod nm desort ,sIand or Ion.
ypisbing on a hostile shore 2 II !, FIVE
scrs since he left us on that fatal voyage
. China NJ reason assures mo thai he
> dooa y4t. ANY. can only think Of
lim as living"
at is so with me. mother" said Amy,
with a tremulous quiver Of her lips. II
iream often that he is liying-that he IL
coming homer
1--WE need him in a hundred WAYS"
aid Mrs. Lester, signing. "lf ANYTHING
we're to happen to me, Amy, | shudder to
hink what would become of you. You
ave been brought up in luxury. and
would feel keenIv any change 10 povertv.m
care We not rich, then, mother p ask
ID AMY, in surprise.
81 supposed so. dear. until three years
100" REPLIED the mother sadly.
"Your father was merchant and ship
,wner. a partner of Colonel Nichols. Bnt
wo wears AGO Colonel Nichols informed
ne that the outstanding debts of the firm
! ore lAau balanced the assets in Short.
Amy, that he was on the verge of bank
uptcv, his fortune and ours alike wreck
al
81 don't Ike Colonel Nichols = said
Amy thoughtully. eli be lost all his
money with ours. how does he live in such
rand style To whom does his shlps
nd great house belong ~
80 his nephew, Ally Bell. Colonel
Sicho's is Ally's guardian. The Colonel
las nothing d his own, excepting n farm
n two uPcountry which were not usked
n he business"
Amy contracted her little brow5 re-
..ectIFely and was about to reply, when
he gafdcn gate swung on rs hinges, and
boyish tig'r" came lightly up the walk.
Its Wy, mother IT'S Ally Bell .nI
HclalmrI Amy AL smiles and bushes.
.l,ll bring him to you
Inc young glri ran lightly down the
cranAah steps aud met the newcomer
mixing her arm in his aud drawing. him