Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-10-26
THE BOY MAGICIAN
OR, THE SECRETS OF THE SEA.
CHAPTER |.
THE PRISONER OF MID-oCEAN.

THE PRISONER OF MID-OCEAN.
Late one summer afternoon, dozen
years ago, a solitary white man stood
before an idolatrous temple on an is
land in the South Pacific.
He was of middle age, tall, thin, and
gaunt, with rugged features and sorrow
ful eyes, and with every sign of good
ness and intelligence.
Beside him was 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.
1T is DONE" he muttered. "And
these heather little suspect that I have
cut my name and story into the base
of this idol"
He ran his eye rapidly over the in
scription in question. 1t was as follows:
The sth of May, 1852, David Lester, of the
firm of Lester & Nichols, of Norfolk, Virginia,
saie'l passenger from Charleston TO Hong
Kong ria Cape Horn, in the ship 'Hecla 4
cyclone struck us in mid-ocean the ship founder
ed, and we took to the boats which all tilled with
the exception of the one l was in. After drifting
several days, during which my companions per
ished, reached this island. The idolatrous in
u
for more than four years have been doing men
ial offices and carving images ! have been
chained every night, and watched continually by
day, but have nevertheless made three attempts
at escape, and shall soon make anOther-tiOubt-
less my last, as am resolved to succeed OF die,
preferring death to a longer captivity. / there
fore write these words upon this idol praying any
who may see them to report my fate, if possible,
scription this 9TH day of July, 1851"
For several minutes the prisoner
contemplated these lines in silence, then
aroused himselflooking wearily around.
"Three times | have tried to escape
in canoe" he muttered, and every
time was caught, and visited with tor
lures. To be caught again in such an
attempt will be certain death. Yet /
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?"
He gazed in perfect stupefaction to
the eastward, far out upon the ocean.
There, miles and leagues away, was
a ship, her white sails cleaning as she
lay becalmed upon the waters.
"a ship! shipm cried Lester, sob
bingly.
"At last, oh Heaven! At last my
prayer is answered p
THE PRISONERS HOME
On the east bank of Elizabeth river,
just out of Norfolk, and overlooking
Hampton Roads, stood beautiful cot
tage, the home of the wife and daugh-
ter of David Lester, the prisoner 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-faced,
sad eyed woman of two-and-thirty
years.
The daughter, Amy Lester, not yet
fifteen, was a strange compound of child
and woman.
"You are thinking of father, dear
mother 2" murmured the maiden, as she
marked the lady's longing gaze.
Yes, child. Your father, my hus-
band; where is he? Somewhere under
the sea waves, wrecked on desert is
land, or languishing ON hostile shoref
1t is five years since he left us on that
fatal voyage to China. My reason as
sures me that he is dead: yet, Amy,
can only think of him as living"
at is so with me, MOTHER" said Amy,
with tremulous quiver of her lips q
dream often that he is living-that he
is coming homer
1--WE need hun a hundred ways
said Mrs. Lester, signing. "If anything
were to happen to me, Amy, shuddel
to think what would become of you
You have been brought up in luxury
and would feel keenly any change tc
poverty"
"Are we not rich, then, mother p
asked Amy, in surprise.
al supposed so,dear, until three year,
: ago" replied the mother sadly.
"Your father was merchant ant