Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-09-09
THE BOY MAGICIAN ;
The Secrets of the Sea.

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The Secrets of the Sea.
CHAPTER l.
THE PRISONER OF MID OCEAN.
Late one summer afternoon, "a dozen years
ago, solitary white man stood before an
ldolatrous temple on an island IN the South
Pacific.
He was of middle age, tall, thin, and
gaunt, with rugged features and sorrowful
eyes, and with every sign of goodness and
intelligence.
Beside him was grim stone idol, in gro
tesque human form, more than twice as tall
as himself, which he had just finished, as
was Indicated by the mallet and chlsel in his
hands.
SIT is done," he muttered. "And these
heathen little suspect that have cut my
name and story into the base of this idol"
He ran his eye rapidly over the inscription
in question. 1t was as follows:
1.-THE s.h Of May, 1851, I, David Lester, Of the firm
OF Lester d Nichols, OF Norfolk, Virginia. sailed as
passenger from Charleston for Hong Kong, via Cape
Horn in the ship 'Hecla.' cyclone struck us In
mid ocean, the ship foundered, and we took to the
was iu After drifting several days, during which
my companions nsrshed, reached this island. The
pie, and for than four years have been doing
mesial Offices and carving images. l have been
chained every highland watched continually by day,
but have nevertheless made three attempts at escape.
and shall soon make anotber-doubtless my last, as
am resolved to succeed or die, preerrng death to
longer captivity therefore write these words upon
this idol praying any one who may see them to re-
port my fate II possible; to my family al Norfolk,
"a Finished this inscription this 7ih day of July,
For several minutes the prisoner contsm-
plated these lines in silence, and then aroused
himself, looking warily around.
''Three times l have tried to escape in a
canoe, he muttered, ''and every time was
caught and visited with tortures. To be
caught again in such an attempt will be GER
tain death. Yet will risk all the first op-
portunity that offers. This longing for
freedom and my family is becoming posi-
tive madness. 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 ship,
her white sails cleaning as she lay becalmed
upon the waters
ga ship ship!" cried Lester, ,sobbingly.
eat last, oh Heaven! At last my prayer is
answered ~
THE PRISONERS HOME.
Oa the east bank of the Elizabeth river,
just out of Norfolk, and overlooking Hamp-
toa Reads, stood beautiful cottage, the
home of the wife and daughter of David
Lester, the prisoner of the lone island in
the far Pacific.
Near the close of lovely afternoon in
May, Mrs Lester and her daughter sat to-
gether upon their front verandah.
The mother was lovely, sweet-faced,
sad-eycd woman of two and thirty years.
The daughter, Amy Lester, mot yet fifteen,
was strange compound of child and woman.
You are thinking of father, dear mother?"
murmured the maiden, as she marked the
ladys longing gaze.
"Yes, child. Your father, my husband !;
where is he? Somewhere under the sea
waves, wrecked on desert island, or lam
gushing on hostile shore? Itis 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 living"
sit is so with me, mother, said Amy,
with a tremulous quiver of her lips. 81
dream often that he is livlng-that he is
coming home!"
1--WE need him in hundred ways" said
Mrs. Lester, signing. s'If anything were 10
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 ?" asked
Amy, in surprise.
II supposed so, dear, until three years
ago, replied the mother sadly. "Your father
was merchant and ship-owner, partner
of Colonel Nichols. But two years ago
Colonel Nichols informed me that the out
Cd 1at, rft tbo Grf,, thop hal
anced the assets; in short, Amy, that he
was on the verge Of bankruptcy, his fortune
and ours alike wrecked
II don't like Colonel Nichols" said Amy,
tboughtiully. ''It he lost all his money
with ours, how does he live in such grand
style? To whom do his ships and great
house belong?"
ITO his nephew, Ally Bell. Colonel
Nichols is Allys guardian. The Colonel has
nothing of his own, excepting a farm or two
up-country which were not risked in the
business"
Amy contracted her little brows reflectively
and was about to reply, when the garden
gate swung on its hinges, and boyish figure
came lightly up the walk.
Its Ally, mother-its Ally Bell !" ex-
claimed Amy, all smiles and bushes. "I'll
bring him to you"
The young girl ran lightly down the ve-
randall steps and met the new conner, linking
her arm in his, and drawing him gently
towards the house.
He was lad of seventeen, an orphan, the
nephew and ward of Col. Nichols. Bright
and gay and handsome, Allen Bell was also
impetuous, ardent, and intelligent-one of
those noble, manly boys who mature early
into grand and noble men. Boy as he was,
he loved Amy Lester with pure and chiv-
alrous love. which bald fair to deepen in
time into the great love of his life.
He was the bearer Of letter from his un-
Gle to Mrs. Lester, and having delivered it,
he stroled with Amy down the wide garden
walks into the cool shadows of grove at
the bottom of the garden.
!" I've been expecting you this good
while, Ally" said Amy, with charming
frankuess. g l thought you would be down
here to try these scientific experiments to-
dayi',,
:" Wen try them to night, Amy" replied
Ally. g The blue lights show better at
night. I'm getting along finely in my chem
istry. Amy. like it best of all my Studies. :"
/" i am sure you do, said Amy, earnestly.
.' You are the incest boy ever saw y
Ally Bell laughed aloud. Amy's childlike
simplicity and outspokcn truthfulness were
her greatest charm in his eyes,
"lhe sight OF That brig yonder, SAID Ally,
reminds me that promised to meet Col.
Nichols on board of it directly after l deliv-
ed That letter to your mother. / must go
now but you may expect me as soon as its
dark"
He casped her in his arms and kissed her.
For minute the youthful lovers stood at
the garden gate, towards which they had
slowly walked, and here they parted soberly
Ally to go down to the brig where he had
engaged to meet his uncle, and Amy to re-
turn to her mother.
She found Mrs. Lester, the open letter in
her lap, silent and motionless as statute,
her attitude that of profound despair.
" What is it, mothers" cried Amy, in
wild alarm, springing to her side.
Mrs. kester looked at her daughter with
woe stricken face.
20, Amy" she cried. turning to that
brave, childish heart for strength and COM
fort " Colonel Nichols writes me that we
are beggars! He reminds me that he has
asked me three several times to marry him.
And, Amy he says he knows your father to
be dead, and he offers himself to me for the
last time. He reminds me of my ill-health,
of your youth and helplessness. And he
says" and Mrs. Testers voice broke down
in tempest of sobs, "that on the one hand
he offers me wealth, comfort, and happi-
ness, on the other pnyerty and sorrow. II
| refuse him, he swears to turn us out of