The New York herald., 1873-11-24
THE GOLDEN IDOL; Or, THE En-
CHANTED TREE.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER i.
GIRLS DESPAIR
Upon a lonely shore Of Tongataboo harDor, IN
the island OF T0nga-tabQo, two persons sat hidden
In a dim recess 0f palms.
They were father and daughter.
The former was plain, simple clergyman OF
middle age.
scarcely more remarkable for ner loveliness than
for her sterling good sense and worldly wisdom
lar IN advance OF her years
AS 10 the wife and mother OF this couple, she had
long been sleeping her last sleep III one Of the
0s s 9ss4; & Sad n Sassa ss fas ss W. had
come to the shores OF this lovely harbor with the
intention OF passing his days in the labor OF con-
verting to Christianity their pagan idolators; but
the good missionary had, In some unintentionai
way, fallen under the dispeasure OF the ruler OF
the island, and was now being hunted Tor his life.
~ am SO, tired, father," painted the girl as she
clasped her hand tightly TO her heart.
I'VE ought not TO have run SO lastn responded
Mr.. Fortescue. "But am sure the savages were
near us.n
"Hush here they arel" breathed the girl.
A rush OF footsteps was heard, and moment
later several savages came flying past rending the
air with their cries.
'srhey think we have gone in that direction"
whispered the missionary .0h. II they only knew
how near we are still to the setrlementin
"Will they not soon be back this way, father 7"
asked Miss Fortescue.
~ ldare say they WILL Ellie. AM her comes another
band of then.n
A dozen armed warriors traversed the sandy
beach Immediately In front OF the hiding place OF
the couple.
GLOW terrible they are how lost to all pityl"
sighted Mr.. Fortescue. "To see these savage pur-
suers and hear their yells would little imagine
the sacrifices we have made on their account. All
the benefits they have received from US are for
gotten. They are determined to kill US II they can
find us.n
At this point Ellie started violently, half arising
to her feet.
..0h, look, father y, she cried.
This was all she could say but she pointed far
away in the direction from which the fugltlves had
come.
II see," murmured MT Fortescue "they have
nred our dwellingn
A urid flame arose in the air in the distance.
at is hard TO see our home perishing," sighed
the daughter. What demons they are"
She star Ted again, even more Violently than be-
1ore-tnis time at the barking Of dog within ten
feet OF her.
sThe cur viii certainly betray us p' cried the
missionary, springing TO his feet.
ale has betrayed us already" returned Ellie.
''Seel they are comlng.N
In the last moment at his residence Mr.. Fortes-
cue had seized an old sword he cbanced TO have
upon mis- premises, and he thanked Heaven for the
service that this weapon now rendered MIN, he be-
ing able 10 cleave the dog IN twain with single
desperate blow.
"had we better not plunge into the interior,
y think not. 1t is there that they are looking
for us, Tney are beating up every bush, and
Yes! they are certainly coming nearer to Us. See!
they have torchesl on, this is horrlblel
perhaps we had better throw ourselves into a
boat and trust ourselves to the winds and waves" ("
al would have done SO, darling, but for the
roughness of the sea-"
ats all up with our halt here" said the mis-
was heard and the savages are hastening IN this
direction"
Breaking from their covert, hand in hand, the
father and daughter ran along the beach and
gained a temporary shelter behind O small ledge of
rocks which jutted out into the sea in the form OF
q small prOmontory.
al we only had boat wr' sighed the father,
possibly we could get Off in it,"
Ere Ellie could reply solitary savage came
bounding from the bushes, brandishng his war
club.
'Aasi alasi' mournei Mr. FOrtescue.
He had realized only too well the imminence OF
the per-the utter utility OF all his efforts at es-
cape-but he met the foremost savage with the
strength or desperation, cleaving him in twain
nearly as clevery as he had despatched the dog
which had discovered the whereabouts of the
couple; but then came the sharp, loud report of
a musket-and the good missionary lay weltering
in his blood, with bullet through his vtals.
~ am hit in he cried. 81 cannot GO on,n
"Not even TO the boat, fatherfn
"Aas it is TOO late!n iatered the dying mission
ary, as everything reeled around him,
''To Thee, y God, commend hero
These were the last words the devoted mis-
sionary. AS he uttered them he lumbled into the
boat he had succeeded with his his last desperate
efforts in reaching, aud In that same instant his
senses left him forever.
'On demons!" cried Ellie, Still welding her
sword with the strength OF despair.
BY the last desperate effort OF her exhausted
powers the brave girl succeeded in pushing or the
boat and in breaking clear o the pursuers with it.