The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-26
A VERY WEB OF PERIL.

shall take horrible reveuge"
A VERY WEB OF PERIL
It was in vain that her savage enemies
called to Ellie Fortescue, in the frightful cir
cumstances in which we left her:
1.-THE water is full of sharks p
She little needed, in that awful hour, this
additional peril.
ooh, father! speak to mer' she cried, sus-
tanning the pallid face of the dead missionary
above the alter.
The dumbness succeeding this appeal was
terribly significant, as was also the very in
ertness of the lifeless form.
He is deadp' size gasped.
lowering over the edge of the boat, and
needless alike of the cries of the sa,ages or of
the missiles they were still dischargiug at her,
the poor girl placed her hand upon the heart
Of the missionary.
1t had indeed ceased to beat.
"And l may as well die, toov' was the cry
of anguish that welled to Ellie's lips, as she
capsized the nearly filled boat, and and let
| her fathers body sink in the sea, to keep it
from falling into the hands of the cannbals.
could make my further use is my life, even il
could make my escape from these murder
Gus enemies? 1t matters little what be-
comes OF me now," said Ellie to herself as
she swan shoreward. ''They can do what
they will
The next instant she was seized by the
hair of her head by the foremost of her pur
suers, and dragged rudely out of the water
and thrust into the bottom of boat.
''The Missionary cried this savage, look
ing eagerly around upon the surface of the
water.
The girl pointed downward, with man.
ner sufficiently indicative of her belief that
the body of her father was going down thou
sands OF feet, to the midst OF coral caves, be-
yond all decay, beyond all life, there to await
the resurrection.
The savage uttered howl of anger and re-
| gret, which attested that the timely fears OF
! Ellie for the remains of her father had not
been unfounded.
'Never mind-you will do as WE'LL" grunt-
| ed the savage, significantly.
These were the last words the unfortunate
wretch ever uttered, blow at that instant
from the club OF native, who had arrived in
a second boat, having knocked him over
board and left him senseless, to meet GER
tain death by drowning
''You are my prize, lovely flower of hated
race!' muttered the new conner, as he trans
ferred the girl to his own boat, leaving that
of his murdered rival to drift away upon the
water. "You know me, do you not? 1 am
| Tongarorov'
Ellie recognized her captor now, and she
was not displeased with the substitution OF
| Tongar ,rO for the ruffian who had first seized
| her. For this TongarorO was one of the
leading chiefs of the islands, as is implied by
| his name, and one of the most intelligent,
having been dligent for many years to learn
all he could of Mr.. Fortescue. He even
spoke English quite fuently.
II warned that dog against getting in my
way" he muttered, land let them all beware
how they modest mew
ooh, you will not let them eat me?' cried
Ellie, shuddeling, her tender and delicate ma
ture shrinking more from that proclamation
than from death iGsel.
mo, they shall not eat you," said the saw
age, stoutly; "at least, not without my per-
mission"
ooh, say that they shall not eat me, in any
case," pleaded Ellie.
81 do not care to say that" said the chief,
slowly, shaking his head Somebody must
be eaten in the great festival of tomorrow.
Perhaps some white man will come this way
"But surely you can save me if you WILL"
"There is one way in which can save
you" said TongarCro, as he continued to
row quietly shorewards, ''and that is for YOU
to become my wife,"
"Your wife?' and the girl shuddered.
"But that, l see, is out of the question"
said the chief, grimly. ''And so YOU will
probably be eaten Tomorrow"
As she reached the beach, she found her.
self confronted by the king of the natives,
the father Of Tongaroro.
''Take her away-and let her be we'll fed p
commanded the chief, addressing his son.
''ehe must not be found amiss for the feast of
Tomorrow"
Topua ,oodo n nros&,,ro A., A. Ill LII
ing the way towards his house, and she lost
no time in following him.
This house was an average spl cimen of the
simple constructions of the island, being lit
tie more than a matched roof supported up
Oh posts. 1t stood in a retired spot, with
great trees around it, and had about it an air
OF uncommon neatness-a fact owing to the
refined manners the sister of the young chief
had acquired from the missionaries, and es-
pecially from Ellie's mother.
"Here you are to stay tonight" said Ton
garofo, as he ushered her into a small. close
apartment at one end of the house. 1T you
make me any trouble, it will be the worse for
you. l shall chain you fast"
"Oh, will not run away, assure you |!
Do not chain me-! 1t does not matter what
becomes of me now-except that cannot
bear the thought of being eaten. Do not
chain mev'
81 mustp' said Tcngaroro, grimly. 81
shall be away great deal tonight, aud am
afraid that Lootoo may come and carry you
off. A good chain will prevent all that, and
chained you must be:'
He secured around one of the girls ankles a
STOUT chain, which had evidently once be-
lolSed 10 some vessel, and then the other
Gnu oi Ine Chain was fastenend as securely
to one OF the stout posts supporting The roof
OF the dwelling. -00'
Il will bring food and drink he said turn-
ing away and do not be foolish,
The food and drink supplied, her, he took
his departure, leaving her alone in the dark.
EesS.
She had not been i n this place great
while, however when the door of her prison
was opened, and the grim figure of another
native chief was presented indistinctly to her
gaze.
Are you Tongaroro?" she asked, in a
futter of apprehension,
mo. am Lootoo! Hush! l have come to
release you, and carry yo1 off to the woods
and the mOuntains!
"Alas! you cannot release me-even if
wished you to-" sighed Ellie. 81 am chainedv'
''Chainedv'
The new conner echoed the word in tone
OF the gravest annoyance.
care yon telling me the truth ?" he de-
manded.
''You can feel, or look, for YOURSELF
Lootoo at first felt of the chain, and then
produced light by friction, and examined it.
AS he did SO, his brow darkened fearfully.
He scoal led like a fiend.
Il cannot release 20 If were to work all
night" he muttered. And all will be de-
cided against me tomorrow. But there is
enc thing can do: / hate TongarorO, and