Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-27
\ VERY WEB OF PERIL.


1t was in vain that her savage enemies
called to Ellie Fortescue, in the frightful
circumstances in which we left her:
''The water is full of sharlls.''
She little needed, in that awful hour, this
additional peril.
ooh, father speak to me-" she cried, sus-
tanning the pallid face of the dead mission
airy above the water.
The dumbneSS succeeding this appeal was
terribly significant, as was also the very in
ertness Of the lifeless form.
'He is dead" she gasped.
lowering over the edge of the boat, and
needless alike Of the cries of the Savages or
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, toO?" was the
cTy.Of anguish that welled to Ellie's lips, as
she capsized the nearly filled boat, and let
her fathers body sink into the sea, to keep
it from falling into the hands of the can
nibals. "Of what further use is my life,
even if | could make my escape from these
murderous enemies? 1t matters little what
becomes of me nOw," said Ellie to herself,
as she swan shOreward. "They can do
what they will
Tho next instant she was seized By the
hair of her head by the foremost of her
pursuers, and dragged rudely ont of the
water and thrust into the bottom of boat.
''The missionary?' cried the savages
looking eagerly around upon the surface of
the water.
The girl pointed downward, with a man
ner sufficiently indicative of her belief that
the body of her father was going down
thousands of feet, to the midst of coral
caves beyond all decay, beyond all life, there
to await the resurrection. 80
The savage uttered howl of anger and
regret, which attested that the timely fears
of Ellie for the remains of her father had
not been unfounded.
''Never mind-you will do as well,'
grlnted the savage, significantly.
These were the last words the unfortu-
nate wretch ever uttered, blow at that in
slant from the club of a native, who had
arrived in a second boat, having knocked
him overheard and left him senseles, to
meet a certain death by drowning.
''You are my prize, lovely flower of a
hated racew muttered the new conner; as
he transferred the girl to his own boat,
leaving that of his murdered rival to drift
away upon the water. "You know me. do
you not? am Tongaroror'
Ellie recognized her captOr now, and she
was not displeased with the substitution of
TOngaroro for the ruffian who had first
seized her. For this Tongaroro was one of
the leading chiefs of the islands, as is i'm
piled by his name, and one of the most in
telligent, having been diligent for many
years to learn all he could of Mr.. FoI4es-
cue. He ever spoke English quite fluently.
81 warned that dog against getting in my
way" he muttered 'Eand let them all be-
ware how they modest me.''
"Oh, you will not let them eat me?"
cried Ellie, shuddering, her tender and del
icate nature shrinking more from that pro-
fanation than from death itself.
''No, they shall not eat YOU" said the
savage, Stoutly; at least, not without nv
permission"
ooh, say that they shall not eat me, in
any case" pleaded Ellie.
II do not care to say that" said the chief,
slowly, shaking his head. Somebody
must be eaten in the great festival of to-
morrow. Perhaps some white man will
come this way"
"But surely you can save me ifyouwilI."
'sThere is one way in which [ can save
yOt," said Tongaroro, as he continued to
row quietly shorewards, ''and that is for
you to become my wife"
"Your wife?" and the girl shuddered
"But that, see, is ont 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 well
fed'' commanded the Chief addressing his