The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-07-03
CHAPTER NNI.
TIE sHIPW RECk,

TIE sHIPwRECK.
Edgar Werner and his young friend
Edwin Percy waited long and impatiently
for the return Of Cecil Esmond upon the
night which witnessed his capture and sail
ing away on the Shooting Star. Lhey did
not know him Intimately, and little sus-
pected his real identity, and yet they
trusted implicitly ia his friendship for
them. A dozen different three ries we're
advanced as to the cause of his mysterious
disappearance, and when the evening be-
came far advanced and no sIgns of his re
turn apparent, they started out IN search
of him.
Their search was however fruitless. No
trace was to be found Of him. No clue as
to his whereabouts was made manifest,
and as the mail for the western coast
started at midnight, and as if they did not
start that night they would be compelled
to wait for fortnight, they finally resolved
to leave, and left note at the hotel for
him imparting instructions as to their flu
ture course, and informing him Of their in
tentions should be choose 10 follow them.
E" 1t is possible that he may have changed
his mind and returned on the Shooting
Star" suggested Werner The ship
sailed this evening for England, and may
made up his mind to return. There was
always sonae mystery about him, some
thing ever on his mind, and 1t Is not inn
probable that he may have returned with
out having opportunity or time to send US
notice of his intended departure.
"You are undoubtedly right, said
Percy. +" can account for his abrupt de-
parture in no other way. In any event
we must 90 on. If he returns he will fol
low us. and the directions We left for him
are sufficiently explicit to lead HIM to us.
They set out upon the Journey that
evening. The mail coach carrying a large
number Of passengers. most OF whom were
left at the little mining villages along the
way Ehe third day they reached little
town, the last outpost Of civilization, be-
yond which a desert of land lay. Here
the zach left them and accouterng them
selves with their munitions tn.- u at on
foot The following day they reached the
wester coast-that dreary sea-border un-
inhabited, and wild as when in its pre-
nieval solitude. Here large aurriferous
deposits had been reported, and here too
other metals and precious stones had been
found, 1t was said.
They encamped by a large rock within
few rods of the shore of the ocean. Their
long tramp had so wearied them that they
did not long remain awake, but were soon
enwrapped In the deepest slumber. They
felt assured that the fire would keep away
all ravenous animals, and no sayages had
been seen IN this region by them.
1t was nearly midnight when Edwin
Percy awake to a sense nf estreme dlscom-
fort and dim consciousness Of lmpend-
ing peril. He sprang to his feet. The
fire was out, and dozen wild hyenas were
skirting the beach. He was wet to the
skin. and from dense clouds above per-
feet torrent Of rain was descending, while
the wind, the thunder and the lightning
we're terrific. He went up to where
| Eagal Werner lay and shook him roughly.
"What is it 2 demanded the other,
springing quickly to his feet.
The storm had lulled for moment, and
as a dull boom echoed across the waters.
Percy said THAT is a gun from some
vessel in distress.
They strained their vision seaward as
they spoke dazzling flash Of lightning
| Illuminated the entire scene for moment,
and then the storm resumed its fury, and
| the dark fall of night obscured everything
around.
But that one single flash revealed a
sight startling and real to the two miners,
for there, but short distance from the
shore, breaking to pieces amid the surg
ing waters upon an outer redge OF rocks
was vessel clinging, to which were the
forms of human beings.
| A wild horror burst upon their minds at
a realization of the fact Both were brave
and energetic men, yet they were COM
paratively helpless. They saw the men
die. AS it were before their eyes, and
were unable to help them. Involuntary
they hastened down to the beach. The
booming of the signal gun of distress from
the wrecked vessel had ceased, and sec
ond bright flash Of lightning revealed nc
vessel. 1t had evidently gone to pieces.
They stood gazing out to sea when with a
heavy surge the waves flung large dark
object towards them. In a moment they
caught at it.
"What is it" demand Percy
"A life boat upturned, was the an
swer.
They pulled it up little higher on the
beach, and righted it. A single oar lay In
its bottom, and clutching one end and ap-
parently just fainting from shear exhaus-
ton was man.
alt lis a human being" said Werner,
excitedly "Quick Percy. Get in the
shadow Of the rock, near our tent, and en-
deavor to build fire.
1t was a difficult undertaking the build
ing of a fire with such damp material, but
soon blaze was transmitted to the wood,
and as Percy piled armful after armful Of
wood on the FIRE and saw them blaze up
light up all the stormy scene around, cast
ing radiance all over the waters, he
hurried to the beach with an utterance Of
satisfaction. He aided his companion In
carrying the form of the inanmate mar
whom they had found in the upturned life
boat to the FIRE. They brought him tc
the FIRE, chafed his limbs and poured
LIQUOR down his throat, and did all they
could towards resuscitatlng him. Their
a. he breathed more freely they laid hin
down on one of their blankets and re
turned to the beach. But no other OBJ
iects were washed ashore, and they re-
iuctantly returned to the fire, feeling tha
it would be impossible to do anything