The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-08-26


the presence u M viu, w~eazcm-iaccu
native seated squat upon the ground
in front of the largest wigwam.
At sight of the captives he gave IN
exclamation Of delight.
After he had satisfied his curiosity. q
long consultation was held between
him and the leader of tho captOrs,
wholly unintelligible to our friends.
though they knew from the violent
gestures made no good was BODIED
them.
Briefly told, at its conclusion three
of the savages seized Robert Perley
and led him 10 a huge cOcOanut-tree.
where he was compelled to stand up
right against its trunk.
Charlie and Jack were then placed
one Oh each side of him, when three
spearsmen with their rude weapons
were stationed q short distance of,
ready to send the instruments through
their bodies.
The doomed men looked in vain for
mercy from the swarthy visages before
them, and their lips moved in prayer.
At this critical j%uncture a sharp cry
was uttered. and looking up. the
whites saw the beautiful maiden rush
ing towards them.
She did not pause until she reached
their side, when she placed herself in
front of Robert, and waved her hand
frantically to the spearsmen.
The old chief came forward with an
angry frown, and ordered her to stand
aside. but with flashing eyes she met
him unfiinchingly.
"Warana no warrior to kill helpless
whiteface." she cried. in broken Eng
lish. ''See, they like Star Singer
much! She not let Warana kill"
Maddened by her defiance, the chief
commanded his followers to take her
away.
Her shapely foot stamped the ground
impetuously, as she cried:
"Warrior, touch Star Singer and she
kill quick! See, she 60 if white-faces
do" and the defiant maid held sharp,
Misunderstanding weapon owe her
own heart. ''She no moro sing for
WaranaT
Evidently the chief did not care to
lose her, for he hesitated in his designs.
It's doubtful il the heroic girl could
have rescued the captive sailors, but
she had saved their lives by delaying
the execution.
Wild shouts rung on the air, and a
body Of the ''Waverley's" crew rushed
into the valley.
Panic seized the frightened natives,
and the whites won a bloOdless victory.
"The captain thought you were in
trouble and sent us to YOU"
"And with this brave girl you have
saved II lives" said the young mate.
warmly grasping his brother officers
hand.
The wonder of the seamen at behold
ing the fair timid maid, can be well
imagined.
''Yon must go with u.s." said Robert.
clasping her hand.
She trembled violently, and her gaze
hardly left the sight of the terrified
natives. huddled together in a group
not far of. but, without q word. she
yielded, seeming to feel that she was a
captive.
1t was many days before she mingled
freely with her new-fOund friends, and
even then, at times. the old spirit Of
~uneasiness stole over her.
In that time Robert and Charlie
Weston learned to love her dearly, and
the sometime friends felt a gulf WIDEN
ing between them.
Finally the mate could bear the sus-
pense no longer, and he resolved to
know his fate.
As yet, she had allowed no n to
touch the lOcket she wore, but guarded
it with anxiety.
As Robert told the story of his love,
however, he pleaded again that he
might examine it, when, at last, she
consented.
Pressing a spring, it flew open, dis.
closing the portraits OF q man and
women.
As his gaze met the pictures, the
mate uttered a cry Of surprise and al
most dropped the lOckct.
my father and motherr' he ex-
claimed. ''Can it be possible you are
my sister, who was lost at sea, twelve
years ago in the ship JASON bound for
the Sandwich Islandsp She never was
heard of after passing the Horn, and
we never knew where she was lost, but
here is q clue"
writing in therer' said the girl,
and taking the locket from his hand she
pressed out one of the miniatures, and
there lay a bit of paper yellowed with
age, which she handed to Robert. He
read aloud:
"The wearer of this is Captain Osgood Per
ley's daughter. She and ! have been cast away
upon this island from the ship Jason The
ever maj find her will bear her to her parents,
now in the Sandwich Islands, or there learn
their address.
"JABEz PERLEY."
ut is true" cried the mate. t'My
sister! my long-lost s~ister" And he
clasped the surprised maid in his arms.
Charlie appeared upon the scene with
looks of amazement.
Congratulate me, old boyr' cried
Robert, excitedly. II have found my
sister, the lost Minnie, that we have
mourned so many years-whO was left
behind when father and mother went to
the Sandwich Islands, fourteen years
ago; but when she was four years old
Uncle Jabez took her on his whaling
ship bound for Behring's Straits, de-
signing to leave her with parents
in the Sandwich Islands, where father
then was English consul. The ship
never was heard from after she passed
the Horn; but here is the sad proof
that she was lost" And he handed
the paper to Charlie, who, reading it,
exclaimed
.'Then l have a sweetheart"
Need we attempt to describe the hap
piness that fOllowedp
The "Waverly" reached port in
safety, and sOon after, q father and
mother, who had mourned their daugh-
ter as dead for twelve years, were over
iOyed to have her restored to them;
while to her it seemed like q strange,
sweet dream.
Two years later Charlie Weston and
the fair Minnie Perley were married.
Robert Perley is now a happy hus-
band and father Us we'll as a thriving
merchant in the old town Of Plymouth.
What did he say to me, the beggarp"
said the prisoner, in o fine burst OF in-
|dignation. ''Did you ever hear what