Nebraska advertiser., 1882-05-18

DtTItCJlJ bnhb IStN WAY uthds
10 came 10 pass, however, after many |
days that he sighted an island, an out
lying member of a group at which he
knew traders never touch, b cause 1t
was too small place for trade and lay
out of the usual track. .r...
1t is very well known that large
number of the Caroline Islands are com
posed of certain coral formations called
atolls. These consist of round ring
of rock just appearing above the surface,
inclosing a shallow lagoon, whose di-
ameter varies from few yards to hun
dred miles, in which lie islands, some of
them large islands with hills streams
and splendid woods of cOcoa-ptlm,
bread fruit, DURAN and pandang, whose
islanders lead, or would lead il they
knew how, delightful lives in fishing ir
| their smooth waters, eating the fruits
which Heaven sends, and doing no kind
of work. Others there are, small atolls
with small lagoons, whose islets are
mere rocks on which grow nothing bu'
the universal pandang the screw palm,
which serves the people for everything.
Such was this. II was too insignificant
even To have name; it was distant
about two hundred miles from the group
of which it might be supposed to be
member; it was simply laid down on the
chart as u "shoal," and had. perhaps,
never been visited by any ship since it
first discovery.
Moved by some impulse. perhaps, a
mere curiosity rs to the capabilities o
trade and the possibility of pearls, Cap
tain Wattles stecrcd toward this low
lying land.
When his boat lay upon the shallow
waters within the reef he found n GROUP
of the inhabitants of the principal islct
gathered upon the beach. They were
of the brown Polynesian race, and were
apparently preparing for a hostile re-
cepton.
Among them stood, passive, man al.
most as brown rs themselves, but with
fair hair and blue eyes. He was white
man; he was young white man; he
was evidently no common beach-comb-
or; and Captain Wattles Immediately
recognized, without any doubt, the man
of whom he was i'm search. He was
dressed in rags; the sleeves were torn
from his Jacket and his bare arms were
tattooed; his trousers had lost most OF
their legs; he wore some kind of san
; dals made of the pandang leaf; his
, beard was long, his hair was hanging in
an unkempt mass; his head was pro-
! tccted from the sun by an ingenious ar
rangement of another leaf of the same
? tree. 1t could be no other than Rex
Armiger.
: A strange feeling, akin to pity, seized
on Captain Wattles. He repressed il, as
a unworthy of himself. But he did at first
feel pity for him.
i The white man stood among the ma
. tives, afraid to excite their suspicion 10y
Z running before them to meet the boat
yet his eagerness was visible in his at
l. titude, in the trembling of his lips, il
g the way in which he looked upon thu
l. boat.
e He carried a short lance in his hant
(. like all the rest.
Captain Wattles rowed to- within hail
o inc distance of the shore. Then IN
l. st God up
Il "White man ahoy!'
u The white man said something to hi
companions, and stepped forward, bu
:, in leisurely manner, as if he was no
Il at all anxious to speak the boat
= He came to the waters edge and sa
= down. -....
$ 81 am an Englishman," he said
> speaking slowly, because he was speak
> ing language he had not used for tire
years. Il am an Englishman. M.
N name is Armiger. ! was the Captain o
l. the Indian Peninsular ship Philippine
e wrecked on a shoal three years or so ago
r ! have been living since among thes
~ people"
/ "Do you know their lingoP"
l. "Yes.n
st "Then tell them | am harmless and
a want to row nearer land"
ID Rex turned to the men and addresse,
is them in their own language.
8, They all sat down and waited.
- You may come nearer" he said
Is "but make no movement that ma
10 alarm them, and do not attempt to lanC
III They are suspicious since two years az
I; a ship came down from the Ladron
~ Islands and kidnapped twenty Of then
H. including Malay, cast away with me.
=, Here then was the Interpretation {
=, Dicks second pantOmimic fight. III
ss did not escape, he was kidnapped. Ho'
o he got away from the Ladrone Island
~ how he found his way to England, n
:. mains a matter hitherto undiscovered
nv Captain Wattcs brought up his boa
l1Se within few yards of the beach, but
10 deep water, holding his men in read
ct ness to give way.
u Sitting in the stern he was able to tai
as freely with Rex, who stood at the vel
so edge of the water waiting for an oppo
he tunity to leap on board.
NJ Z" So," said Captain Wattles 'you a
he Cap'en Armiger, are youP'
Rex was astonished at the salutatio
,ly "WhyP Do you know meP'
"You see know your name, strange