San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-25

Lawson had escaped the day before.
T hey stood spellbouRd, when thew saw
the presence Of death, and the position
of the former mailman; after few mo
ments they explained all to West, and
reluctantly he consented to their taking
him away.
CHAPTER XVI.
HE spake Of moving accidents, by flood and
feld."-[ shakespeare.
1t was five years since the close of the
last chapter, and peace had reigned I'M
alleged ever since.
It was the birthday of Lucy, the four
year-old daughter OF West and Emmy.
Mr.. Clayton, Nellie and Charles West
"A cousin from India-constituted the
course, assembled In honor of the event.
All were gathered around a glowing
fire in the drawing room Of the old Clay
ton hall, Which West bought soon after
his return from seeing his uncle in Ia
dia, who died, leaving his large fortune
between the two sons OF his dead
brothers.
Charles West had just returned from
Calcutta, having had business to settle
there, previous to his marriage to his
cousin Nellie.
You have not yet told me all that
happened to you after you left me In
Calcutta" said Charles West to Frank,
~ long to hear more"
Eyes," echoed Clayton, "tell us more
fully, am little hazy about it,"
Emmy and Nellie were also anxious to
hear it.
West had never cared to talk OF his
narrow escape. AS he slipped the glass
OF wine, he held between his fingers, he
glanced at his daughter, whose golden
head rested on her mothers shoulder,
while her large brown eyes were fixed
expectantly on her father.
"Well," he began, sit is not very
cheering to me to bring up the past, but
Isuppose you should know the rights
1--WE were several days distant from
Calcutta when, In the evening | was
walking the deck, 80 anxious to get
home that l could not rest. 1t was
very dark, there was strong breeze,
and the rolling of the ship made 1t diff
ficult to walk but suddenly wave
came and washed me overheard. 1t
seemed an age to me before I rose to
the top of the water, when l distinctly
heard the cry of man overheard, fol-
lowed by a splash within a few yards Of
me. l tried to swim after the ship,
whose light l could see, but soon found
that the distance between it and me was
rapidly increasing. shouted with all
my might, but the wind, which was
strong, blew my efforts in my teeth. l
began to count my chances: l was in q
strong current; the ships light
was fast disappearing, when |
heard a voice calling me by name. l
again shouted and listened, but got no
t. faxxy min hox I'd n
name again, this time closer; l answer
ed, and heartily glad was to find had
been heard. Iswam my best In the d.
rection Of the voice; began to feel
weak and heavy, and wondered why the
boat, for such thought 1t must be, did
not reach me. | was startled by my
name being shouted close TO me, and an
swered with all my remaining strength,
struck out, and soon reached some
thing floating. 1 found my fellow
passenger, Pearson, who had also gone
out with me in the Poonah, he had
Jumped overheard after me, first throw
ing over hen-coop by which he was
floating.
THANK Godr' he cried as l clutched
the mesgre support. l was too ex-
hausted to speak and we drifted on In
silence. Morning came at last; our con-
caring to say much, being tired and
faint.
As the sun rose, | saw an oar some
hundred yards to the right, which the
sailors had evidently thrown after US, II
being the first thing they could lay hold
OF; il was a prize not to be lost, as the
COOP was barely sufficient to keep us
af1oat. With great difficulty we swan
and pushed our craft before us till we
reached 1t.
My companion had by this time given
up speaking. l could not get an answer
from him on any subject.
At midday he seemed very weak, and
several times had to hold and encour-
age him. The sun was directly
it's molten beams on our uncovered
heads. felt our time would soon come
if we had to remain in such position
very long.
suggested that we should bind our
numbed and stiff and must soon let 60
nay hold. Then Pearson spoke in very
feeble voice: "Never mind me-" he
said, "bind yourself. my time has come,
thank God! l do not wish to live
longer"
do not give up yet" l cried, felt
Mortified at being left alone, tried tC
cheer him, but to no purpose.
half to himself.
"Who will not harm you?" 1 in
quired.
ID. dawson; Richard Lawson"
"Whatw l gasped, on hearing hi
or {