The National tribune., 1898-07-28

pirates listened to my voice, stifed by
my tears, and took me on board, not from
but from cruelty. In fact, ,
| was a slave more added to their num-
bers; why should they have repulsed me!
INTO SLAVERY.
= "a few days after that fatal evening we
arrived at Jolo. There the division Of the
slaves was made, and the master into
whose hands we fell took us away with
him. Was it, then, to undergo like
destiny that / had Owed so early in the
morning for pearl for the Infant Jesus OF
Zebou? Yes, was it for this that l had
made VOW to bring him the first pearl /
should find? Notwithstanding my pro-
found sorrow I murmured not, neither did
regret my offering. The Lord was the
masterl His will should be DONE"
Here Relempago paused, and looked
towards Heaven with smile of angellc
resignation, and we then remarked upon
his face the burrows traced by the deep
sorrows of his life.
"Our captivity lasted two years, during
which time we had to endure very great
suffcrings. Very often would my master
take me away with him to lake in the
interior of the island, and these absences
lasted for whole months together, during
which time | was perforce separated from
my. Theresa. On my return, used To
find my poor companion still the same
good, faithful, devoted and affectionate
friend, whose courage sustained my own.
In one of our excursions | had been
wounded in the leg, and this wound came
greatly to my aid. One day my master
set out for the borders of the grand lake :,
and, knowing had bad leg left me at
Jolo. | availed myself of this opportunity
to put into execution a project that | had
formed Tor long time, that of flying with
Theresa. The task was a daring one, but
the desire of freedom doubles ones
strength and increases ones courage so
did not hesitate for moment.
when night had lowered, my dear
Theresa took a road l had pointed out to
her, went by another one, and we both
arrived at the seashOre at a short distance
from each other. There we jumped into
pirogue, and threw ourselves upon the
protection of Divine mercy!
A TERRIBLE VOYAGE.
We rowed vigorously the whole night,
fight. The wind blew rather
violently, the night was dark, and the
stars lnSenSibly lost their vivid bright
ness. Every moment we thought we
heard behind us the noise of our pursuers,
and our hearts beat so loud and so
that they could be heard in the
midst of the silence that reigned around
all nature.
Day at last appeared; we deserted by
degrees, in the mist of the morning, the
iothS tHdI iliieu tne SNOTe, ana we could
see Tar enough in the distance that no
one was pursuing us. Then were our
hearts filled with cheering hope, and we
continued rowing towards the north, in
order To land on some Christian isle
Il had taken with me some cOcoanutS,
but they were very small resource and
we had been at sea three whole days
without eating anything when, exhausted
by fatigue and want, we fell upon our
knees and invoked the pity, compassion,
and succor of the Infant Jesus of Zebou
Our prayer over, we felt cur strength
exhausted; the oars fell from
our hands, and we lay down in the bot
tom OF the pirogue, decided upon dying in
each others arms.
our weakness gradually increased, |
and finally we SwGoned away the pirogue |
all the while daShing heedleSSly on with |
the waves
When we recovered from our fainting
fiji know not how long it lasted-we |
found ourselves surrounded by Christians. |
who, having perceived us in our light !,
SKIN, had come to our aid, conveyed us to
their hospitable dwelling, and took the |
most pious care of us.
Our convalescence was very long in
deed, said Relempago; "at last our
health was sufficiently restored to permit !
OF US leaving the Isle of Negroes, where the |
infant Jesus had so miraculouSly caused |
US to land, and we came to settle here on |
the side OF this large lake. which. being |
situated in the interior of the Isle OF |
Lucon, afforded me the means of pursuing |
my vocation of fisherman without in any |
way fearing the Malays, who might very |
Easily nave captured us again at Zebou,
MY first carc-yes, the dearest act of |
my lite-on arriving, was to have our |