The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-12-20
,rn of them, and apparently

-
dark astern Of them, and apparently
gaining.
| "A cancel" exclaimed her father;
"a large canoe; the savages are in
pursuit."
1T is all over with us, then!"
gasped Leila
At that moment, from sudden
opening in the dark clouds, the moon
burst forth, throwing broad glare
of silver light athwart the waters.
Mr.. Sturges then discovered that
the large canoe, which was full OF
natives, was indeed rapidly gaining.
Vainly he strained himself at the
paddle; vainly his lovely daughter al
so eXerted herself; The natives drew
nearer every moment, shouting ex-
ultantly as they came on.
The fugitives were now padding on
a course diagonal with the shore, and
which carried them toward high
rocky promontory, jutting out into the
sea from the southern extremity of the
island.
AS they drew near this promontory
| the face of the missionary lighted up
with hope; for he had. not long sine,
| discovered there an under-sea cavern,
| of the existence of which he believed
the savages knew nothing-the open
ing to this retreat being concealed by
a rock, overgrown with thick masses
Of seaweed
Soon, however, he perceived that he
must be overtaken ere he could reach
the place. All further exertion was
useless. There was the natives
canooe, less then ten fathoms distant,
speeding along toward the smaller one
like an arrow.
In this extremity Mr.. Sturges re-
solved to resort to prayer.
He threw himslef upon his knees in
the canoe and prayed God, If it so
pleased Him to take the petitioner to
spare his lovely child. Meanwhile
poor Leila. who had also stopped pad
ding, was praying that her father
might be saved, even though she were
destroyed.
Beautiful sight 1t was to see the
young girl with upturned face, the
moonlight upon her features and shin
ing hair, as she sat there in the rock
ing canoe.
Mr.. Sturges concluded his prayer.
Now he stood upright in the little
craft, gazing toward his enemies as
they came on.
Thus gazing he did not observe a
stately snip, which suddenly came
looming round the promontory men,
toned, under reefed topsails.
The suddenness of this vision, hith-
erto concealed by the high land, was
not without its effect upon the natives,
all of whom now stopped padding,
gazing toward the strange vessel.
Go ahead" screamed the evil
voice of Seedon, who was among them.
Never mind the ship, but first get
these runaways in your clutches
The natives again took to their pad
dies. On came the canoe, and In
few minutes it must reach the fugi-
tives. Mr.. Sturges and his daughter
now beheld the strange ship, which,
not distant further than a quarter of
mile, was booming along straight
toward them.
"If we can only reach that vessel"
he said to his daughter. Quick,
Leila, paddles again.
With superhuman strength they
padded toward the ship, Mr.. Sturges
now and then shouting and pausing to
wave an arm to her. Finally, over
powered by their exertions, father
and daughter we're obliged to pause.
Their pursuers were close upon them
so was the ship.
Help, Help" screamed the mission.
ary, springing up I'VE are pursued
by savages."
His shrill voice was evidently heard,
for the ship was now directed straight
toward the savages' canoe, which it
soon struck, dashing it to pieces and
passing over it, killing Henry Seedon
outwright and leaving the other oc-
cupants striking out for shore.
Mr.. Sturges and his daughter were
then picked up, to meet with an agree
able surprise, to discover in the cap
tain OF the vessel Leila's lover
Charles Graham.
my prayer has been answered.
said Sturges, solemnly, as he embrac-
ed his weeping, blushing daughter.
We have to add that they had a
safe and speedy passage home, and
that Leila, soon after. was united to
Captain Graham
Mr.. Sturges found a comfortable
home with them during the remainder
of his life.-New York News.