The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-12-28
dark astern of them, and apparently

dark astern of them, and apparently
| gaining.
"a cancel" exclaimed her father;
| pursuit."
1T is all over with US, them"
gasped Leila.
At that moment, from a 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 sayages 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 exert1on 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
Door Leila, who had also stopped pad
ding, was praying that her father
might be saved. even though she were
destroyed.
Beautiful sight it 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
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 a
few minutes it must reach the fug1-
tives. M. Sturges and his daughter
now beheld the strange ship, which,
not distant further than quarter OF
a 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
paddled toward the ship, Mr.. Sturges
now and then shouting and pausing to
wave an arm to her. Finally, over
powered by their exertions,' fatner
and daughter were obliged to pause.
Their pursuers were close upon them
so was the ship.
Help, Help!" screamed the mission
ary. springing up. 1--WE are pursued
by savages.'
His shrill voice was evidently heard,
for the ship was now directed straight
toward the savages' canoe, which 1t
soon struck, dasaing it to pieces ana
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 Lella'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
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.