The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-06-17
BY Captain r w. NYe.

OFF Lunbie Island, October %, 1858,
at 3 a. M, as the bluff-bowed oldfash-
| toned whaler Governor Carver came in
stays the little form of boy slipped
down the outer bobstay took to the
water and struck out for shore, dis
tant about a mil and a half. The
night was pitch dark, but the surf on
the beach could be heard as the wind
was light, and the boy judged his dis
lance to be less than it really was.
He had been logged most unmerci-
| fully by the captain few days before
with the end of the main topgallant
sheet whip and had been kicked and
cuffed from one end of the ship to the
other He was only little under 13
years of age and did not care whether
he lived or died, for the ship was a
living hell to him.
AS he dropped into the water and
the ship filled away on the off shore
tack he breathed a prayer to heaven
that God might give him the strength,
wind and endurance to reach shore.
He struck out with long, steady
strokes; the water was nice and warm
and he was a fine swimmer, for at the
Mace where he was brought up the
boys were in the water half the time
in the summer.
The ship Had Vanished,
Stroke after stroke he gave and
looked over his should into the dark
ness; the ship had vanished. He
breathed sigh of relief and muir
mured THANK God. they did not miss
me and lower a boat. l guess l am
now. clear of that floating hell
He had heard from the captain and
officers when conversing at the table
when he was cabin boy about the can
nibals on some of the islands. in the
Malay Archipelago, and had listened
with wonder and fear. All this came
home to him as he swan silently
along Better take my chances with
those people than live the life of a
dog among my own" thought he.
Swimming steadily with a long,
easy stroke, at times he saw the
bright streak of phosphorus as a fish
of some kind shot through the water
He was getting somewhat tired, so he
stripped off his clothes, which were
only dungarees, and being relieved Of
their weight, he gained fresh vigor.
His hands shot out ahead and at
every stroke his body stretched to its
full length. AS he slipped through tie
water he heard the surf plainly on the
reef as it rolled gently in toward the
shore.
IF l can only strike a passage be-
tween the coral so it will not scratch
me up it will be fine. l wish it would
break daylight so l could see how far
eff I am, but it must lack an hour or
more yet"
Louder and louder roared the surf
on the reef, and he could see the white
| line of breakers.
almost there" he said, and an
other prayer was breathed as he took
the outside breaker. God help me-"
land he gritted his teeth as the
breaker carried him along at ire
nendous speed and broke over his
head. Nov for the next" he NUT
tered, as he regained some of his lost
wind. Everything was now white,
seething foam, his strength was fail
ing, his breath getting short. Oh
God!"-and consciousness left him as
tremendous roller came along,
picked him up and heaved him in
clean over the reef.
Found by Two Girls.
Just after sunrise two young native
girls were passing along the beach to
take their morning plunge. They
were the kings daughters.
'What is that" said the younger
one, Lying out on the sand pit? 1t
looks like a body, but it is white"
They had never seen a white man, but
had heard the old men of the tribe say
there was such a race of people.
They soon reached the spot where
lay the object of their curiosity
They put their hands on him and drew
their fingers over his skin to see if it
was painted.
"'Tis a white boy" said Tika, the
younger
Eyes, it is one of the race we have
heard about" said Lua. "He is alive.
L nt,c roll him over and look at his