The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-05-11

| had at least acquired some experience. This
time SUCCESS crowned my efforts.
From this moment l date comfortable
change OF diet, and l may say that in the com
pletion of this labor and contemplation OF its
results to me was happier-at any rate calmer
than | had been since my arrival ON the
island.
My misery was soon deepened. aye, made In
supportable, by the loss OF my precious knife,
the one Invaluable treasure that yet remained.
AS was stopping over my turtle cage to OBJ
serve the welfare of its occupants it slipped
from my pocket and dropped into the water.
For some time | had been of opinion that
the bad weather would sSon have its ending.
and that probably gale of wind would mark
its exit. The accuracy of my calculations was
justified, for after several days of great heat
and unexampled calm one of those sudden con-
vulsions OF tropio violence assailed the island
with ayclonic force. My frafl hut was bodily
lifted by the blast as ii It were feathers
weight, and no portion of it or it's contents ever
met my eye again. Torrential rain in binding
sheets, almost suffocating in its profusinn, ut
teriy drenched me, and the great ocean, dashed
into a wild fury, seemed bent on submerging
the little island as it had done on previous oc-
casions.
. From the ending Of this storm, my days
We're spent in searching for food and praying
to the dend, and my nights were troubled with
4 such realistic dreams and phantoms- II such
they Were--as wholly TO wreck my reason.
Naked and nnkempt roamed over the linn
tied extent the land afforded: attached now to
no particular place, and needless OF any at
ternpts at rescue, I no longer kept lookout
Like wild man that was, I cleaned such
food as the place afforded. untroubled By
Qualms OF any sort
One day while droWsily musing, new sounds
assa1led my ears-more Ineligible, more har-
monlous they seemed, than the others had
been accustomed to. Though they evidently
came from behind I expected the new breed
OF Intervals to depfoy suddenly in front, as
thehir predecessors had always done there
fore | did not turn until one of them laid a
rough hand on me. This was new expert
ence, for till now the busy imps had under
close Inspection seemed Intangible
Turning to the touch, number of figures
In white garb met my astonshed gaze and
though their countenances seemed plying and
beneficent, knew them for their deceitful
worth, and cursed their uncalledfor interfer-
ence. I would have chased them from the
island. Till now all COLLINS and little inauisi-
tive mps had fed before my rage, but these
newcomers closed in around me, Selling my
weapon and overpowering my fercest efforts.
until lay fast in bonds and quite insensible
The end had come. I had been rescued by
an adventurous and devoted party OF Samoan
missionaries and their Ellice Island followers
Strange to say, nearly il not all of mr. mes
sages had safely reached some inhabited
island. but unfortunately none could read and
understand the English words.
Pauio the teacher on Nanomea, sent mes.
sage after message through the group, and
these timely explanations came to the south.
efn teachers, enlightening them as to the
real meaning of my misspelled and almost un-
ineligible Samoan notes Which they had
been getting from time to time by bird post
letter-deliyery service which was soon ac-
lively employed in my behalf.
As soon as the defective system wou,a ~,
low, the teachers consulted. and ono hold
spirit, an aged man, brave old Alamoa- Jour
neyed from Nicutao to Vaitupu, and on to
funafutl, IN an open boat to give direction
to the work OF rescue
AS an example OF infinite unseItishness Of
noble devotion to high convictions of duty I
think that the work OF my difficult rescue can
De favorably compared with many other shin
ing records OF Christian endeavor
me original party of thirteen adyenturers
set out from Funafutf in an ordinary open
boat. three oars on q side. and using bat
tered compass as their only guide After
rest Of several days on Nukulailai. and with in
creased stores Of food and water, the periIous
journey to Nuulakita was successfully at
tempted.
Who can with pen or type recount the rsn
lures of return such as mine turned out To
be?
By kindness and generosity, my employers
sought to reward the good teachers and the
workers who had saved me from a living death
at the imminent risk Of their own lives. and
my good wife and children set down in feeling
terms the heavy obligations under which they
lay; but ], who more Immediately knew thu
case fell that long life OF thankfulness to
and respect for the good people of the Ell,ca
Group no more than paid my score