Year: 1873

rocky mass before them.


But this was no easy task to perform
In most places, high walls of rock rose
from the waters edge, and lowered hun
dreds of feet towards the blue sky. In
others there were great, Jagged rocks,
among which the breakers murmurcd and
through which boat could not pass.


The search was long one, but at last
they found spot where they determined
to try to effect landing; and heading the
boat for the shore, they sent her through
the surf to the gravelly beach beyond
upon which they leaped, eager to find who
it was that had signalled them from that
desolate place.


Hauling up the boat, they left one Of
the men in charge of it, and then sprang
over the rocks in the direction of the spot
where they had seen the signal


But before they had gone over half the
distance, they beheld the object of their
search descending towards them.


II was woman and child, whom,
from their features, they judged to be of
the same race as themselves.


But they would never have known il
from their complexion, or from the gar.
ments they wore.


The portion of their skin which had
been exposed to the suns rays, was as
brown as a native of the South Seas.


Their garments, by which they essayed
to cover their nakedness, were torn and
patched in many places, and looked as
though they would long since have fallen
from their limbs, had they not been repeated
ly mended, with n material which looked
much like the skin of fish


Hurriedly they came down over the
rocks, but as they drew near, the child
tried to hide itself behind its companion,
as though the sight Of a white man was an
object Of terror to it.


They were close to them, when shout
higher upon the rocks caused both them
and our friends to gaze in that direction


A party of natives Of the islands ada
cent, if not of the one they were on, were
hastily approaching them with loud shouts
and angry gesticulations.


"Save us save US !" cried the woman,
springing towards them. "Do not let those
monsters again get us in their power'


This was uttered in very good English,
and Lieut. Carter replied:


"Have no fear, my good woman, they
shall do you no harm, and If they want a
taste of cold lead, let them come on.


It seemed that those in pursuit were
not for such meal, for they paused upon
the rocks some little distance away, where
they remained, making furious gestures at
the party below


"Who are you, and how came you in
this dreary place2" asked the officer, as he
gazed curiously upon the uncouth and
trembling pair before him.


II am an American woman, and this
is my child. Years ago We were cast away
in these waters, and thrown upon this is
land, and here we have remained ever
since. The natives who belong to the
islands near here made us slaves, but
would not take us home with them. Many
times tried to attract the notice of pass
ing vessels, but could not, for so sure us
there was a chance, they were here to pre-
vent me-" and with shudder, she point
ed to the gibbering group above them.


"Thank Heaven your trials are over," )"
exclaimed Lieut. Carter. "You shall 60
with us, my poor woman, and shall be
abundantly provided for. But cannot you
tell how long you have led this life2'


"No. 1t seems to me as though It
might be ten years, yet it may not be that,
for my child here should be larger, were it
so long as that II is all summer here,
and cannot tell how the seasons went I;
but oh | it has been SO longW


The natives were now coming closer,
and from their actions, our friends thought
that they meant fight Lieut.. Carter
would have liked nothing better than TO
have punished them. So he gave the
word to return to the boat and. in a few
minutes they had embarked and the row.
ers we're sending il swiftly towards the
ship.


Captain Granger stood by the side, and
when he saw what the boat contained, he
turned as pale as death, and those who