The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-07-10
CHAPTER NNIII.
THE ISLAND.

So varied and exciting had been the
scenes Of the past few hours to the trio of
adventures, that they had had but little
time to mediate until they found them
selves IN the open sea trackless ocean
before them-a cOterie OF savage cannibals
behind them. They had been compelled
to either tight or take to the boat, and the
latter alternative was resorted to because
the sayages were 80 very strong in num-
bers Now, however, that their mo-
mentary excitement was over and past,
they realized their true situation, and
speculated to the wisdom of their
course They were in an open boat, hav-
ing no sails, two very poor oars, guns.
provisions and the like, but no chart. com
pass, OF guide, no knowledge of their fu-
ture, only a hope To escape the sea and
the savages They looked Al one another,
and then allowing the boat to drift whittier
it would, engaged IN serious conversation
on the gloomy outlook of their affairs.
The aspect was a dreary one, surely, and
they realized the untoward circumsta. .ces
which had combined to place them in their
present position Of Inconvenience and iso-
lation.
had no knowledge of savages here, p"
said Percy. "The very best thing for us
to do, now, is to strike due west course,
| think. We can reach some one Of the
numerous islands which are scattered over
the sea.
Cecil Esmond, or Raymond, as we shall
continue to cau him, did not enlighten his
friends Of the circumstance concerning his
forcible abduction from Sydney to the
deck Of the Shooting Star. How Birney
the police spy, had enticed him into a sa-
loon through drunken sailor, had ad-
ministered drugged wine to him, and had
then placed him In a box and had him con
veyed to the Shooting Star how after the
vessel had sailed from its harbOr, he had
become restored to consciousness and had
demanded his release the police spy had
informed the captain that he was Cecil
Esm m1nd, and i'll the name of the British
government had demanded aid in taking
the prisoner safely to London. He said
nothing, but listened to his two compan-
ions as they discussed their future plans.
| They speculated upon the best course to
pursue, and determined TO keep on due
west until they had reached some island,
which shey thought they could reach by
sailing Oh towards the west.
eve are real adventures and waits d
| fortune. as it were" said Percy "and
a little adventure will not Injure us
Come, good courage, my friends, and we
may have good fortune enough to come
across gold mine yet.
"But a storm may arise and either
wreck rs or drive us far out of our course,
said Werner.
at is next to impossible, was Percy's
reply There are hundreds of little in,
habited islands a few leagues west of here
We must reach one Of them. 1t is faI
preferable to be cast away than to face {
band OF savages.
Darkness found no better prospects ol
land, and they were compelled to allow
the boat to drift whittier it would, as ir
the darkness they loss all calculation as to
direction and location. They slept by
turns, anxiously greeted the mornings
light, hoping some new development
might tend to indicate their nearness Il
land.
'I somewhat deprecate our haste IL
trusting ourselves on the sea with an open
boat, said Percy, as he saw no trace o.
land. 1.-The sky betokens a storm. Had
not been almost positive that land wal
directly opposite the western coast, woulc
have deserted the shore and thus have
evaded the savages.
"My impression, said Raymond, Ill
that we have drifted far out Of our course
during the night. Whatever may befal
us. we can exert no influence to change
our condition for the present at least
The tide seems to lead westward. The
storm may not be very severe. Like Per
CIV, anticipate a sight Of land SOON"
The storm gathered all day long. JUS
as evening again set in, mastering all 1T
force, it came sweeping down over the
ocean with q wild and powerful wind. The
little frail bark scudded on like light be-
fore the breeze, and the voYagers held u
the sides of the boat tenaciously.
In the midst Of the raging element they
became conscious of the sound as of break
ers ever and anon. They must have trav
eled miles and been driven on for severa
hours, when Percy, as the boat grated OF
some rock or shallow bottom, cried out.
We are nearing land Be careful th'
boat does not upset"
A huge wave carried the boat farthe
and farther inland. There was a crasl
and jolt, and they felt themselves lifted
to the beach Of an island whose characte
and dimensions in the dim light cOul'
scarcely be seen.
They sprang from the boat and quickl
pulled it as high up on the beach es wa
possible, and then, wearied and exhauste'
seated themselves to rest for . few me
ments. The darkness was too intense t
allow q view of the island, and despit
their excitement and the storm, they wer
soon fast asleep. They felt certain Of on