Nebraska advertiser., 1882-04-27


expounded the principal parts, taking
credit for such mummicking as no other
house could offer.
The Director learned nothing definite
from the pantomime, but came away
profoundly impressed with the belief
that their officer, Captain Armiger, was
living
The Malay, now domesticated at Sew
en- Houses, was frequently invited of an
evening to the Captains room, where
he went through his performance
Captain Iachariasen always in the chair
for every new conner, and was con-
tinual subject of discussion. Also there
were great studyings OF charts, and
mappings out of routes, with calcula-
tions rs TO days and probable number of
knots. And those who had been in Chi
nese and Polynesian waters were called
upon TO narrate their experiences.
The route of a steamer from Hong
Kong to Moreton Bay is well known
and easily followed. Unfortunately, the
Malay's pantomime left it doubtful of
what nature was the disaster. 1t might
have been apiratical attack, though that
was very unlikely, or fire on board, or
the striking on reef.
Her course" said Captain Holstius,
laying it down with Lal for the fiftieth
time, would be-so--E. S. Il. from
Hong Kong, north Of Lucon here; then
due ). Il. between the Pelews and Car
olines, through Dampier Straits, having
New Guinea TO the starboard Look at
these seas, Lal. Who knows what have
happenedP And how can we search for
II ,f
among so many islandsP'
How, indeedp And yet the idea was
growing up strong in both their minds
that search of some kind must be
made.
And then came help, that sort of help
which our pious ancestors called Provi-
Dental. What can we call itp Blind
chanceP That seems rather long drop
from benevolent Providence, but il
seems to suit good many people nova
days almost as well-more's s the pity.
Two months after the Malay's APP
pearance, while winter was upon us and
Christmas not far off, when the church.
yard trees were stripped of leaf, and the
vine about the window was trimmed,
the garden swept up for the season, and
the parrots brought indoors, and Ryd-
quists made snug for bad weather,
another person called at the house,
bringing with him message of another
kind. 1t was no other than the doctor
of the Aryan, Rex's old ship. He bore
something round, wrapped in tissue
paper. He carried it with great care,
as If it was something very precious.
The time was evening, and Lal was in
her room making up accounts. In the
Captains room was n full assemblage,
numbering Captain Zachariasen, Cap
tain Borlinder, who purposed to spend
his Christmas at Rydquists and to con-
sumo much grog, Captain Holstius,
Captain Barnabas B. Wattles, whose
business had again brought him to Lon
don, and two or three Captains who
have nothing to do with this history ex-
cept to fill up the group in the room
where presently an important Function
was TO be held.
Al present they were unsuspicious of
what was coming, and they sat in solemn
circle, the Patriarch at the head of the
table, getting through the evening, all
too quickly, in the usual way.
"This was picked up," the doctor
said, still holding his treasure in his
hands as if it was baby, "in the Bay
OF Bengal, by country ship sailing
from Calcutta to Moulmein; it must
have drifted with the currents and the
wind, two thousand miles and more:
How it contrived never to get driven
ashore or broken against some boat. or
wreck, or rock, or washed up some
creek among tho thousands of islands
by which it iloated, is truly wonder
full thing"
"Oh, what is itp" Lal cried.
He took off the handkerchief and
showed common wide-mouthed bot
tie, such rs chemists use for effervescng
things.
"lt contains he said solemnly,
poor Rex Armiger's last letter to YOU.
The skipper who picked it up pulled out
the cork and read it. He brought it to
our Office ut Calcutta, where, though it
was written to you, we We're obliged TO
read it, because it told how the Philip
pine was cast away; forthe same reason
our officers read it,"
:" His last letterp
"les; his last letter. 1t is dated
three years ago. We cannot hope-no,
1t is impossible to hope--that he is still
alive. We should have heard long AGO
If he had been picked up"
1--WE have heard" said Lal. She
went in search of the Malay, with whom
she presently returned 1--WE have
heard, doctor Here is Rex steward.
who came to us two months ago"
Good heavensl il is the dumb Malay
steward who was with him in the boat"
Yes, Now look, and tell me what
you read,
She made sign to Dick, who went
through for the doctors instruction. the
now familiar pantomime.
"What do you think, doctorp'