The Osceola times., 1885-03-21
THE QUANDONG STONE.
How It's Long-Kept Secret Was
at Last Disclosed.

Steward" exclaimed the chief-ofli-
Ger OF the American bark Decatur, "
ing just then in Table Bay, into which
she had put on her long voyage to Aus
tralia for the purpose Of obtaining water
and fresh provisions-"the skipper's
sent word off that there's two passen-
gers coming on board for Melbourne;
so look spry and get those after-berths
ready, or guess the "old man. II
straighten you up when he comes
along"
Soon afterwards the "old man" and
his passengers put in an appearance in
the bark's cutter; the anchor, short
since sunrise, was hove up to the cat
heads, topsails sheeted home, and, dip
ping the "stars and bars" to the sur
rounding shipping, the Decatur again.
after her brief rest, set forth on her
ocean travel.
John Leslie and Francis Drury had
been perfect strangers to each other all
their lives long till within the last few
hours; and now, with the frank conf
dence begotten of youth and health,
each knew more of the other, his fail
ures and successes, than perhaps, un.
der ordinary circumstances, he would
have learned in a twelvemonth. Both
were comparatively young men; Drury.
Australian born, a native of Victoria,
and one Of those rowing spirits one
meets with sometimes. who seem to
have, and care to have, no permanent
place on earth's surface, the WdnderqciSt
having entered into their very souls,
and taken full possession thereof. The
kind OF man whom we are not sur
prised at hearing of to-day upon the
banks Of the Fly River; in a few months
more in the interior of Tibet; again on
the track of Stanley. or with Gordon in
khartoum.
SO it had been with Francis Drury,
ever seeking after fortune in the wild
places of the world; in quest, so often
IN vain, of a phantasmal Eldorado-
lured on, ever on, by visions of what
the unknown contained. Ghauts wild
and rocky had re-echoed the report of
his rifle; his footsteps had fallen lightly
on the pavements of the ruined cities
oi Monteluma, sombre and stately as
the primeval forest which hid them; and
his skiif had cleft the bright Southern
rivers that Waterton loved so well to
explore, but gone farther than ever the
naturalist, adventurous and daring rs
he, too, was, had ever been. At length,
As he laughing told his friend, fortune
had, on the diamond fields of Klipdrift,
smiled upon him, with measured
smile, twas true, but still smile; and
now. after an absence of some years.
he had taken the opportune chance of
passage in the Decatur, and was off
home to see his mother and sister, from
whom he had not heard for nearly two
years.
Leslie was rather contrast to the
0ther, being as quiet and thoughtful rs
Drury was full Of life and spirits. and
mad been trying his hand at sheep-farm-
Ing in Cape Colony, but with rather
scanty results; in fact, having sunk
most of his original capital, he was
nov now taking with him to Australia very
httle but his African experience.
A strong friendship between these two
was the result of but few days inti-
macy, during which time, however. as
they were the only passengers, they
naturally saw great deal of each
Sther; so 1t came to pass that Leslie
heard all about his friends sister
g.olden-haired Margaret Drury; and
often, as in the middle watches he
paced the deck alone. he conjured up
visions to himself, smiling the while, of
what this girl, of whom her brother
spoke SO lovingly and proudly. and in
whom he had such steadfast faith as
woman amongst women could be like.
The Decatur was now, with q strong
westerly wind behind her, fast APP
preaching the latitude of that miserable
mid,oceanic rock known as the Island
oi st. Paul, when suddenly serious
@ishap occurred. The ship was "run-
oing heavy" under her fore and main
sopsails and fore topmast staysail, the
oreeze having increased to a stiff gale
winch had brought up very heavy sea;
when somehow-for these things. even
" Board of Trade inquiry. seldom do