The morning call., 1891-08-09
CHAPTER XVII.
by YEA AND NAY.

ID Ia AMI Nal
Mrs Allaire at once caused the physician
to be summoned. 1t was at once apparent
to him that, although a change had taken
place, yet the mate OF the Dreadnaught had
but a few moments to live. The dying
mans eyes we're rivetei upon Mrs Allairr
with strange SteadinesS.
"Shelton," asked Molly, ''if John is alive
where did you leave him? Where is hep
His power OF speech is gone" said the
physician. "lt Will be necessary to converse
with him by means of signs"
Directing Mrs Aliaire to take hold of the
mates hand, Zach leaned over him and
spoke as follows in clear and dis tinct
tone:
Listen to me, Shelton. Phi put questions
to you and according as you open or shut
your eyes we shall know whether we have
guessed the truth or not"
In this way the sad story of the wreck of
the clipper snip and the fate of captain and
crew was ELECTED from the dying man. In
leaving Java Sea Captain John had passed
into Timor Sea, through Sunda Strait. but
had struck the vessel, dismantling her and
driving her out OF her course and ending by
throwing her upon the reefs and rocks of
Browse. Island. At the mention of this
name there was q look of surprise on Shell
tons lace. For the FIRST time he now learned
the name OF the island on which the
Dreadnaught had gone TO pieces.
Two OF the crew had prFished in trying
to reach the shore. The others had lived on
the ships provisions and upon the fish they
caught. No vessel had ever sighted their
signal of distress They had remained six
years on Browse Island, at the end of which
time Captain John, Shelton and five men
had left the island in a boat which had
drltted ashore, and had reached the Aus
trallan coast at l DIRK Sound, where they
fell into the hands Of the natives, four oil
their number having been mas Sacred by
them. The remaining three-Captain john,
the mate Shelton and one seaman-had been
carried prisoners into the interior. ihe
seaman had died long ago, so at that me-
ment there were but two survivors, and one
OF them lay at deaths door.
Fer nine years tile captain and mate had
been held cl0sa prisoners by the natives in
hopes that scouts would be sent for the lost
men with offers OF large rausomS. AT last
an opportunity OF escape had presented
Itself, but for some reason CAPTAIN John
had not taken advantage Of it. Shelton
alone eluded his keepers, and after wand err
ing about hOpelesSy in the brush for six
months he had been picked up in dy ing
condition on the banks of the ParoO.
French succeeded III locating with tOlera-
bic accuracy the hunting grounds of the
tribes in question.
1--WE shall go in search of him there"
cried Molly, land we shall find him"
And at these words the eyes of the dying
man frightened. Captain Join would ba
saved. aud saved, too, by her whom he loved
so well.
The mate breathed his last toward Q
O'clock in the evening. AT the sound of
Molly's voice, calling HIM by name, he had
opened his eyes and murrnured, John
John. and with a deep and lOng-drawn
sigh his spirit had fled
That evening, as Mrs. Allaire was leaving
the hospital, she was accosted by boy who
seemed to be waiting for her on the steps.
he belonged on board the Brisbane, one of
the steamers which coast along between
Sydney and Adelaide
Mrs Allaire?" he asked timidy,
'Wh do you want, my b0y?'
Is Harry Shelton dead?"
He is dead"
Aud Captain John?"
Hes aiivei Oh, he is living!"
Thank you, Mrs. Allare," said the boy.
as ne turned away. without assigning any
reason for his questions
AS Molly followed Shelton's remains to
the grave, this lad. unseen by her. walked
near her, lost IN the crowd of mourners.