Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-11-25
CHAPTER XIV.

sea like a mirror outside the line of
reefs, over which the swell broke in
long lines of snow white foam as the
Molly's Hope stood out from Cape
Leveque and soon left the Australian
coast behind her, growing fainter and
fainter until il had faded to mere blue
line on the horizon Everything prom
ised favorable cruise across to Java
island. The fact Is the steamer was on
her way home except that there would
be some delays to enable Capt Willis to
examine the smaller islands of the
Sunda group.
Nothing of any importance occurred
the first few days out The greatest
vigilance was exercised in signaling
the location of those reefs and shoals so
common in these waters, many Of which
hardly reach to the s1rface of the water.
Towards nine o'clock on the morning
of February Z. there was a cry from the
lookout:
''Reefs ahead on the port side!''
AS they were not visible to anyone on
deck, Zach French sprang up into the
shrouds to take look at the lay of the
reefs himself. When in a position to
verify the report of the man at the
masthead, French discovered that there
was low line of rocky formation
about six miles ahead on the port quar-
ter. 1t was strictly speaking neither a
rock nor a shoal, but an islet with a
shelving ridge which had been sighted
to the northwest. Considering the dis
tance, it was safe to assume that this
waS an iS1a of oarna avfa1t 10 tho viCi-
BILE line was that of its width.
In few moments Zach French re-
turned and made his report to Capt.
Willis, who gave the order to change
the steamers course SO as to bring her
nearer this island.
Upon taking the midday observation,
Capt. Willis found the position of his
vessel to be IA degrees OF seconds
south latitude and 1873 degrees 13
seconds longitude east from Greenwich
which was duly entered in the log.
This point having been fixed upon the
ships chart, it was found to coincide
with the location of an island desig-
mated by modern geographers as Browse
island and situated about two hundred
and fifty miles from York sound on the
Australian coast.
As this island lay very little out of his
course, Capt. Willis determined to coast
around it, but without any intention of
making a stop. An hour later the Mol
ly's Hope had run up to within a mile
of Browse island.
There was rather a heavy sea run
ming and dashing noisily against the
northeast point of the island, which it
kept enveloped in the mist of the break
ers. Nor was it possible to form close
estimate Of the size of the island as
Capt. Willis had not come fill upon it,
but enough could be seen of its con-
formation to show it to be an undulat-
ing plateau without any considerable
rise of ground. But as he had no time
to lose Capt. Willis was about to give
the order to go ahead again full speed,
which had been somewhat slackened
down when Zach French called his at
tention to something on the point of the
island
Look, captain" said he, isn't that
a mast standing on that point?"
The boatswain indicated the direc-
ton of the cape which jutted out to the
northwest and terminated in rocky |
crest with perpendicular face.
"a mast? No; it only seems to be the !
trunk of tree" answered Willis, and |
then reaching for his glass he took a |
closer look at the object designated by
French.
You're right, Zach, it is mast and |
thinK can see scrap of flag torn by |
the wind Yes, it must be a signal!"
In that case we would do well to |
bear in with the point"
II think so, too" replied Capt. Will |
lis, and he gave the order to bear for |
the island at half speed. This was done |
at once and the Molly's Hope began to |
approach the reefs, which encircled the |
island about three hundred feet out. A |
violent sea was beating against them, |
caused not only by the high wind |
blowing but also by the force of the |
current which was driving the swell in |
that direction.
The character of the coast soon be- |
came plainly visible. 1t was wild, bar
rem and desolate, with no trace of YER
dure. One this side of the island, how
ever, there were no signs Of pieces of a
wrecked vessel, no shreds of rigging,
no fragments of the hull. The staff |
erected on the extreme end of the |
promontory might be made of piece
OF a bowsprit. As to the shreds of
bunting which the wind was blowing
out, it was impossible to discern their
color.
"There are castaways therel" cried
Zach French.
Or there have beenl" replied the
mate.
There is no doubt that some vessel
has run on this island" said Capt. Will
lis.
Yes, added the mate, "and that the
crew Of some wrecked vessel have taken
refuge there, as testified by that signal
yonder. And it may be they have not
been able to get away, for it's rare that
vessels bound for Australia or for the
Indies pass within sight of Browse ISL
and"
81 suppose you intend to go ashore,
captain" asked Zach French.
Certainly, Zach" replied Willis,
"but up to this moment | haven't OBJ
served any point where landing would
be possible. Let US coast around be-
fore we decide. If the island contains
any castaways they will be sure to see
us and moist signals"
"And if you don't see anyone" asked
Zach, what will you do then?"
''We shall attempt to make a landing
as quickly as possible" replied Willis,
'even if it turns out to be a desert ISL
and; yet we may find some evidence Of
a wreck, and that's very important
matter for u.s."
"And who knows but" began Zach.
''You mean, Zach, that it's possible
that the Dreadnaught may have run
upon this island, quite off the route
which she was to follow?"
"Why not, captain?'
while it's extremely improbable"
answered Capt. Willis, that's no
reason why we should not try to
make landing and get at the truth of
the NATTER
Browse island Is about six or seven
miles in circumference, as was shown
when the Molly's Hope had made tour
OF 1T, but at no point on its shores was
there anything like harbor or even
an inlet in which the steamer could
take shelter for a few hours. II was
soon discovered that it would be neces-
sary to lower away some of the steam
er's boats, and even then they had not
as yet come upon any safe landing
place