Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-09-16

this state of indecision.
 On the morning of November 4 he was engaged in conversation with Zach French when the boatswfsAa pointed at some objects floating " the water about half 8 mile from the steamer. They were neither pieces of wood, frag- ments of planking or trunks of trees; they were huge punches of grass, sort of yellowish gulf weed torn from the bottom of the sea and drifting along the main land.
 "Wen, that's stranger' said French, ''hang me if that grass isn't coming from the west; yes, from the southwestl There must be current which is carry ing 1t toward the strait"
 "That's so," replied Capt. Willis, ''and it must be a local current with an easterly course unless 1t be the effect of the tide"
 ''I don't think so, captain" answered French, "for recollect now that early this morning noticed punches of this grass drifting in the same direction"
 "Zach, are you certain of it?"
 "As certain as am that we shall find Capt. John some day"
 'Wen," replied Capt. Willm, eff such current exists it may be that that piece of the wrecked Dreadnaught came from the west following the Australian coast"
 ,''That's exactly my opinion, captain"
 "Then there is but one course for us to take. We must continue our search across Timor sea as far as the west Australian coast"
 q was never more convinced of it, captain, since beyond all doubt there is a coast current which runs in the di- rection of Melville island. By assum- ing that Capt. John was lost in western waters, we have now an explanation how it was possible that piece of his wreck should have been picked up where it was.''
 Capt. Willis sent for his mate and consulted with him as to the expediency of continuing the expedition towards the west. The mate was of the opinion that it now became absolutely necessa- ry to do so, at least until the source of the current had been reached.
 "To the westward thenl" cried Capt. Willis; ''we must not go back to San Diego with possibilities but with cer- tainties-the certainty that if the Dreadnaught went to pieces on the Australian coast there is not plank or spar of her left in existence"
 In consequence of this-under the cir cumstances-very justifiable determina- ton, the Molly's Hope crossed to Ti- nor island in order to take on provis- ions and fill her coal bunkers, and then, after stay of forty-eight hours, re- crossed to Cape Londonderry. Upon leaving Queens channel, Capt. Willis determined to follow as closely as pos sible the outline of the Australian coast above Turtle point. At this location the direction of the current towards the east was very perceptible. Upon making Cambridge gulf, the waters of which bathe the foot of Mount Cockburn, Capt. Willis resolved not to risk his vessel in this deep fun nel bristling with reefs, so he ordered the steam launch to be lowered and put in command of Zach French, with or ders to make thorough search of the interior of this gulf.
 Evidently" said Capt. Willis to Zach, eff John Allaire and his crew fell into | the hands of the natives of this coast, | it would be folly to imagine that sin gle soul of them is still alive. But what we are after is to learn whether there are any remains of the Dreadnaught in case the natives should have scut- tied the clipper ship in the Cambridge gulf"
 Ut wouldn't surprise me in the least to find out that the villains had done so!'' replied Zach.
 French made the tour of the gulf without coming upon any traces of the lost ship and thereupon returned to the l steamer.
 Capt. Willis now weighed anchor, rounded Dussejour cape, and headed fo1 the northwest double Cape Londonderry Continuing her now southwesterly course, the Molly's Hope crossed Bucca, neer archipelago and entered King sound, and by the end of January, after a fruitless search in this long arm ot the sea for some trace of the Dread naught, Capt. Willis determined to enc the expedition at this point, to wit: Al the eighteenth parallel of south lati | tude.
 Besides, the coal supply was runnin. low and hence it was considered ad visable to sail for Batavia, then, after coaling, to coast along the Sunda isl ands, cross Timor sea and so get out l into the Pacific once more. CHAPTER XIV. | BROWSE ISLAND.