The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-14
CHAPTER X.
PREPARATIONS.

Mrs JOhn Alalrc. WINNIE Inerc was
absolute certainty as regards the death
of her child, this was not SO in the case
,of her husband Might not John and
his companions have survived the wreck
pf their ship and have taken refuge on
one of the numerous islands of the
Philippine, the Celebes or the Java
seas? Could il not be possible that they
had been restrained of their liberty by
ome native tribe and were without any
means OF escape? Tins was the hope I'd
which Mrs. Allaire was henceforth To
cling with tenacity so extraordinary
as to bring about in San Diego and else
where a change of opinion as regards
the Dreadnaught.
There were frequent consultations at
Prospect cottage, which, rich as she
now was, Molly had not been willing
TO leave. Capt John had left her there
on sailing away--he should find her
there on his return. She resolved TO
make not the least change in her mode
of life until her husband was once more
back in San Diego She was determined
that the same simplicity should charac-
terize her style of living; that she would
spend nothing additional except as
called for by her expeditions and her
charities
, The important task TO which Hollis
ter and Capt. Willis first turned their
attention when in consultation with
Mrs. Allaire was to fix upon the course
which had been followed by the Dread
naught. II was necessary TO establish
This with the greatest exactitude possi-
BILE. The house of Hollister & Co. had
shipped goods by this vessel to the
Indies with instructions to touch at
Singapore, for which port she also car
ried a consignment of merchandise.
Now after getting away from the Amer
lean coast the probabilities were that
Capt John had passed in the neighbor-
hood of the Hawaiin archipelago or
Sandwich islands After leaving the
Anson archipelago the Dreadnaught
had no doubt taken the direction of the
Mariana and the Philippine islands,
thence through Celebes sea and Macas-
sar strait to the Java sea, which is
bounded on the south by the Sunda
islands, In order to reach Singapore.
The strait of Molucca, which is formed
oy the Malay peninsula and the island
of Sumatra, opens on the west into the
bay of Bengal, in which, outside of the
Andaman and Nicobar islands, there
was no place where the wrecked crew
could have found refuge. Beyond all
doubt, John Allaire had not reached
the bay of Bengal, for inasmuch as he
mad not touched at Singapore, and this
was now known to be the case, it must
be that he had been unable to get be-
Cond the limits of the Java sea and
she Sunda islands.
AS for supposing that the Dread
uaught instead Of following the May
1asian route had attempted TO reach
Calcutta by threading her way through
the difficult passes of Torres strait
along the north coast of the Australian
continent, no good seaman would have
dreamed of such thing. Capt. Willis
insisted that Capt. John would never
have taken such rash and uncalled for
step as to expose his ship to the dam
gers of this route. The idea was not to
be indulged for n moment, and IL was
resolved to confine the search solely TO
the route already marked out as the one
most likely followed by Allaire.
The fact is that the Caroline, Celebes
and Java seas are filed with thousands
of islands of all Sizes and there it was
that the crew OF the Dreadnaught, IL
they had survived the wreck of their
vessel, might be living on some desert
isle or be held In bondage by some
tribe. Having agreed upon these points,
st was resolved to send an expedition to
the Malaysian seas. Mrs Allaire then
made proposition which to her mind
was of greatest Importance. She asked
Capt. Willis If he were inclined to take
command Of the expedition.
AS the Flying Cloud had been laid up
Sy Hollister a. Co., Willis was on the
waiting list, and therefore, although
taken unawares by this proposition of
Mrs. Allaire, he didn't hesitate TO
Slace himself at her disposal, condi-
toned upon the consent of Mr.. Hollis
ter, who gladly accorded it, and
thanked Willis for accepting.
sim only doing my duty" replied
Willis, "and everything in my power 10
End the survivors of the Dreadnaught
Bhall be done. If Capt John is alive"
'John is alivel" exclaimed Mrs. AL
hire, In a tone positive enough to ST.
lence the most incredulous.
Capt Willis now began the discussion
~ several points calling for settlement.
TO ship crew worthy of this expedi-
ton would not be difficult matter.
But there was the question of vessel.
OF course for such an expedition as this
the Flying Cloud was in no wise suited.
1t was not a sailing vessel which wise
navigator would choose in order TO un-
dertake such task, but a steamer.
At that moment there were lying in
the bay of San Diego several steamers
suitable for such an enterprise. Mrs.
Allairc commissioned Capt. Willis 10 ac-
quire title 10 the swiftest one OF the
lot and placed the necessary funds nj
ais disposal A few days sufliced for
this transaction. Mrs. John Allaire be-
came the owner Of the Davitt, the name
of which was at once changed to the
Molly's Hope, most appropriate name
under the circumstances and one of
yood augury