Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-22

INTO THE HEART or THE CONTINENT.


With heart almost oppressed by the
JOY that had come upon IL 80 unexpcct-
edly. Mrs. Allairc, with Godfrey by her
side, took her seat In special train that
was 10 carry her To Farina Town, where
her arrival was now lmpaticntly
awaited by Tom Marks and Zach
French. She was also accompanied by
an intelligent half-breed woman. llar-
riett by name, herself child OF the
wilderness, strong. fearless and n slSillful
rider, who was 10 perform tho duties Of
serving woman TO the captains wife.
The train made few stops, only such in
fact rs became necessary 10 renew the
supplies of wood and water After
leaving Adelaide the first halt was made
ut Cawler which was reached after
several hours run through district
broken by deep gorgcs and narrow val.
lcys. varied Mt times by interminuble for.
ests Of the eucalyptus As the farms and
settlements were left far behind and
the country began To take on that wild
and desolate aspect so characteristic Of
many portions Of the Australian cont.
nent, Mrs Allaires eyes gradually filled
with that deep earnest look which had
been pecu liar 10 them for many years
She was about to put forth the strength
Of her wonderful win power for the
last time II she failed now, II would
be necessary 20 bow 10 tho DEGREES OF
heaven and give over n search which.
while II had until now commanded the
admiration OF the world, would, II
pushed any further, be In the Judgment
OF her fellow creatures either the wild
within Of an eccentric mind or the fool.
ish purpose OF disordered intellect
From the windows OF her railway cur
rage the captains wife, with that calm
certainty and placid satisfaction OF one
1ourncying TO meet o beloved relative
returning from distant voyage,
whiled away the long hours by examin-
ing the strange land through which she
was being transported ut almost light
ming speed.
This was that Australia which had
been 80 justly called the Land of Par.
adoxes," the center OF which was one
vast basin below the ocean level, whose
streams bursting up through the sandy
plains were gradually absorbed before
reaching the sea-a land in which the
mir, like the soil, is lacking In humidity,
In which the strangest Of earthly an
finals nre found, and In which savage
tribes, pure nomnds, furnish types OF
the lowest degree OF human intelligence
Away 10 the north and to the west
stretched those interminable deserts OF
Alexandra Land and western Australia
the very center OF which tho expedition
was intended 10 pierce In search Of thl
sole survivor Of the wreck OF the Dread
naught What would there be 10 guild,
these intrepid searchers when once tn,
outer line OF hamlet and isolated rancl
had been passed and nothing remained
but the vague indications obtained nj
Harry Shelton's dcath-bed2 In her in
terview with the governor general Mrs
Allaire had been called upon 10 answer
this superstition, 20 wit; How was II pos
sible that Capt John, during the min,
long years that he had been held pris
oner by these savages, had never foun,
an opportunity 20 make his escape
Mrs. Allairc's answer had been specific
and 10 the point According TO tn,
testimony OF Shelton, during all thi
long term Of years, but one single oppor
tunity Of escape had presented itself 4
the caprlin and his mAte--an oppor
tunity which Allaire had not been abl
% take advantage o. As 10 the othe
argument that IL was not the custom o
havages - respect the lives % thei
prisoners. the fact remained that the,
had done 10, as testified 10 by llnrr!
Shelton. as his return alive irrcfutabl,
proved. Besides there was case OK
nctly In point, the ease Of tho explore
and pathfinder, William Classen, win
had now been missing for thirty.6v,
years and who was still believed 10 b,
held prisoner by one Of the tribes o
northern Australia. This was, In truth
exactly the case Of Capt. John, since
outside OF mere speculation, there wa
fhc positive declaration Of Harry shel
Aon. Other explorers, too, had failed 4
make their way back after once plung
Linz into tha denths OF these vast wilder