The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-28


but honest hearts OF the members OF the
band. The skill with which he rode,
the accuracy of his aim as rifeman,
md the readiness and ease with which
he took TO his life in the Australian
bush were soon all powerful enough To
chase away the last frown from Zach
Erench's face
"a wonderful resemblance" he NUT
tered to himself. "If ] had not buried
little Walt myself, I'd believe that lad
was Capt. Johns own boy"
But IL Godfrey's success in making
friends with the white members of the
expedition was such as TO carry JOY to
Molly's heart, she, as well as Col
Marks and Zach, was astounded at the
devotion shown to the lad by the half
breeds and Indian guides. To them
this wonderful boy was a constant
5ource of surprise and delight. His
oourage, his surprising strength and
agility, his horsemanship, his marks
manship, nis kindness and gentleness
charmed and fascinated them. The
daintiest tidbits of game and the ripest
fruits were laid at the door of Godfrey's
tent. And, to add still further to the
long list of the boys accomplishments,
At was discovered that since he had been
in service on the Australian coast he
had picked up quite vocabulary of the
native dialects, so that he now had ex-
perienced no difficulty in understanding
the jargon spoken by the native guides.
1t might not be out of place To state
here that this was far from being the
first camel train that had been sent out
into the Australian wilderness. Ii was
in 1888 that Mr.. Elder imported from
india large number of camels, togeth-
er with their Afghan drivers. These
animals have done well in Australia,
and beyond all doubt it was due to the
fact that Col Warburton made use of
these ships Of the desert that he was
enabled to accomplish his daring ride
from Alice Springs station to Rock
bourne, Nichol Bay on the coast Of De-
Witt Land
If David Lindsay, at later date, sue
cecded in crossing the continent from
north TO south with the aid of pack
horses only, it was because be kept
close TO the government roads and tele-
graph lines and did rot risk himself in
the wilderness which would have been
powerless to sustain the life of his
train.
The expedition reached Alice Springs
station in good form. Here halt was
made In order to transfer the baggage
and supplies TO the backs OF the pack
camels. Col. Marks took this occasion
to make q most searching examination
of each member of his band, in order TO
weed out any who showed signs of
breaking down. week was thus con-
sumed. when, 1T q command from Mol
", the camel train moved slowly and
silently out into the sandy wastes of
She Great Victoria desert
AS Molly, from her lofty seat on one
of the ships of the desert, cast her eyes
over this apparently limitless waste,
ner heart sank within her for a brief
moment as she asked herself the qucs-
don: Am | not warning against Heav-
ell? "Am l not rebelling against the
will of God in thus penetrating this
awful solitude in search for human
Gfe which only miracle could have
kept from destruction? Are not my at
tempts as foolhardy as they are pre-
sumptuous@'
Godfrey made answer to these doubts
and misgivings, for at that moment his
clear, ringing voice reached her ear,
carrying balm and comfort 10 her
anxious heart. She hesitated no
longer. She turned an inquiring gaze
soward the horizon of this vast ocean
of sand as she had often fixed her weary
eyes upon the limitless expanse of the
sea, hoping and praying that the white
sails of the Dreadnaught might come
slowly into sight.
Upon drawing near to the Murchi-
son and McDouall ranges the native
scouts made known to Col Marks the
appalling fact that they had already
fallen in with stragglers of a native
camp, from whom they had lenrned
that in a quarrel between one Of the
chiefs and his brother white captive
had been slain. Col. Marks dared not
make known to Mrs. Allaire the dread
full news True, there was n possibility
that this white prisoner might not be
Capt. John, but the name of the tribe
and the additional fact that it was &C.
customed TO pay yearly visits TO the
northwestern coast gave the awful tid-
ings the stamp of likelihood. II was
nearly two months before the camel
train reached Tenants Creek station.
Several Of the wells along the route had
been found dry and the animals snf-
fered greatly, being barely able TO drag
themselves along at the last.
Scarcely had the tents been pitched
and the exhausted men thrown them
selves upon the ground for long-needed
sleep when one of the youngest OF the
native scouts crept stealthily past the
guard and reused Godfrey.
'Quicls. little master" he whispered
s'quick, bring gun, follow me, no tallxl'
IL seems that In making choice ot
Godfrey the native had done so solely
on account of the youths extraordinary
courage. agility and quiclxncss of move
ment. just as one might choose certain
dog OF horse 90 attain n certain end
The child of the desert knew exactl,
what was needed. He had no faith Il
AL <x~<,x.,, y,,o,,,l lorc ~ t1a hand Tbo