Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-05-25

Gate. IL was therefore possible thai
they were at that moment in clos,
proximity TO the scene of the wreck
With the coming Of November, Wilt
asked himself whether he was 10 con
slider that the campaign was at an end
at least so far as the Australian coast
and islands lying off IL were considered
Should he return home after he had
made search among the Sunda island,
lying In the southern part OF Timoi
sea? In plain words, was he consciou,
Of having done everything that IL was
possible for a man 20 do2
The brave sailor hesitated 20 lool
upon his task as ended even after he
had secured the Australian coast
Something happened 10 rescue him from
this state Of indecision.
On the morning of November he
was engaged in conversation with Zach
French when the boatswain pointed at
some objects floating In the water
about half mile from the steamer.
They were neither pieces Of wood, frag-
ments OF planlSing 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.
"Well, that's strangel" said French,
chang me II that grass isn't coming
from the west; yes, from the southwest!
| There must be n current which is carry
ing IL toward the strait"
That's So" replied Capt. Willis,
land II must be n local current with an
castcrly course unless IL be the effect of
the tide"
~ don't think so, captain" answered
| French, "for rccollcct now that early
this morning noticed lunches 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"
"Well," replied Capt. Willis, "if such
n current exists IL may be that that
piece OF the wrecked Dreadnaught came
from the west following the Australian
! coust."
That's exactly my opinion, captain"
"Then there | but one course for us
TO take. We must continue our search
across Timor sea as far ~ the west
Australian coast"
81 was never more convinced OF IL,
captain, since beyond all doubt there Is
n coast current which runs in the Ill.
rection Of Melville island. by assum-
ing that Capt. John was lost in western
waters, we have now an explanation
how IL was possible that piece Of his
wreck should have been picked up
where IL was"
Capt. Willis sent for his mate and
consulted with him as TO the cxpcdicncy
Of continuing the expedition towards
the west. The mate was Of the opinion
that IL now became absolutely nccc,sa.
~ TO do so, a. least until the source Of
the current had been reached.
"To the westward thcn." cried Capt.
Willis; 1--WE must not % back to San
Diego with possibilities but with Ger.
tainties-the certainty that IL the
Drcadnaught went to pieces ON the
Australian coast there is not plank or
a spar OF her left in existence"
In consequence OF this--undcr the cir.
cumstances-very justihablc determine.
ton, the Molly's Hope crossed TO III.
NOR island In order 10 take on provis'
ions and iii her coal bunl<crs, and then,
after II stay Of forty-cight hours, re.
crossed TO Cape Londonderry. Upon
leaving Queens channel, Capt. Willis
determined to follow rs closely as pos.
siblc the outline Of the Australian const
above Turtle point. At this location
the direction of the current towards the
east was very perceptible.
Upon making Cambridge gulf, the
- 81, huN
Mount Cockburn, Capt. Wins resolved
not 10 risk his vessel In this deep fun
mel bristling with reefs, so he ordered
the steam launch TO be lowered and put
in command OF Zach French, with or
ders to make q thorough search OF the
interior Of this gulf.
Evidently" said Capt Willis TO Zach,
IF John Allaire and his crew fell into
the hands of the natives OF this coast,
II 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"
at wouldn't surprise me in the least
TO find out that the villains had done
sol' replied Zach.
French made the tour OF the gulf
without coming upon any traces Of the
lost ship and thereupon returned 10 the
steamer.
Capt Willis now weighed anchor,
rounded Dussejour cape, and headed for
the northwest double Cape Londonderry.
Continuing her now southwesteriy
course, the Molly's Hope crossed Bucca-
neer archipelago and entered King
sound, and by the end of january, after
n fruitless search in this long arm of
the sea for some trace Of the Dread
naught, Capt. Willis determined TO end
The expedition at this point, to wit: At
the eighteenth parallel Of south lati-
tude.
BESIDES, the coal supply was running
low and hence IL was considered adj
visable to sail for Batavia, then, after
coaling, TO coast along the Sunda isl.
ands, cross Timor sea and 80 get out
into the Pacific once more.
CHAPTER XIV.
BROWSE ISLAND
Tho weather was beautiful and the
sea like 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
] cOagt hphind har fr,.oxvine, faiptar anA