Year: 1875

morning had dAWn0d on the Trio OF al
venturers, the island upon which they had
been wrecked, presented most cherries
and discouraging sight. Its length could
not have been more than five miles, the
breadth some two miles. IL was almost
barren as to luxuriant vegetation, its form.
alton evidently being too rocky to admit
of more than few groves OF stunted trees
here and there, and small patches of grass
The general surface of the island was ex-
tremely rocky, and was broken up by a
series Of hills which were barren Of all
verdure, save here and there a dwarfed
underground and occasional tree.


Whatever may have been the varied
emotions experienced by each of the men,
they were silent as to any indication or
word Of encouragement and despair. They
felt that an inevitable fate had led them
to their present condition, and resolved to
abide its issues be they what they might.
They were homeless wanderers, III a man
ner, and 50 long as even the dim prospect
Of future restorati IN to citizenship and
the accession of wealth was apparent, they
would not entirely despair.


The boat had been drawn as high up on
the beach as practicable upon the preced-
ing stormy night, and altho ugh they found
the contents wet, the guns and munitions
were not entirely spoiled. They made a
rude breakfast of hard sea biscuits and
dried meat, and then betook themselves
to a more tangible consideration of their
situation.


Looking at it In any way, the prospect
was a dreary one. From motives entirely
unknown to each other, each had a strong.
desire to accumulate wealth, and each one
had hoped TO wrest fortune from the
bosom Of old mother earth. They had by
a most singular and striking series of cir
cumstances been compelled to abandon
the Australian mainland, where they had
hoped to secure gold from the mines. Now
all hope of this was gone. Driven from
their sea-cOurse, they knew not how far,
perhaps hundreds of miles, with no reck-
oning of distance or location, without
either chart or cumpass, and with only
dismantled, common boat, they had
been cast upon dreary island evidently
uninhabited and incapable of cultivation.
The outlook was gloomy one, and each
one looked at the other silently as they
removed their traps from the boat and
stood looking around i'll silence.


The silence was finally broken by Percy.


Owe have at least the consolation Of
knowing that we shall not starve for
time, he sand, pointing to the munitions
which they had Just taken from the boat.
" We have guns and ammunition for two,
besides side arms and other weapons food
enough to last for couple of weeks,
boat and strong bodies. The world is be-
fore us. We are young, and why should
We despair until We have explored this
island. More than one man has been
thrown upon his own resources upon
desert island, and has found what at first
seemed a misfortune prove veritable
blessing in disguise. How do we know
what hidden resources are lying latent in
this island only waiting to be discovered.
This island is, evidently, only short dis
tance from Australia, and | have heard
that the richest auriferous deposits have
been found in Just such an island as this
one is.


Gold :" exclaimed Werner with tone
of interest in his voice.


Yes, and precious stones. We know
not what may be the result Of this adven-
ture Of ours. We are unmarried, have
no social ties to bind us to the world, and
why should we not struggle for the wealth
for which we are all so eager to secure T.


The cheering words of the ex-mine-su-
perintendent did much towards reviving
the depressed spirits Of his comrades, and
having securely placed their goods in a
safe place, they took their guns, and Civ
ing Raymond brace of pistols i'll lieu of
a rife, went on, bent Oh a general search
of the island.


They found it to be what their first view
of it had indicated it to be. The highest
point among the hills revealed no other
land in sight, and although it afforded so
slight q view Of the little valleys between
the many hillocks in which the place
abounded, that the trio felt that the island
was entirely uninhabited.


A long and weary jaunt brought them
back to the spot where they had slept the
night before, and where they had left the
boat. What was their surprise as they
descended the hill and neared the spot, to
observe that the boat was gone. In a
moment they we're at the spot, in fer.
ment of anxiety and excitement. Any
thing that betokened savages startled
them. They found the boat gone and un-
mistakable tracks as of it's having been
dragged down to the beach and into the
water.


For nearly an hour they speculated and
surmised upon the strang disappearance
of the boat Some one had been there,
that was evident, and they marvelled that
they had not witnessed it's theft-for theft
| it must have been-from the hills above
while they we're surveying the country
around. A new surprise awaited them al
their camp. The traps and provisions they
had removed from the boat and hidden
before they had gone away we're gone.
They built no fire that night. Among
the rock q few oysters were found, and
| Percy had few biscuits in his pocket
| They withdrew to a little natural cave
near by, and after barricading the entraDce
with limbs of trees, entered it, Percy
agreeing to watch until midnight, in case
any intruder should come near to disturb
or modest them. But sleep was impossi.
Bile to the men worn out and weary a
they were. A new impetus had beer
added to their thoughts. An impetus
born Of this new danger. Their boat had
been stolen, and the fact of their hidded
articles from the boat having been taken,
caused them to believe that some one haC
been watching their movements almost eveI
since they had landed on the island. Wert
their new foes-for none but an enemy
would steal from them-savages Surely
no white man or men would act thus, fol
cast upon an island they would fraterniEe
Savages was the verdict, and general &C
clamation deemed a cautious watch no
only necessary but also important for thei
safety. So Percy watched, and the other
took bat light slumber towards the dawI
of the dDnmF Fhe night developed nothing
howevei the second day Of uncer
tainty and doubt dawned upon the ad
venturers.


CHAPTER Xxx.


BIKNEY.


While thess events were transpiring il