ADRIFT IN THE WILDS.



  There were nine men in the larger boat, and all were
armed with pistols, rifles and knives. In truth they
resembled a war party more than anything else bound
upon some desperate expedition.
  The boys noticed as they came along, and while Tim
O'Rooney was speaking, that several of the men looked
very keenly at them, as though they entertained some
strong suspicion. Finally one of the men asked:
  " Are you youngsters named Lawrence and Bran-
don"
  " Yes, sir."
  Here the questioner produced a paper from his pocket,
and seemed to read his questions from that.
  "And is that man Timothy O'Rooney"
  "Timothy O'Rooney, Esquire, from Tipperary, at
your sarvice," called out the Irishman from the stern of
the canoe, where he was elegantly reclining, and with-
out removing the pipe from his mouth.
  "W Were you on the steamer       that was burned
off the coast of California" pursued the interlocutor.
  "Yes, sir."
  "Then you are just the party we are looking for."
  "Where do you come from"
  " We are from San Francisco, sent out by Messrs.
iLawrence and Brandon in search of their children,
whom they learned a few days ago from Mr. Yard, dine
of the survivors, were left on the coast, having wan-
dered inland at the time the others were taken off by
the Relief."
  This was to the point.