htened," he continued, catching the
sudden look of gravity that leapt into her face; "you shall not be
detained here a moment longer than I can help."

"Oh, Dick, it is not so much _that_," she murmured; "it is the terrible
anxiety that my poor father must be suffering that worries me."

"Ah, yes," agreed Leslie; "I can quite understand the poor gentleman's
feelings. Why didn't I think of that before?" he suddenly ejaculated.
"Look here. I will write a message, seal it up in a bottle, and set it
adrift clear of the island to-morrow. There is just a chance in a
thousand--or perhaps ten thousand--that it may be picked up; and in that
case, not only will your father's anxiety be relieved, but help and
rescue will be brought to us. I will write my statement immediately
after dinner."

CHAPTER TEN.

A DISCOVERY--AND A CONFESSION.

The statement that Dick Leslie that evening wrote ran as follows:--

"The finder of this document is earnestly requested to communicate its
contents to Lloyds, the British Admiralty, the leading London
newspapers, and Sir Ernest Trevor, K.C.M.G., Judge of Her Majesty's
Supreme Court, Bombay.

"On the--day of --, in the year 18--, the ship _Golden Fleece_, Captain
Rainhill, sailed from London for Melbourne, having on board, among other
passengers, Miss Flora Trevor, daughter of the above-named Sir Ernest
Trevor, and Mr Richard Leslie.

"On the night of the--day of --, in the same year, the ship's reckoning
at noon on that day being Latitude 32 degrees 10 minutes North and
Longitude 26 degrees 55 minutes West, the _Golden Fleece_ was run into
and sunk by an unknown steamer during a dense fog. The only known
survivors of the wreck consisted of the above-named Flora Trevor,
Richard Leslie, and a seaman named George Baker, belonging to the ship.
These three persons were picked up and rescued on the following day by
the brig _Mermaid_ of London, James Potter, master, which sailed from
the last-named port on the --th day of --, bound for Valparaiso.

"On the date of the rescue of the three above-named persons by the brig,
Captain Potter met with an accident, from which he died on the --th day
of --; and the mate, Thomas Purchas, succeeded to the command of the
vessel. Then Purchas gave way to drink, and on the night of the --th
day of -- committed suicide by jumping overboard. Thereupon Mr Richard
Leslie, who had at one time been an officer in the British navy, assumed
command of the