Part 16 (1/2)

”On co closer, we discovered that the man hite and that he looked half starved We put out a boat and rescued the poor creature but he had suffered sotaken on board of our shi+p, he immediately relapsed into insensibility, and out of this we failed to arouse him He died at sundown, and we failed, even to learn hi the dead man's pockets we came across the enclosed letter, addressed to you, and much soiled from water As you will see, it is dated more than a year back and was evidently in the possession of the man who died for some time Probably he started out to deliver it, or to reach some point froe beco the Anderson Rover mentioned in the letter, and I will be pleased to learn if this letter of mine is received The Rosabel sails froed and another taken on

”Very truly yours,

”JOHN V TOWNSEND, Captain”

As Randolph Rover ceased reading there was a brief silence, broken by Tom

”So the man who died held a letter And what is in that, Uncle Randolph?”

”I will read it to you, boys, although that is a difficultis uneven and much blurred On one part of the sheet there is a blot of blood--the blood, I presu to deliver the co the stained docuht read the more easily As for the boys, they fairly held their breaths, that no spoken word ht escape them

”The letter is addressed to me,” said the uncle ”But the envelope is, as you can see, very much torn I will read,” and he did so

”NIWILI CAMP, on the Congo,

”July the 18th, 189--

”DEAR BROTHER RANDOLPH:

”If, by the goodness of God, this reaches you, I trust that you will set out without delay to reat difficulties, as a prisoner, of the bu Susko

”I have discovered the secret of a goldthat I will tell the outside world of lish or French here to slay hi here of Alish sailor who is going to try tobroken by a blow from one of my jailers

”I am sick and weak in body, and itof you to do what you can for me If I die, I trust you to be a father to my dear boys, dick, Tom, and Sam, and ask Martha forexpects soon to remove to another camp at a place called Rhunda Konoka (the Water Well) Perhaps he will take , or else he may slayseveral natives who have joined the Burnwo tribe

”Good-by, and do what you can until you are certain that I a brother,

”ANDERSON ROVER”

When Randolph Rover ceased reading he saw that there were tears in the eyes of all of the boys, and that his as also crying

His own voice had had to be cleared continually To all the letter was like a rave