ad never before seen, and with no underwood anywhere
visible; but the mouth of the river on the lower side was lined with
mangroves, which extended into the water.

There was some sea on the bar, but not sufficient to make Mudge hesitate
about entering. He waited, however, for a good opportunity. "Give way,
my lads," he shouted. Just then a roller came foaming up astern, which
made me dread that my mother and Edith would get a wetting, even if the
consequences were not more serious; but we kept ahead of it, and in
another minute were in smooth water.

We soon discovered a rocky point on the north side, which offered a good
landing-place, with green turf and a few trees growing on the upper
side; and here we first set foot on the shores of Australia.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

SURVEY OUR CAMPING-PLACE--CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE CLIFF--RETURN TO THE
BRIG--FRUITLESS ATTEMPTS TO GET HER OFF--STORES LANDED--VISITED BY A
NATIVE AND HIS FAMILY--PADDY MAKES PULLINGO'S ACQUAINTANCE--A RAFT
BUILT--A STORM--BRIG GOES TO PIECES--DISAFFECTION OF THE CREW--I SAVE
MUDGE FROM A SNAKE--CRUISE IN THE BOATS TO RECOVER CARGO--CASE OF SEEDS
FOUND--HOUSE BUILT--THE MATES AND PART OF THE CREW SAIL FOR SYDNEY IN
THE LONG-BOAT--DUTIES ON SHORE--EXPEDITION WITH EDITH IN THE
JOLLY-BOAT--EDITH TAKEN ILL--A GALE--CROSS THE BAR--A MERCIFUL ESCAPE.

The spot on which we had landed was well chosen. There was ample level
space on which to erect our tents; indeed, a whole village might have
been built on it under such shade as the trees afforded; though that,
owing to the way the leaves grew with their edges upwards and downwards,
was but slight. It was joined to the mainland by a narrow neck, which
could be easily defended, should there be any natives in the
neighbourhood inclined to attack us; while a bend of the shore on the
upper side of the neck afforded a secure harbour for the boats. The
cliffs, which extended along the coast, and apparently ran some way up
the river, rose but a short distance from the bank; and as the trees
grew widely apart along the shore, no enemy, we supposed, could approach
without being discovered.

As soon as we had landed, my mother begged Mudge to ascertain, as far as
he could, whether there were any natives in the neighbourhood; and if he
was satisfied that there were none, to send the boat back to the brig--
which was not visible from where we were, being hidden by the mangroves
on the point at the northern side o