e ensued, he was very firm on the
subject, and had told Edith to keep an eye on the stores, and to call
him should any of the seamen come too near the casks and cases, which
were piled up together.

The wind was still blowing strongly from the sea, creating a
considerable surf on the bar; and this had prevented the boats from
going out to search for any part of the cargo which might have been
thrown up on the coast. The seamen also saw that they could not
commence their projected voyage to Sydney.

Neither Pullingo nor any other natives had been seen; and we therefore
concluded that the country was but thinly populated. Still, my father
considered it wise to place sentries at night to guard against surprise.
Some of the men grumbled at being ordered to keep watch, and my father
and Mudge had to be awake all night to see that they did their duty. It
was strange that men who had behaved so well during the voyage should
have changed so much; but so it was. Probably they were disappointed at
not getting to Sydney, where they had expected to enjoy themselves after
their own coarse fashion. The better-educated men, we found, were the
best-behaved.

By the next morning the wind had gone down, the ocean sparkled brightly
in the rays of the sun, and the bar was perfectly smooth. The mates now
asked my father to allow them to take their departure in the long-boat,
with such of the men as wished to go. They were respectful in their
manner, but determined, it was evident, to carry out their purpose. My
father pointed out to them the danger they would incur, ignorant as they
were of the coast, should such a gale as had just ceased to blow
overtake them; and he advised them to raise the gunwale of the boat, so
as to make her more sea-worthy. This, however, would take time, they
said, and they were anxious to be off at once. He then begged that they
would make an excursion along the coast to the northward, to ascertain
what had become of the wreck, and whether any of the cargo had been
thrown up on the shore. To this the first mate consented, provided my
father or Mudge would accompany them.

"Let me go, Captain Rayner," said Mudge, "while you remain with Mrs
Rayner on shore, and superintend the building of the house."

I begged that I might accompany Mudge, who intended to take the
jolly-boat; while the first mate, with six hands, went in the long-boat.
We had three of the men; the remainder, who were in better humour