beer was not to be despised, and would prove useful provided it was
taken in moderation. The cases the mate had picked up also contained
provisions. He had, however, got a small cask of rum. My father said
that he was welcome to the provisions for his voyage; but warned him of
the danger of taking the rum, in case the crew should insist on having
more than a proper allowance.

"I have no fear about that," answered the mate. "I shall be able to
keep them in order when once we get away. It is only at present, while
they are on shore, that they are a little insubordinate."

"I hope that you may," said my father; "but I should warn you to be
careful."

The crew, when they found that my father not only did not wish to detain
them, but was ready to assist them in every way in preparing the
long-boat for sea, behaved very well. And as we had a supply of tools
for the purpose, the carpenter and his mate were not long in adding an
upper streak to the long-boat, and in decking her partly over forward:
they also fitted her with a couple of masts, two lugs, and a jib. We
discovered a fine spring of water issuing out of the rock, not far up
the river; but the difficulty was to find casks to carry a sufficient
supply for the voyage. My father gave up two breakers, and advised the
mate to start the rum and fill up the cask with water.

"No, thank you," he answered. "We can put in to any river we come to,
and are sure to be able to replenish our stock; while the men will be
more contented if I can serve them out their allowance of spirits."

My father and Mudge took great pains to see that the boat was well
fitted out, and supplied with everything necessary for the voyage. He
also gave the mates his chart, a compass, a spy-glass, and a quadrant,
in case they might be driven off the land, and required to ascertain
their position. He also wrote a letter to the merchant to whom he had
consigned the brig, requesting him, should the journey overland be
deemed impracticable, to send a vessel within three months to bring him
and his family to Sydney: saying that he would wait her arrival for that
time; should she not then appear, he would consider that it was the
opinion of those who knew the country that he might without danger
undertake the journey by land.

"You may depend on me, sir, that I will deliver the letter," said the
first mate, when he received it; while the second mate promised to come
back in the vessel.

The