ys the passengers
could hardly leave the deck. And as he watched the men, and his eyes
wandered inland toward where he could see faint blue mountains beyond
dark green forests, he asked himself whether he had done right in
realising the wreck of his property left after he had been nearly ruined
by the proceedings of a bankrupt company, and making up his mind at
fifty to start afresh in the Antipodes, bringing his wife, daughter, and
niece out to what must prove to be a very rough life.

"Have I done right?" he said softly; "have I done right?"

"Yes," said a voice close to him; and his brother's hand was laid upon
his arm. "Yes, Ned, and we are going to make the best of it."

"You think so, Jack?" said the captain, eagerly.

"Yes. I was dead against it at first."

"You were."

"Horribly. It meant giving up my club--our clubs, and at our time of
life working like niggers, plunging into all kinds of discomforts and
worries; but, please God, Ned, it's right. It will be a healthy,
natural life for us all, and the making of those three boys in this new
land."

Captain Bedford grasped his brother's hand; but he could not speak. The
comfort given by those words, though, was delightful and his face lit up
directly with a happy smile, as he saw the excitement of the three boys,
all eager to begin the new life.

He looked a little more serious though, as his eyes lit on the party of
ladies fresh from a life of ease; but his countenance brightened again
as he thought of how they would lighten the loads of those ill able to
bear them. "And it will be a happy, natural life for us all. Free from
care, and with only the troubles of labour in making the new home."

But Captain Bedford was letting his imagination run. More troubles were
ahead than his mind conceived, and directly after he began making plans
for their start.

CHAPTER TWO.

"WE'RE OFF NOW."

Busy days succeeded during which every one worked hard, except the
people of Port Haven. The captain of the ship hurried on his people as
much as was possible, but the sailors obtained little assistance from
the shore. They landed, however, the consignments of goods intended for
the speculative merchant, who had started in business in what he called
sundries; two great chests for the young doctor, who had begun life
where he had no patients, and passed his time in fishing; and sundry
huge packages intended for a gentleman who had taken up land just
outsi