y here, I long to see papa again; and I cannot help
thinking that he is safe at Sydney by this time."

This conversation took place at breakfast. As soon as it was over the
whole of the party got into marching order. The doctor and Dan went
first to explore; the mate, with Alice and Walter, followed next; and
Nub brought up the rear. It was agreed that, should any Indians or
human habitations be seen, the doctor and Dan were to fall back on the
rest of the party; when, as the safest course, they would all quickly
retreat rather than run the risk of a collision. Dan was well adapted
for the task he had undertaken. Active as a monkey, lithe as a snake,
and possessed of so keen pair of eyes, he made his way among the bushes,
looking carefully ahead before he exposed himself in any open space.
The doctor kept at a short distance behind him, generally in sight of
the rest of the party, so that he could make a sign to them should he
receive a warning signal from Dan.

They took the way to the stream, over which the mate carried Alice on
his shoulders. They then continued along its banks, till the dense
foliage compelled them to turn aside and proceed towards the seashore.
Dan carried an axe, which he had to use occasionally in cutting his way
through the underwood; but the mate had charged him to avoid doing so as
much as possible, as, should there be natives in the neighbourhood, they
would be more likely to discover their traces and follow them up.
Fortunately the underwood was perfectly free from thorns, or they would
have had their clothes torn to shreds, even had they been able to
penetrate it. It was generally of a reed or grass-like nature, so that
they could push it aside or trample it down; and under the more lofty
trees the ground was often for a considerable distance completely open,
when they made more rapid progress. They seldom, however, went far from
the seashore; but in many places they found walking on it very
difficult, from the softness of the sand, or from its rugged and rocky
nature. Besides this, they were there exposed to the full heat of the
sun; while by keeping inland they were sheltered from its scorching rays
by the wide-spreading tops of the lofty trees. Now and then, when the
beach presented a long stretch of hard sand, they were tempted to go
down to it, but were soon glad to return to the shelter of the woods.

As they advanced, the beach trended more and more to the west, and the
m