so plentiful as they now
are.

As soon as we had pitched our tent we all knelt down and returned thanks
to that merciful God who had brought us across the ocean into this
lovely haven of rest--so it seemed, for we thought not then of the
troubles before us.

What a privilege it is to be able to go direct to God in prayer, through
the sure mediation of the loving Jesus, pleading His perfect,
all-sufficient sacrifice--His precious blood shed for sinful man on
Calvary. I felt it then: I have felt it ever since; and I would not
give up that privilege of prayer for anything else the world can bestow.
I have sometimes thought what a fearful thing it would be for a man who
has enjoyed that blessing to lose it altogether, if that were possible;
to be told, "You must not pray! God will not hear your prayers! From
henceforth you must have no communion with the Most High!" The thought
has just occurred to me as I have been speaking of this our first night
on our new location.

We, of course, gave water to our sheep and penned them carefully before
lying down to rest. We knew that we had not so many enemies to guard
against as there are in many countries; but still there were some.
First, there were dingoes, or native dogs, who play the part of wolves
as well as foxes, in Australia, by attacking sheepfolds and poultry
yards: they were certain in an out-station to visit us. Then we were
told there were natives who might very likely come in the night to steal
a fat sheep, or to attack us if they could find us unprepared; and
lastly, there were some bush-rangers already abroad--ruffians who had
escaped from road-gangs, and not being able to return to the settlement,
lived a wild, desperate life in the bush, and procured their stores by
plundering drays coming up from Port Jackson, or out-stations where they
thought anything was to be got. However, as none had been heard of for
some time, we had no apprehensions about them.

We were too strong a party to invite attack, and only a very hungry, and
therefore desperate man, would think of molesting us. Still, it was
prudent for one to remain on watch. Charley White took the first watch,
as he had done at sea. Peter was to take the second. I heard Charley
call him up, but not feeling disposed to sleep myself, I told him to
rest on, as I knew that he was very tired, and that I would look out
instead. I took a gun in my hand, and walked round and round our little
camp. Ther