ordering us to heave to.
We were all to be made prisoners; horrible would be the fate of those
dearest to me. I started up in a cold perspiration, though the weather
was hot enough as may be supposed.

There was scarcely a sound except the rippling of the water against the
vessel's side, the breathing of those sleeping round me in our little
cabin, and the tread of Peter's feet overhead. Charley was at the helm
I guessed. He said something, and then they both burst into a merry
laugh. "All's right," I thought to myself, "I know why I had that
uncomfortable dream. I was over anxious. I ought, having done my best,
to have thrown all my care and anxiety on God; knowing that He cares for
me and those dear to me." I got out of bed, knelt down, and prayed, and
when I lay down again I slept as soundly as I had ever done in my life.
Awaking at daylight, I went on deck to relieve the young men. No sail
was in sight. Once more we put the schooner on her proper course. I
proposed touching on the western or southern coast of Australia for the
sake of obtaining grass or hay for the sheep, and water and fuel. We
had found the importance of having a good supply of fuel. I was no
longer anxious about the stranger, but still I knew that if he was bound
in the same direction that we were, owing to the uncertain winds and
calms, we might very possibly again fall in with him. Still, he might
after all be a friend. I would banish the subject from my mind. I did
so. In the next week we had fine weather and a fair breeze, till the
land, stretching away in the north, blue and indistinct, was seen on our
larboard bow. We hauled up for it till we got near enough to
distinguish objects on shore. I cannot say that the appearance of that
part of the new country which was to be our future home was at all
attractive. Backs and sand-hills, and slight elevations covered with
dark green trees, were the only objects we could discern. We could
obtain plenty of wood, but that we could find any water in that dry
looking country seemed very doubtful, even if we could manage to land.
We had all been so eagerly watching the coast, that for a long time no
one had turned their eyes to the southward; Mary, happening to do so,
exclaimed, "Father, there's a sail in the horizon no bigger than my
hand, but I see it clearly."

Charley, on hearing this, sprang aloft with his glass. He quickly
returned, and quietly remarked to me, "A ship standing