therefore selected, and passages for the party secured in her.

CHAPTER II.

THE EMBARKATION.

The _Flying Scud_ was to sail in ten days; and this was ample time for
their preparations, for Mrs. Renshaw wisely decided that it was better
to buy all that was requisite for starting their new life, in New
Zealand.

"We have none of us the least idea what will be required," she said. "It
will be far better to pay somewhat higher prices for what we really do
want out there than to cumber ourselves with all sorts of things that
may be useless to us. We have already a considerable amount of baggage.
There are our clothes, linen, and books, your father's two
double-barrelled guns, which, by the way, I do not think he has ever
used since we have been married. The only thing we had better get, as
far as I see, will be four rifles, which no doubt we can buy cheap
second-hand, and four revolvers.

"I do not for a moment suppose we shall ever want to use them, but as we
may be often left in the house alone I think it would be pleasant to
know that we are not altogether defenceless. We had better lay in a good
stock of ammunition for all these weapons. Besides the clothes we have
we had better get serge dresses and suits for the voyage, and a few
strong servicable gowns and suits for rough work out there. Beyond this
I do not think that we need spend a penny. We can certainly get
everything we shall want for our new life at Wellington, which is a
large place."

On the morning of the day on which they were to embark the Grimstones
came up from Reading. All the heavy luggage had been sent on board ship
on the previous day, and at twelve o'clock two cabs drove up to the side
of the _Flying Scud_ in St. Catherine's Docks. The one contained Mr. and
Mrs. Renshaw, Marion, and a vast quantity of small packets inside.
Wilfrid was on the box with the driver, and the roof was piled high with
luggage. The other cab contained the two Grimstones and the rest of the
luggage. The Renshaws were already acquainted with the ship in which
they were to sail, having paid her a visit four days previously to see
their cabins. The parents had a comfortable cabin to themselves. Marion
was berthed in a cabin with two other ladies, who, she learned, were
sisters, the elder about her own age, and Wilfrid found he would have
but one fellow-passenger. The Grimstones were in the steerage forward.

The vessel was in a state of bustle, and what to the