, we were
disappointed at having missed the "Great Eastern," lately launched and
then lying in the river.

By 12 noon we were fairly out at sea, with a favourable breeze, and the
pilot left us in view (it might be the last) of the old country we were
leaving behind.

Before my eyes again rested on the cliffs of old England I had seen many
lands and people, had mixed and worked with all sorts and conditions of
men, had many experiences and adventures; and although I did not find
the fortune at once which I thought was waiting for me to pick up, I
found that there is always a fortune, be it great or small, according to
their deserts, waiting for those who determine to work honestly and
heartily for it, and that every man's future success or failure depends
mainly on himself.

CHAPTER II.

THE VOYAGE AND INCIDENTS THEREON--RATS ON BOARD, THE WHITE
SQUALL, HARPOONING A SHARK, BURIAL OF THE TWINS, A TROPICAL
ESCAPADE--ICEBERGS--EXCHANGE OF COURTESIES AT SEA, ETC.

The "Mary Anne" was, as I stated, an emigrant ship, and carried on the
voyage about four hundred men, women, and children, sent out chiefly
through the Government Emigration Agents. Persons going out in this way
were assisted by having a portion of their passage paid for them as an
advance, to be refunded after a certain time passed in the colony. The
only first-class passengers in addition to C----and myself were two old
maiden ladies, the Misses Hunt, who, with the doctor and his wife, the
captain and first-mate, comprised our cabin party. In the second-class
were three passengers--T. Smith, whose name will frequently appear in
these pages, and two brothers called Leach, going out to join a rich
cousin, a sheep farmer in Canterbury. Smith was the son of a wealthy
squire, with whom, it appeared, he had fallen out respecting some family
matters, and in a fit of pique left his home and took passage to New
Zealand. His funds were sufficient to procure him a second-class berth,
but on representing matters to the captain, who knew something of his
family, it was arranged that he should join us in the saloon, hence he
became one of our comrades, and eventually a particular friend.

The captain's name was Ashby, and he soon proved to be a most jolly and
agreeable companion. The first-mate, Lapworth, also became a favourite
with us all.

The doctor was usually drunk, or partly so, and led his wife, a kind and
amiable little lady, a very unp