In the Roaring Fifties

eamishness was further proof of a narrow and commonplace mind. Had he suffered so much all his life at the hands of people of this class, and learned to measure them so well and ha

as an intruding foot stirs an anthill. The people swarmed upon the decks, and strained their eyes in the dire

peep at the land where fortune and glory waited them. The telescope was quite unequal to the occasion, but its owner had carefully drawn a mark on the lens to repres

ure possessed him; he had an impulse to run and jump, to act foolishly, and to yell like a boy at play. It required som

roper feeling of indignation against Done. Her training impelled her to stigmatize his conduct as ungentlemanly, ungenerous, and absolutely shocking. The words of condemnation came readily enough, but there was no proper spirit of maidenly pride behind them. On the contrary, deep down in

d innocent. Her cough required more than usual attention, and her head was extremely bad, but she bore it all with con

little more of your confidence, Luc

al?' asked Lucy, surprised

a sister. I am in a manner your guardian; and

; and I am grateful

n't tell me things. Fo

ne

there is nothing of inter

nd handsome, and he is quite a gentleman, in spite of his position. But '-and here the voice grew petulant-'I thought you would give me your confide

not amuse you in the least to hear our conversation repeated.'

ir?' continued Mrs. Ma

the ship's romance. We're just

ougal, you

hing else for weeks, and I did t

atch of colour on either cheek, a courageous spark in either eye

that my friendship with Mr. Done has been the subj

you expect

iticised and scandal

stood. It was so romantic and delightful, and we were all so pleased to find him taking a real interest in you

no decency. I will tell you this, Mrs. Macdougal that no wo

nted she said. 'I'm afraid they won't think it quite nice of you.

absurd and

tle romance, filled her with gravest apprehension. Her strong belief was that Done and Lucy owed it as a sacred duty to the etern

rness she had never felt before. In overlooking her actions and assuming a right to influence her in a purely personal matter, these people were guilty of an insolence to which she would not submit. She thought she discovered a certain antagonism amongst those with whom she presently came into contact, and the opposition developed character. Pride came to her aid. No doubt some peeping Tom or prying woman had been witness to the theft of

e, and seated herself by his side, hav

He detected a difference in the girl that was not explicable to him, and imagined that she was still angry. He realized, too,

to have done that the

was bowed, and her foot tap

shocked at, isn't it? Well, I regretted it immediatel

d her deeply where the offence had left no pain. She wished it had nev

and a fever of exultation and expectancy burned in the ship. Done was like a man drunken. It was as if sunshine were a strange, new thing to him, as if he had never breathed deeply and truly the good air of God till now. He had big affectionate impulses; he felt that the sailors were fine fellows, his shipmates cheerful souls. He would have liked to shake hands all round and assure them of his friendship, but sailors and passengers were full

to Hobson's Bay, and up to her berth by the primitive river wharf. And now speculation and curiosity were awakened in

d slip into the sea like a porpoise. Jorgensen struck out for the shore, swimming under water for the most part, till he had covered a d

but a score of men busied themselves lowering the Francis Cadman's boats, laughing at their work and joking uproariously. Others came singing and yelling from the forecastle and u

rders that no one heard. Every time he opened his lips the sailors responded with louder

Fire, I tell

d Captain Evan, snatching the gun from

es, you mutinous

ly, and thrust his finger i

e spiked your gun,

zen pair of hands were on him, and he was dragged down. Bently, the first mate, who went to his assistance, was served similarly. In a few moments they lay helpless, trussed like turkeys ready for the roasting. The cabin passengers gathered about, white-faced, full of terror, thinking of p

him! They are go

rted forward, and half a dozen

mean mischi

ever a mischief will be done to annywon at all. Come along, Captain darlin',' he added. 'Ye'll rist aisie

baggage into the boats, and Done, who had recovered the feeling of annoyance his impulsive interference had occasioned him, watched them, rejoicing in sympathy. He had brought no particular respect for law and order from the Old Land, and this happy revolt delighted him. He would have loved to join the merry adventurers

ck to yo

differences in their present robust animal

man; why don't

lse to follow, but a

no!' whispered L

all, there was no occasion for him

Bay and Hobson's Bay had disappeared amongst the ti-tree fringing the shore, leaving the ship's boats afloat. Five sailors remained aboard-one, the boatswain, was temporarily disabled; two of the others were sick and bedridden. Captain Evan stood

his feet once more, and was leaning over the side, his awkwardly-packed canvas bag of belongings at his feet, watching the line of Liardit Beach, with its few dingy build

journey's end,' she said. 'I wish

land, too, and wore a dark dress he had not seen before, and a quaint little hat that became her well. He thought her beautiful. The idea of

thing you as

is Mrs. Macdougal's address. I wa

wil

ome day, in one month, or two, or perhaps a year, you will find time to sen

id, betrayed into warmth by her unaffected concern. 'I can never

ames,' she an

he parson and the magistrates of Chisley, and he desp

have done for me makes it impossible that I can ever be careless about your wel

this sort of thin

ng disposition to lapse into tears The disposition

which, though still a child in heart and years his junior,

on't you? I intend it

eply when he opened it and discovered a tiny miniature of hersel

ashore at once?'

t as soon

y, and I suppose we lea

'Good-bye,' he said. He longe

e,' she

easy for you out there, a

oing to try hard for hap

Say you wi

n a golden atmosphere of glorious sunshine and more glorious hopes,

what little feminine society there was in the neighbourhood of Boobyalla, and wore one of them

ing. Macdougal of Boobyalla, you know.' This to Jim: 'And he's a most

Mr. Done good-b

h old friends,' murmured Mrs

ew ones,' replied Jim,

ot? But you will come a

pmates, and that's a

tra

Macdougal, J.P., of Boobyalla. The lady experienced a glow of impatience. Only a hobbledeho