red with us had we fallen into less
careful hands; but my companions and I, in spite of the heat, in a short
time recovered.

When I was strong enough to bear conversation, my mother told me how my
father, finding his mercantile business in England was not likely to
flourish, had resolved to emigrate to Australia, where, as an officer in
the navy, he could obtain a grant of land. Following his nautical
instincts, he had purchased a brig, on board of which he had shipped all
the family; purposing to make a trading voyage before finally settling
down, and hoping thus to realise a considerable sum, and pay the
expenses of the vessel. He had hitherto been tolerably successful,
though they had run no slight risk twice, if not oftener, of being cut
off by the treacherous natives--"Treacherous because, I fear, they have
been treated treacherously," observed my mother. "We have been
mercifully preserved, and are now on our way to Sydney, where we shall
sell the brig and commence our settlers' life. Your father, however,
intends first visiting New Caledonia; and perhaps New Guinea, and some
other islands."

"Oh, then, I will leave the navy and settle with you!" I exclaimed.
"And I am nearly certain that Mudge will also be ready to give up the
navy and join us; as also, I am sure, will Harry, and Tom, and Popo."

It was, indeed, most providential that the brig picked us up, for it was
more than a fortnight after this that we made New Caledonia, along the
northern shore of which we coasted; my father intending to bring up in
some convenient harbour, where we could communicate with the natives,
and purchase sandal-wood, or other productions of the country. The
shore consisted of ranges of hills of some height, mostly covered with
wood, with low plains and valleys intervening. We saw several double
canoes under sail, such as I have before described.

At last we found a harbour, the appearance of which from the sea tempted
my father to enter it. The instant we dropped our anchor, the vessel
was surrounded by canoes, which brought off vegetables and all sorts of
provisions; but having heard of the way in which many vessels had been
cut off by the natives, my father wisely resolved to allow no one to
come on board. The crew were kept under arms while he and his mates
trafficked with the natives; the articles he had to dispose of being
lowered down into the canoes, while the provisions were hoisted up on
deck. Had similar