lla's sensitive
conscience, and she made no further demur to Ned's proposed
arrangements.

An hour and a half later they reached the ship, just as the sun was
setting, and found her still deserted, though the men could be seen
mustering on the beaches and preparing to return on board. Advantage
was taken of this circumstance by Sibylla to stow away in her own boxes,
at Ned's request, all the jewels brought on board, thus leaving that
young gentleman free to meet Williams on his return to the ship and to
make such a report of his explorations as he might deem fit. Half an
hour later all the men had returned on board, and though they were
thoroughly fagged out by their unwonted exercise they had evidently
enjoyed the day just as much as though they had been so many schoolboys.

On the following morning work was begun in earnest, part of the men
being engaged in unbending sails and sending down the upper spars,
whilst a contingent under Williams landed and proceeded to cut down
trees for the purpose of building stores, a dwelling-house, a kitchen,
and so on, on shore. Williams' plans comprised no less than the entire
stripping of the ship down to a gantline; the thorough overhauling of
her hull, inside and out, including cleaning and scrubbing; and a number
of petty alterations in her rigging, which he thought would have the
effect of disguising the vessel. And in addition to this he also
proposed to construct on shore permanent buildings for the storage of
his booty, as well as for the residence of a small contingent of men to
guard it. This of course was not only a work of considerable time, but
it also involved the complete evacuation of the ship, a circumstance
which Ned foresaw would cause very serious inconvenience to Sibylla.
This, however, was at length happily surmounted by his obtaining the
very reluctant consent of Williams to employ some of the men in the
construction of a hut for her sole accommodation, he at the same time
locating himself in a small tent, which was pitched close at hand, so
that he might always be able to watch over her safety.

Meanwhile the _Southern Cross_ duly arrived at Melbourne after an
excellent passage; and Captain Spence was intensely gratified when he
found that nothing had been heard of the _Flying Cloud_. A week later
the _Southern Cross_ was lying with an empty hold, waiting for her
homeward cargo to come alongside, and still the _Flying Cloud_ had not
put in an appeara