Straits--not then very well known.

Next day we looked out with some anxiety for the Frenchman, but he was
nowhere to be seen, and we entertained the hope that we had escaped him
altogether.

We sighted the southern part of Van Diemen's Land. But as we should not
have been allowed to land at the new settlement then even had we wished
it, unless we had put in there in distress, we continued our course for
Port Jackson. It was time for us to be in port. We had eaten up all
the fowls except those we wanted to land; the biscuits were becoming
mouldy, the water bad, the hay was nearly consumed, and the sheep, put
on short allowance, were looking thin, though otherwise healthy.

The lads were continually going to the mast-head, each one eager to be
the first to discover land.

We were edging in for the coast, from which I knew that we were not far
distant, when Mark, who was aloft, shouted out, "Land! land! Hurrah!
the land we are bound for!" I was afraid that in the exuberance of his
delight he would have let go his hold, and come down by the run on deck.
John thought so too, and with alarm expressed in his countenance, ran
under him to catch him in his arms. He held on, however, and in a few
seconds his brother and White joined him, and shouted with almost as
much glee as he had exhibited, "Land! land!" We stood in directly for
it, for by my calculations we were not far off Botany Bay, or rather
Port Jackson, for that in reality was the port for which we were bound.

In England in those days people always spoke of Botany Bay, because that
was the place where Captain Cook landed before Port Jackson was
discovered.

A strong breeze was blowing, which carried us rapidly towards the land.
The wind increased, and dark clouds were seen gathering in the
south-east. I had heard of a black squall off that coast, and from the
darkness of the sky and the increasing wind, I was afraid that one was
now brewing. Charley White was of my opinion, I found. This made me
more than ever anxious to get into harbour before dark. Still it
increased the danger of approaching the shore, and the bay afforded no
shelter to the wind then blowing. We flew rapidly on; the dim outline
of the coast became more and more distinct. At length we could
distinguish some lofty headlands directly ahead.

Charley White knew that two such headlands mark the entrance to Port
Jackson, but he reminded me that there is a third, which forms the side