awdon stopped and looked round.

"Here, Mr Biddulph, if you take my advice you will pitch your tent.
You have grass and water for sheep and cattle, and timber to build your
house, and barns, and fences, and to keep your fires burning. What more
do you desire? the soil is good; you may grow corn and vegetables and
fruit-trees. You think that we are now in a desert: in a few years you
will find yourself in the midst of civilisation."

I talked over the matter. Jacob showed me that he was right, and the
boys agreed with him. He understood surveying, and we measured out
roughly two thousand acres. He told me that as a free settler I should
have no difficulty in obtaining a grant of it. We soon fixed on a site
for a house--not far from the stream, but at a sufficient height to be
out of its influence when swollen by rains. The stream ran into a
navigable river not far off, and from a neighbouring height we could see
it and the sea in the far distance. Charley and John were highly
pleased with the country, and were eager to get back to Sydney to secure
the grant, lest any one else should make application. Jacob laughed at
their eagerness.

"It is a good big country, and there is room for all," he observed.

He was right. A large part of half a century has passed since then, and
a steady stream of human beings has been setting in ever since, and
still there is room for all who come wishing to work.

John wanted Charley to stay and camp out with him while Jacob and I went
back; but to that Charley would not agree. He did not like leaving me
to travel alone with a doubtful character such as Jacob, and he besides
wished, I have no doubt, to see Mary. I, however, was very strongly
disposed to trust Jacob.

We got back to Sydney without any adventure, and found all well on
board. The sheep had greatly improved in appearance. I sold a ram and
four ewes for a price which fully covered all the charges of the voyage;
the rest of those I had brought I kept, that I might have a good stock
with which I might commence on my own property. I at once also made
application for a grant of the land I had seen, and obtained it without
difficulty. I got an excellent price for the whole of my cargo, and
soon found a purchaser for our little schooner. She was to run between
Port Jackson and other ports, either opened or about to be opened, to
the north and south. Altogether my speculation turned out a most
successful one.