I felt something like Noah coming out of the ark when I landed, for the
last time, with my wife and family and chattels and sheep; and having
selected a quiet place, we all knelt down and returned hearty thanks to
God for the protection He had afforded us during our passage across the
ocean. We asked Him to guide and protect us for the future; and I am
very sure that He heard our prayers.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

BUSH-RANGERS.

Having bought a couple of horses at great cost, and a light waggon, or
dray rather, I stowed therein the most indispensable portion of our
goods and provisions. The rest we stored, to fetch when we had got up a
cottage. My wife and daughters insisted on walking, saying that they
weighed more than all the tea and sugar we should require for many
months, and they were sure it would be wise to take all the stores we
could carry. The sheep were so tame that they did not require to be
driven, but followed the boys, who took especial charge of them, like
lambs.

Steadfast, the dog, ran alongside the horses, and Duchess, the cat, took
up her post on the top of the dray with the cocks and hens, and cages
containing the other birds. Bob Hunt and Dick Nailor, having made up
their minds to quit the sea, speedily turned into sturdy draymen, though
they kept to their sailor's rig, and could not easily lay aside their
nautical expressions. "As the horses, or their immediate progenitors,
had, however, come across the sea, it was but natural that they should
understand them," observed Mark, when Dick shouted out occasionally,
"Starboard Dobbin, lay the fore-topsail abaft, Bob;" "It's time to
shorten sail, and bring the ship to an anchor;" or, "Luff, lad, luff, or
you'll be into that tree on the lee bow." Sometimes when the ground
looked rougher and more impracticable than usual, Dick would cry out,
"Breakers ahead; we must haul our wind and see if we can't get round the
shoal; won't do to wreck the waggon out here, where shipwrights', I mean
blacksmiths', shops are pretty scarce, I fancy."

Notwithstanding the inexperience of our men, and our own also, indeed,
we got on wonderfully well. We all gave our minds to the work, and thus
made amends for other deficiencies. Rawdon proved a first-rate guide,
and by his knowledge and sagacity we avoided many of the difficulties
which might have impeded our progress.

Our boys and girls enjoyed the journey very much. They especially liked
camping out at night