oughs laden with a strange kind of fruit, for
they bore oysters that were good to eat. Beyond the golden beach rose
stately palms interspersed with orange and other fruit trees, and here
and there spread rich savannahs ready for homes to be built upon them.

It seemed an earthly paradise indeed, and Donalblane expressed the
feelings of the rest when he exclaimed in his characteristic way--

"Here we've come and here we'll bide, for there can surely be no
bonnier place on all the earth!"

Only one member of the entire expedition had any knowledge of the
country. This was William Paterson, the founder of the expedition; and
so at the outset all his counsel and directions were unquestioningly
obeyed.

When, just before sunset, the ships came to anchor in the noble
harbour, and with utmost haste the boats were filled and urged ashore,
Mr. Paterson was the first to land. His first action was to fall on
his knees and offer up fervent thanksgiving for their safe arrival.
Each Scotsman as he landed followed his example, until the whole
expedition formed one great congregation worshipping upon that shore
which had never before heard the name of God.

Their prayer ended, they rose and embraced one another in the impulse
of mutual congratulation. Every heart beat high with hope; and that
night there was not a single member of the party who was troubled by
the slightest doubt as to the success of their great undertaking.

They had arrived in the very best season of the year, it being the
springtime of that climate, when Nature was at her best in every way,
and they made haste to get out of their cramped quarters on shipboard
and put up temporary huts and tents in the shade of the trees in which
they could live until permanent homes were built.

Donalblane was immensely happy. He had no hut to build. He could
sleep on the ship or ashore just according to his fancy, so he was a
gentleman of leisure, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself exploring the
wonderful New World.

By common consent the settlers took holiday at first. They hunted the
wild boar in the depths of the forest; they fished in the neighbouring
streams and surrounding seas; they threaded the woods, where almost
every bough bore some kind of fruit with which they were glad to make
acquaintance.

Then they turned their attention to work, and, after huts had been
provided for all, a fort was built commanding the harbour, and
threescore guns, taken from the