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tlement。 Unable to resist the pangs of hunger； he had increased his daily ration； and though the salted meat； exposed to rain and heat； had begun to turn putrid； he never looked at it but he was seized with a desire to eat his fill。 The coarse lumps of carrion and the hard rye…loaves were to him delicious morsels fit for the table of an emperor。 Once or twice he was constrained to pluck and eat the tops of tea…trees and peppermint shrubs。 These had an aromatic taste； and sufficed to stay the cravings of hunger for a while； but they induced a raging thirst； which he slaked at the icy mountain springs。 Had it not been for the frequency of these streams； he must have died in a few days。 At last； on the twelfth day from his departure from the Coal Head； he found himself at the foot of Mount Direction； at the head of the peninsula which makes the western side of the harbour。 His terrible wandering had but led him to make a complete circuit of the settlement； and the next night brought him round the shores of Birches Inlet to the landing…place opposite to Sarah Island。 His stock of provisions had been exhausted for two days； and he was savage with hunger。 He no longer thought of suicide。 His dominant idea was now to get food。 He would do as many others had done before himgive himself up to be flogged and fed。 When he reached the landing…place； however； the guard…house was empty。 He looked across at the island prison； and saw no sign of life。 The settlement was deserted！ The shock of this discovery almost deprived him of reason。 For days； that had seemed centuries； he had kept life in his jaded and lacerated body solely by the strength of his fierce determination to reach the settlement； and now that he had reached it； after a journey of unparalleled horror； he found it deserted。 He struck himself to see if he was not dreaming。 He refused to believe his eyesight。 He shouted； screamed； and waved his tattered garments in the air。 Exhausted by these paroxysms； he said to himself； quite calmly； that the sun beating on his unprotected head had dazed his brain； and that in a few minutes he should see well…remembered boats pulling towards him。 Then； when no boat came； he argued that he was mistaken in the place； the island yonder was not Sarah Island； but some other island like it； and that in a second or so he would be able to detect the difference。 But the inexorable mountains； so hideously familiar for six weary years； made mute reply； and the sea； crawling at his feet； seemed to grin at him with a thin…lipped； hungry mouth。 Yet the fact of the desertion seemed so inexplicable that he could not realize it。 He felt as might have felt that wanderer in the enchanted mountains； who； returning in the morning to look for his companions； found them turned to stone。
At last the dreadful truth forced itself upon him； he retired a few paces； and then； with a horrible cry of furious despair； stumbled forward towards the edge of the little reef that fringed the shore。 Just as he was about to fling himself for the second time into the dark water； his eyes； sweeping in a last long look around the bay； caught sight of a strange appearance on the left horn of the sea beach。 A thin； blue streak； uprising from behind the western arm of the little inlet； hung in the still air。 It was the smoke of a fire！
The dying wretch felt inspired with new hope。 God had sent him a direct sign from Heaven。 The tiny column of bluish vapour seemed to him as glorious as the Pillar of Fire that led the Israelites。 There were yet human beings near him！and turning his face from the hungry sea； he tottered with the last effort of his failing strength towards the blessed token of their presence。
CHAPTER IX。
THE SEIZURE OF THE 〃OSPREY〃
Frere's fishing expedition had been unsuccessful； and in consequence prolonged。 The obstinacy of his character appeared in the most trifling circumstances； and though the fast deepening shades of an Australian evening urged him to return； yet he lingered； unwilling to come back empty…handed。 At last a peremptory signal warned him。 It was the sound of a musket fired on board the brig： Mr。 Bates was getting impatient； and with a scowl； Frere drew up his lines； and ordered the two soldiers to pull for the vessel。
The Osprey yet sat motionless on the water； and her bare masts gave no sign of making sail。 To the soldiers； pulling with their backs to her； the musket shot seemed the most ordinary occurrence in the world。 Eager to quit the dismal prison…bay； they had viewed Mr Frere's persistent fishing with disgust； and had for the previous half hour longed to hear the signal of recall which had just startled them。 Suddenly； however； they noticed a change of expression in the sullen face of their commander。 Frere； sitting in the stern sheets； with his face to the Osprey； had observed a peculiar appearance on her decks。 The bulwarks were every now and then topped by strange figures； who disappeared as suddenly as they came； and a faint murmur of voices floated across the intervening sea。 Presently the report of another musket shot echoed among the hills； and something dark fell from the side of the vessel into the water。 Frere； with an imprecation of mingled alarm and indignation； sprang to his feet； and shading his eyes with his hand； looked towards the brig。 The soldiers； resting on their oars； imitated his gesture； and the whale…boat； thus thrown out of trim； rocked from side to side dangerously。 A moment's anxious pause； and then another musket shot； followed by a woman's shrill scream； explained all。 The prisoners had seized the brig。 〃Give way！〃 cried Frere； pale with rage and apprehension； and the soldiers； realizing at once the full terror of their position； forced the heavy whale…boat through the water as fast as the one miserable pair of oars could take her。
* * * * * *
Mr。 Bates； affected by the insidious influence of the hour； and lulled into a sense of false security； had gone below to tell his little playmate that she would soon be on her way to the Hobart Town of which she had heard so much； and； taking advantage of his absence； the soldier not on guard went to the forecastle to hear the prisoners singing。 He found the ten together； in high good humour； listening to a 〃shanty〃 sung by three of their number。 The voices were melodious enough； and the words of the dittychanted by many stout fellows in many a forecastle before and sinceof that character which pleases the soldier nature。 Private Grimes forgot all about the unprotected state of the deck； and sat down to listen。
While he listened； absorbed in tender recollections； James Lesly； William Cheshire； William Russen； John Fair； and James Barker slipped to the hatchway and got upon the deck。 Barker reached the aft hatchway as the soldier who was on guard turned to complete his walk； and passing his arm round his neck； pulled him down before he could utter a cry。 In the confusion of the moment the man loosed his grip of the musket to grapple with his unseen antagonist； and Fair； snatching up the weapon； swore to blow out his brains if he raised a finger。 Seeing the s