s； 〃and we'll see。〃 And he went off to his wife's cabin。
His wife opened the door for him。 She had been sitting by the child's bedside； listening to the firing； and waiting for her husband's return without a murmur。 Flirt； fribble； and shrew as she was； Julia Vickers had displayed； in times of emergency； that glowing courage which women of her nature at times possess。 Though she would yawn over any book above the level of a genteel love story； attempt to fascinate； with ludicrous assumption of girlishness； boys young enough to be her sons； shudder at a frog； and scream at a spider； she could sit throughout a quarter of an hour of such suspense as she had just undergone with as much courage as if she had been the strongest…minded woman that ever denied her sex。 〃Is it all over？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； thank God！〃 said Vickers； pausing on the threshold。 〃All is safe now； though we had a narrow escape； I believe。 How's Sylvia？〃 The child was lying on the bed with her fair hair scattered over the pillow； and her tiny hands moving restlessly to and fro。
〃A little better； I think； though she has been talking a good deal。〃
The red lips parted； and the blue eyes； brighter than ever； stared vacantly around。 The sound of her father's voice seemed to have roused her； for she began to speak a little prayer： 〃God bless papa and mamma； and God bless all on board this ship。 God bless me； and make me a good girl； for Jesus Christ's sake； our Lord。 Amen。〃
The sound of the unconscious child's simple prayer had something awesome in it； and John Vickers； who； not ten minutes before； would have sealed his own death warrant unhesitatingly to preserve the safety of the vessel； felt his eyes fill with unwonted tears。 The contrast was curious。 From out the midst of that desolate oceanin a fever…smitten prison ship； leagues from land； surrounded by ruffians； thieves； and murderers； the baby voice of an innocent child called confidently on Heaven。
* * * * * *
Two hours afterwardsas the Malabar； escaped from the peril which had menaced her； plunged cheerily through the rippling waterthe mutineers； by the spokesman； Mr。 James Vetch； confessed。
〃They were very sorry； and hoped that their breach of discipline would be forgiven。 It was the fear of the typhus which had driven them to it。 They had no accomplices either in the prison or out of it； but they felt it but right to say that the man who had planned the mutiny was Rufus Dawes。〃
The malignant cripple had guessed from whom the information which had led to the failure of the plot had been derived； and this was his characteristic revenge。
CHAPTER XII。
A NEWSPAPER PARAGRAPH。
Extracted from the Hobart Town Courier of the 12th November； 1827：
〃The examination of the prisoners who were concerned in the attempt upon the Malabar was concluded on Tuesday last。 The four ringleaders； Dawes Gabbett； Vetch； and Sanders； were condemned to death； but we understand that； by the clemency of his Excellency the Governor； their sentence has been commuted to six years at the penal settlement of Macquarie Harbour。〃
END OF BOOK THE FIRST
BOOK II。MACQUARIE HARBOUR。 1833。
CHAPTER I。
THE TOPOGRAPHY OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND。
The south…east coast of Van Diemen's Land； from the solitary Mewstone to the basaltic cliffs of Tasman's Head； from Tasman's Head to Cape Pillar； and from Cape Pillar to the rugged grandeur of Pirates' Bay； resembles a biscuit at which rats have been nibbling。 Eaten away by the continual action of the ocean which； pouring round by east and west； has divided the peninsula from the mainland of the Australasian continentand done for Van Diemen's Land what it has done for the Isle of Wightthe shore line is broken and ragged。 Viewed upon the map； the fantastic fragments of island and promontory which lie scattered between the South…West Cape and the greater Swan Port； are like the curious forms assumed by melted lead spilt into water。 If the supposition were not too extravagant； one might imagine that when the Australian continent was fused； a careless giant upset the crucible； and spilt Van Diemen's land in the ocean。 The coast navigation is as dangerous as that of the Mediterranean。 Passing from Cape Bougainville to the east of Maria Island； and between the numerous rocks and shoals which lie beneath the triple height of the Three Thumbs； the mariner is suddenly checked by Tasman's Peninsula； hanging； like a huge double…dropped ear…ring； from the mainland。 Getting round under the Pillar rock through Storm Bay to Storing Island； we sight the Italy of this miniature Adriatic。 Between Hobart Town and Sorrell； Pittwater and the Derwent； a strangely…shaped point of landthe Italian boot with its toe bent upwardsprojects into the bay； and； separated from this projection by a narrow channel； dotted with rocks； the long length of Bruny Island makes； between its western side and the cliffs of Mount Royal； the dangerous passage known as D'Entrecasteaux Channel。 At the southern entrance of D'Entrecasteaux Channel； a line of sunken rocks； known by the generic name of the Actaeon reef； attests that Bruny Head was once joined with the shores of Recherche Bay； while； from the South Cape to the jaws of Macquarie Harbour； the white water caused by sunken reefs； or the jagged peaks of single rocks abruptly rising in mid sea； warn the mariner off shore。
It would seem as though nature； jealous of the beauties of her silver Derwent； had made the approach to it as dangerous as possible； but once through the archipelago of D'Entrecasteaux Channel； or the less dangerous eastern passage of Storm Bay； the voyage up the river is delightful。 From the sentinel solitude of the Iron Pot to the smiling banks of New Norfolk； the river winds in a succession of reaches； narrowing to a deep channel cleft between rugged and towering cliffs。 A line drawn due north from the source of the Derwent would strike another river winding out from the northern part of the island； as the Derwent winds out from the south。 The force of the waves； expended； perhaps； in destroying the isthmus which； two thousand years ago； probably connected Van Diemen's Land with the continent has been here less violent。 The rounding currents of the Southern Ocean； meeting at the mouth of the Tamar； have rushed upwards over the isthmus they have devoured； and pouring against the south coast of Victoria； have excavated there that inland sea called Port Philip Bay。 If the waves have gnawed the south coast of Van Diemen's Land； they have bitten a mouthful out of the south coast of Victoria。 The Bay is a millpool； having an area of nine hundred square miles； with a race between the heads two miles across。
About a hundred and seventy miles to the south of this mill…race lies Van Diemen's Land； fertile； fair； and rich； rained upon by the genial showers from the clouds which； attracted by the Frenchman's Cap； Wyld's Crag； or the lofty peaks of the Wellington and Dromedary range； pour down upon the sheltered valleys their fertilizing streams。 No parching hot windthe scavenger； if the torment； of the continentblows upon her crops and corn。 The cool south breeze ripples gently the blue waters of the Derwent； and fans the curtains of the open windows of the city which nestles in the broad shadow of Mount Wellington。 The hot wind； born amid the burning sand of the interior of the vast Australian continent； sweeps over the scorched and cracking plains； to lick up their streams and wither the herbage in its path； until it meets the waters of the great south bay； but in its passage across the straits it is reft of its fire； and sinks； exhausted with its journey； at the feet of the terraced slopes of Launceston。
The climate of Van Diemen's Land is one of the loveliest in the world。 Launceston is warm； sheltered； and moist； and Hobart Town； protected by Bruny Island and its archipelago of D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Storm Bay from the violence of the southern breakers； preserves the mean temperature of Smyrna； whilst the district between these two towns spreads in a succession of beautiful valleys； through which glide clear and sparkling streams。 But on the western coast； from the steeple…rocks of Cape Grim to the scrub…encircled barrenness of Sandy Cape； and the frowning entrance to Macquarie Harbour； the nature of the country entirely changes。 Along that iron…bound shore； from Pyramid Island and the forest…backed solitude of Rocky Point； to the great Ram Head； and the straggling harbour of Port Davey； all is bleak and cheerless。 Upon that dreary beach the rollers of the southern sea complete their circuit of the globe； and the storm that has devastated the Cape； and united in its eastern course with the icy blasts which sweep northward from the unknown terrors of the southern pole； crashes unchecked upon the Huon pine forests； and lashes with rain the grim front of Mount Direction。 Furious gales and sudden tempests affright the natives of the coast。 Navigation is dangerous； and the entrance to the 〃Hell's Gates〃 of Macquarie Harbourat the time of which we are writing （1833）； in the height of its ill…fame as a convict settlementis only to be attempted in calm weather。 The sea…line is marked with wrecks。 The sunken rocks are dismally named after the vessels they have destroyed。 The air is chill and moist； the soil prolific only in prickly undergrowth and noxious weeds； while foetid exhalations from swamp and fen cling close to the humid； spongy ground。 All around breathes desolation； on the face of nature is stamped a perpetual frown。 The shipwrecked sailor； crawling painfully to the summit of basalt cliffs； or the ironed convict； dragging his tree trunk to the edge of some beetling plateau； looks down upon a sea of fog； through which rise mountain…tops like islands； or sees through the biting sleet a desert of scrub and crag rolling to the feet of Mount Heemskirk and Mount Zeehancrouched like two sentinel lions keeping watch over the seaboard。
CHAPTER II。
THE SOLITARY OF 〃HELL'S GATES〃。
〃Hell's Gates；〃 formed by a rocky point； which runs abruptly northward； almost touches； on its eastern side； a projecting arm of l