CHAPTER III.

Captain Spencer determines to start for Swan River.-Secures objects from the wreck.-Running fishes.-Attack from natives.-Start for Swan River. -A log of wood converted into a shovel. --A Hawk's-bill Turtle.- Natives touch the baggage.- Frightened away. Natives on shore taste pickled Oysters.-Put on Captain Spencer's trousers.-Insects.-Birds.-Impression of a cloven foot with a spur.- Flight of Parrakeets.-Scrub.- Captain Spencer makes a grass hat.-Albatross.-Haze and Mirage.—Berries.— Snakes. Porpoises.-Sea-shells.-Meteor.-Gannets.

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FOR a time Captain Spencer sat with his head buried in his hands, and could scarcely realize his own position, so filled was he with grief and horror at the loss of his five men, drowned as it were for his sake. His horse and dog seemed now to be of double value, and as he sat with one arm round Gipsy's neck, it occurred to him that Charlie had not made his appearance. My poor Charlie, too!" he said; the word Charlie was repeated, and he started, but as all was again silent, he thought the sound must have proceeded from an echo in the cavern. "All dead!" he exclaimed, as his head again dropped. "All dead! all dead! Charlie's coming, Ned Spencer!" exclaimed the bird, and thus signified his escape. He hopped up to his master, who hugged and caressed him, poor, wet, sandy, and miserable looking creature as he was, as if another dear object had been preserved. The bird had probably been frightened by the hurricane to take refuge in the cave, or had crept

out from under the masses of fallen rock; at all events, he was overjoyed at finding his master and his companions. Gip, who had hitherto been rather jealous of him, actually licked him, and Tiger raised his head and fixed his large eyes upon him in a most amicable manner.

This circumstance roused the energy of Captain Spencer, and the necessity for immediate exertion presented itself. The desolate nature of the country on which he was thus cast, the dangerous reputation of its inhabitants, and many other evils stood before him with almost appalling force; yet the more he thought, the more did his natural courage and piety revive. "Shall

I,” said he, “who have faced death hand to hand with the enemies of my country; who have fought my way through ranks of foes, and held England's possessions against a besieging army, fear a handful of rude savages? Nevertheless," added he, "they are perhaps more formidable because they are treacherous, and defy the laws of honourable warfare." Throwing himself on his knees, he again thanked God for his own preservation, and prayed fervently for aid and support.

Strengthened and refreshed by prayer, the wanderer began to consider what was best to be done. Three ways seemed to present themselves, one of which was to remain on the coast on the chance of seeing a vessel; but when he recollected that all the time he had already been there he had not beheld a sail of any kind, this was rejected. The second suggestion was to return along the northern coast, and so reach Port Essington; but he fancied he was nearer to Perth on the Swan River, and if he had to travel, it might as well be in a totally new country, and he accordingly decided on proceeding close to the western shore, in the hope of, perhaps, seeing

a vessel which was going to that port, or at all events reaching that settlement in some way or other. His chart, his sextant, were gone, he had nothing but his compass to guide him, but he deemed it an easy matter to steer in a south-west direction, which must lead him more or less near to the last mentioned colony. His pocket-book, containing letters of credit, was sewn inside his waistcoat, and the latter being cashed there, would enable him to take passage for India.

Captain Spencer's resolution being formed, he glanced at two of his companions as promising to be most serviceable in helping him through his undertaking, and he knew that his unfailing prowess as a shot would procure him food; but he resolved to remain where he was for a few days, to see if any useful articles would come ashore from the wreck, especially gunpowder and shot. It seemed to have been like foresight that he should have provided himself with so much ammunition, and made so little use of it, and he thought if the chest did not come up he had still enough. His chief difficulties would be want of water and clothing; "but," said he, in a more cheerful tone, "You, my poor beasts, obey every sound of my voice, and, please God, we shall get through our troubles, so let us try to sleep." Thus speaking he stretched himself on the ground, and the four were soon at rest; Charlie having perched himself close by on a ledge of sandstone.

Early in the morning Captain Spencer took Tiger to the top of the cliff to get his food, and then descended to the beach, where he picked up some pieces of plank and bush-wood, which had been driven ashore, and setting fire to them with a little gunpowder, he contrived to make a hot meal for himself and Gip of some Quails,

which he had shot above, though he felt quite sorry to pluck off the pretty fawn, or reddish, coloured feathers. from their breasts; he stewed them in one of his tin cans, and ate them heartily, in spite of the failure of sauce and seasoning. On going to the sea-shore a multitude of objects met his view which would be very useful, and among others, two very large pieces of tarpauling. The ammunition chest, to his great joy, was sticking fast in the sand, and having the key in his pocket he opened it, and found the powder but little damaged; he spread this out on the tarpauling to dry, and was so intently occupied, that he scarcely observed the progress of the sun, till its descent warned him it was time to collect all his treasures, and take them to the cave. Among the latter was a barrel of flour, which he also emptied and dried; he then made some cakes of it, and baked them on hot ashes, as an addition to his evening meal. Tiger had several times peeped over the cliff as if to see whether he were wanted, and at sun-set trotted down the path to settle for the evening. Charlie had both fed and amused himself upon the beach, but not approaching too near the water, of which he seemed to have an instinctive horror, thereby proving that he had been drenched during the storm. "You must be turned into a pack-horse, Tiger," said his master, "so come and be loaded for your new office." The docile creature stood unmoved as his master put the things upon his back, and walked steadily with his burthen to the cave, where, after being unloaded, he laid himself down. Captain Spencer hearing Gip express herself in impatient tones, went to see what was the matter with her, and found her pulling with all her might at the sleeve of his thick over coat, which had hung up in the cabin,

but which was now half buried in sand.

"Good dog,"

said he, patting her head, and the efforts of both freed the garment. Then putting it under one of the cascades to wash out the sand and salt water, it was the next day dried in the sun.

The night was warm and tranquil, and the next morning, on returning to the beach, Captain Spencer saw a number of fishes, which appeared to be running about upon their elbows, to the great astonishment of Gipsy, and he could not help smiling at the dog's look and the ludicrous action of the fishes, with their three free spines on their head, one of which had a tuft at the top, their gills like a hole, and their lower fins looking like great splay feet.* They were about nine inches long, and ran at each other with their mouths open; but the moment Captain Spencer came up to them, they all at once disappeared in the slimy matter which had collected round the mangroves growing on one side of the inlet. Their pectoral fins were supported by a sort of arm or stem, and on this part they walked, the fins themselves looking like hands. On trying to catch one, Captain Spencer saw it swell itself out till it looked like a ball on four feet, of a yellowish brown with black stripes. Gipsy seemed to think that she was also come to the beach to look for what might be found, and ran about with her nose close to the sand; at last she stopped and began scratching with all her might, and her master attracted by this came to her assistance. To his great delight he found it was the trunk which contained his clothes, and which he emptied; but as he carried them to the cave, and saw the pile of articles which he had selected, he was sure he could not secure

*Chironectes.