irches 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 sentry thus secured； Cheshire； as if in pursuance of a preconcerted plan； leapt down the after hatchway； and passed up the muskets from the arm…racks to Lesly and Russen。 There were three muskets in addition to the one taken from the sentry； and Barker； leaving his prisoner in charge of Fair； seized one of them； and ran to the companion ladder。 Russen； left unarmed by this manoeuvre； appeared to know his own duty。 He came back to the forecastle； and passing behind the listening soldier； touched the singer on the shoulder。 This was the appointed signal； and John Rex； suddenly terminating his song with a laugh； presented his fist in the face of the gaping Grimes。 〃No noise！〃 he cried。 〃The brig's ours〃； and ere Grimes could reply； he was seized by Lyon and Riley； and bound securely。
〃Come on； lads！〃 says Rex； 〃and pass the prisoner down here。 We've got her this time； I'll go bail！〃 In obedience to this order； the now gagged sentry was flung down the fore hatchway； and the hatch secured。 〃Stand on the hatchway； Porter；〃 cries Rex again； 〃and if those fellows come up； knock 'em down with a handspoke。 Lesly and Russen； forward to the companion ladder！ Lyon； keep a look…out for the boat； and if she comes too near； fire！〃
As he spoke the report of the first musket rang out。 Barker had apparently fired up the companion hatchway。
* * * * * *
When Mr。 Bates had gone below； he found Sylvia curled upon the cushions of the state…room； reading。 〃Well； missy！〃 he said； 〃we'll soon be on our way to papa。〃
Sylvia answered by asking a question altogether foreign to the subject。 〃Mr。 Bates；〃 said she； pushing the hair out of her blue eyes； 〃what's a coracle？〃
〃A which？〃 asked Mr。 Bates。
〃A coracle。 C…o…r…a…c…l…e；〃 said she； spelling it slowly。 〃I want to know。〃
The bewildered Bates shook his head。 〃Never heard of one； missy；〃 said he； bending over the book。 〃What does it say？〃
〃'The Ancient Britons；'〃 said Sylvia； reading gravely； 〃'were little better than Barbarians。 They painted their bodies with Woad'that's blue stuff； you know； Mr。 Bates'and； seated in their light coracles of skin stretched upon slender wooden frames； must have presented a wild and savage appearance。'〃
〃Hah；〃 said Mr。 Bates； when this remarkable passage was read to him； 〃that's very mysterious； that is。 A corricle； a cory 〃a bright light burst upon him。 〃A curricle you mean； missy！ It's a carriage！ I've seen 'em in Hy' Park； with young bloods a…drivin' of 'em。〃
〃What are young bloods？〃 asked Sylvia； rushing at this 〃new opening〃。
〃Oh； nobs！ Swell coves； don't you know；〃 returned poor Bates； thus again attacked。 〃Young men o' fortune that is； that's given to doing it grand。〃
〃I see；〃 said Sylvia； waving her little hand graciously。 〃Noblemen and Princes and that sort of people。 Quite so。 But what about coracle？〃
〃Well；〃 said the humbled Bates； 〃I think it's a carriage； missy。 A sort of Pheayton； as they call it。〃
Sylvia； hardly satisfied； returned to the book。 It was a little mean…looking volumea 〃Child's History of England〃and after perusing it awhile with knitted brows； she burst into a childish laugh。
〃Why； my dear Mr。 Bates！〃 she cried； waving the History above her head in triumph； 〃what a pair of geese we are！ A carriage！ Oh you silly man！ It's a boat！〃
〃Is it？〃 said Mr。 Bates； in admiration of the intelligence of his companion。 〃Who'd ha' thought that now？ Why couldn't they call it a boat at once； then； and ha' done with it？〃 and he was about to laugh also； when； raising his eyes； he saw in the open doorway the figure of James Barker； with a musket in his hand。
〃Hallo！ What's this？ What do you do here； sir？〃
〃Sorry to disturb yer；〃 says the convict； with a grin； 〃but you must come along o' me； Mr。 Bates。〃
Bates； at once comprehending that some terrible misfortune had occurred； did not lose his presence of mind。 One of the cushions of the couch was under his right hand； and snatching it up he flung it across the little c