Australian Tales - Setis

in the boat (which was a man-of-war's launch), but they did not change
their course.
“They hear us plain enoo, but they are na cooming to our help,” said
Mr. M'Faddle; “skreel again, girls, an wave yer linen.”
Another screeching chorus shook the island, accompanied by a
fluttering of white handkerchiefs in the wind, when all the sailors stood
up in the boat, whirled their hats in the air, and shouted hurrah! hurrah!
hurrah! until their cheers died away in the distance. The jolly tars
evidently mistook the cries of distress, for an enthusiastic salute to their
pennant.
The discomfiture of the hungry excursionists for the next three hours
was trying in the extreme. A little before sundown they attracted the
notice of a boat bound to Sydney with a cargo of fish. The humane
fishermen quickly embarked the shivering party, who huddled together
among the schnappers and flathead, which furnished very cool seats,
although rather slippery. Soon afterwards they all landed at Soldiers'
Point, looking as weather-beaten as shipwrecked sailors. The next day
their boat was found on the rocks in Mossman's Bay, badly damaged, and
with sails blown to pieces; their provisions, also, were damaged by the
combined influence of saltwater and sunbeams.
It will probably be long before those sufferers forget that day's treat, or
before Twist's cousin will again lend his ship's boat. Mr. M'Faddle,
however, gained wisdom by the mishap, for he declares he will in future
“keep his weather eye open,” but especially when he goes into a boat. I
heartily commend his resolution to all novices who venture on to the
tempting, though somewhat treacherous waters of Port Jackson; and I
also advise them, in sultry, north-west winds to “look out for squalls.”