Australian Tales - Setis

knocked to pieces on the rocks.”
My appeal was effectual, for after promising to pay each other by-andbye,
they set to work in earnest, and aided by the crew, soon got the
drifted cargo up to windward, and afterwards shifted some of it aft, for it
had been ascertained that the ship was seriously out of trim; being
fourteen inches by the head, which accounted for her shipping seas over
the bows in such an unusual manner. After the vessel was properly
trimmed, and a skilful man sent to the helm, she went along comfortably,
and without further mishap, for she was a fine lively sea boat, and
sufficiently powerful to make headway against a hard gale, if properly
managed. But she had a narrow escape from total wreck that night,
through clumsy stowage in the first place, and afterwards through the
insane disposition of her officers, to wrangle and fight, when they should
have been using their utmost efforts to remedy their previous blunders,
and to rescue the ship from the critical position in which their
mismanagement had involved her.
After the sailors had fairly got to work, and I saw that my aid was not
further required, I assisted my friend down to the cabin; and as I changed
my wet clothing, I quietly chuckled at the various remarks of the scared
passengers around me, few of whom really understood the nature of the
disaster. While some blamed the captain, the ship, or the steersman,
others included everybody and everything on board in a general grumble;
but I remarked that only two or three of the more sensible sort went on
deck to see what was the actual state of affairs, or to offer a helping hand.
* * * * *
As I before remarked, many years have passed since that occurrence,
but analogous circumstances have often recalled it to my mind. In trying
to draw a parallel between that crippled steamer and the political
condition of the colony, I do not indulge a cynical spirit. I would rather
burn my pen than merely use it for the purpose of exposing the faults and
follies around me, with no better motive than to provoke a sneer at them.
Though I seldom trouble any one with my political opinions, I am far
from indifferent to subjects which it is the imperative duty of every man
to gain an intelligent insight into; and saying that, is virtually admitting
that I have been often pained at the waste of time and talent in our
Legislative Assembly, which I could not fail to observe.
Often as I have glanced over reports of stormy debates in the House,
have I thought of the two belligerent mates, with the careless crew
watching them sparring, while the poor captain was at the helm shouting
himself hoarse, to no purpose, and have wished that I could step on to the
floor of the House, between the contending parties, and say earnestly, but
politely, “Gentlemen, for mercy's sake attend to the important business