Page 178 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

dent willingness to work. He never ceased to hurry and find
fault with him. He vowed that he was lazy, sulky, or im-
pertinent. It was ‘Rex, come here! Do this! Do that!’ As the
prisoners declared among themselves, it was evident that
Mr. Frere had a ‘down’ on the ‘Dandy”. The day before the
Ladybird sailed, Rex—rejoicing in the hope of speedy de-
parture—had suffered himself to reply to some more than
usually galling remark and Mr. Frere had complained to
Vickers. ‘The fellow’s too ready to get away,’ said he. ‘Let
him stop for the Osprey, it will be a lesson to him.’ Vick-
ers assented, and John Rex was informed that he was not to
sail with the first party. His comrades vowed that this order
was an act of tyranny; but he himself said nothing. He only
redoubled his activity, and—despite all his wish to the con-
trary—Frere was unable to find fault. He even took credit
to himself for ‘taming’ the convict’s spirit, and pointed out
Rex—silent and obedient—as a proof of the excellence of
severe measures. To the convicts, however, who knew John
Rex better, this silent activity was ominous. He returned
with the rest, however, on the evening of the 13th, in ap-
parently cheerful mood. Indeed Mr. Frere, who, wearied by
the delay, had decided to take the whale-boat in which the
prisoners had returned, and catch a few fish before dinner,
observed him laughing with some of the others, and again
congratulated himself.
The time wore on. Darkness was closing in, and Mr.
Bates, walking the deck, kept a look-out for the boat, with
the intention of weighing anchor and making for the Bar.
All was secure. Mrs. Vickers and the child were safely below.

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