Page 368 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

indigenous vegetation which will support human life.’
‘Wull,’ said McNab to Sylvia, ‘I don’t think Prauvidence
had any thocht o’ caunveect deesiplin whun He created the
cauleny o’ Van Deemen’s Lan’.’
‘Neither do I,’ said Sylvia.
‘I don’t know,’ says Mrs. Protherick. ‘Poor Protherick
used often to say that it seemed as if some Almighty Hand
had planned the Penal Settlements round the coast, the
country is so delightfully barren.’
‘Ay, Port Arthur couldn’t have been better if it had been
made on purpose,’ says Frere; ‘and all up the coast from
Tenby to St. Helen’s there isn’t a scrap for human being to
make a meal on. The West Coast is worse. By George, sir, in
the old days, I remember—‘
‘By the way,’ says Meekin, ‘I’ve got something to show
you. Rex’s confession. I brought it down on purpose.’
‘Rex’s confession!’
‘His account of his adventures after he left Macquarie
Harbour. I am going to send it to the Bishop.’
‘Oh, I should like to see it,’ said Sylvia, with heightened
colour. ‘The story of these unhappy men has a personal in-
terest for me.’
‘A forbidden subject, Poppet.’
‘No, papa, not altogether forbidden; for it does not af-
fect me now as it used to do. You must let me read it, Mr.
Meekin.’
‘A pack of lies, I expect,’ said Frere, with a scowl. ‘That
scoundrel Rex couldn’t tell the truth to save his life.’
‘You misjudge him, Captain Frere,’ said Meekin. ‘All the