Page 542 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

they feel out-wearied. No one pursuing, they light a fire,
and sleep. The second day they come to a sandy spit that
runs out into the sea, and find that they have got too far to
the eastward, and must follow the shore line to East Bay
Neck. Back through the scrub they drag their heavy feet.
That night they eat the last crumb of the loaf. The third day
at high noon—after some toilsome walking—they reach a
big hill, now called Collins’ Mount, and see the upper link
of the earring, the isthmus of East Bay Neck, at their feet.
A few rocks are on their right hand, and blue in the lovely
distance lies hated Maria Island. ‘We must keep well to the
eastward,’ said Greenhill, ‘or we shall fall in with the settlers
and get taken.’ So, passing the isthmus, they strike into the
bush along the shore, and tightening their belts over their
gnawing bellies, camp under some low-lying hills.
The fourth day is notable for the indisposition of Boden-
ham, who is a bad walker, and, falling behind, delays the
party by frequent cooees. Gabbett threatens him with a
worse fate than sore feet if he lingers. Luckily, that evening
Greenhill espies a hut, but, not trusting to the friendship of
the occupant, they wait until he quits it in the morning, and
then send Vetch to forage. Vetch, secretly congratulating
himself on having by his counsel prevented violence, re-
turns bending under half a bag of flour. ‘You’d better carry
the flour,’ said he to Gabbett, ‘and give me the axe.’ Gabbett
eyes him for a while, as if struck by his puny form, but fi-
nally gives the axe to his mate Sanders. That day they creep
along cautiously between the sea and the hills, camping at
a creek. Vetch, after much search, finds a handful of berries,

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