CHAPTER SIX.
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
The voyage was long but uneventful. They sailed on, in fine weather,down and down into hot inter-tropical sunshine, and reached the Cape,took in fresh stores, and then sailed on south, so as to get into theregion where the winds are chill, but blow strongly in the rightdirection, carrying the big ship onward in its course.
Week succeeded week in slow monotony, broken by a little rough weather,but that was all. The soldiers were drilled on deck till Nic prettywell knew the ordinary routine, and Lieutenant Lance laughingly askedhim if he would like to take command. The convicts came up morning bymorning and had their exercise in the old monotonous way; and Nic wentround with the doctor to see the men in their quarters and visitpatients. But there was no rising or mutiny, nothing to break the evencourse of the voyage but a little tossing among the huge waves that camerolling from the south-west, threatening to engulf the ship, but onlydived beneath it, raising it upon a rolling bill, and then glidingonward to give room to the next. Nic saw the albatross till he wastired of watching its gliding flight. He fished and had very badfortune, but better when he joined in with the sailors, whogood-humouredly made room for him to help haul after they had hooked ashark, drawn the fierce fellow alongside, sent a loop down over its headright to the narrow part in front of the tail, and so got a double hold.
Then came the evening when all was excitement, for the skipper announcedat supper that in all probability they would see land next morning, anda thrill ran through every breast.
He was correct: land was in sight at daybreak, and Nic was standing ondeck to see it, hardly willing to be dragged away to breakfast, and backagain with Lady O'Hara and the officers, all eager after their long,long voyage--for ships did not reach Australia in less than six weeks inthe days of King George the Third--to see the land that was to be theirhome for many months, in some cases years, to come.
That afternoon they sailed out of the rough water between the greatheadlands into the lake-like expanse of the glorious harbour; and beforelong, after signalling, boats were seen approaching, their white sailsglistening in the clear air.
"Smell, Nic," said Lady O'Hara, "home at last, boy! What do you thinkof the sunny land?"
"Think?" cried Nic huskily--"it is glorious! I never saw the sky soblue, the land so green, and everything so beautiful. But pray, praydon't talk to me. I want to try and make out whether my father is inany of those boats."
"I should say yes: in that," said Lady O'Hara, who spoke in a deep,subdued voice.
"Which--which?" cried Nic.
"That one, with the union jack at the stern."
"What, with the men in white?"
"Yes; it is the boat from the man-o'-war yonder. The governor is in it,please God; and your father, as his friend, will most likely be withhim."
Just then one of the officers handed her a telescope, and went forwardto order up a guard of men to receive the governor.
Lady O'Hara did not seem herself. She was no longer the bluff;outspoken woman, but appeared trembling and nervous, as she stoodresting with one hand upon the rail.
"I can't use it to-day, Nic, boy," she said. "You try the glass."
Nic took it, rested it on the rail, had a long look, and focussed andre-focussed it, without avail.
"I--I can't see with it," he said huskily. "It is so dim. The glass isnot clear."
"Try again," said Lady O'Hara; and Nic looked at her sharply, her voicewas so changed.
But he raised the glass once more, and this time brought it steadily tobear upon the boat rowed by the man-of-war's men.
"Now, Nic, tell me what you see," said Lady O'Hara. "Some soldiers withmuskets and bayonets. I can see the scarlet quite plain."
"Yes, yes: the marines. What else?"
"There's an officer just in front of the flag."
"One officer?"
"Stop a minute. Yes, there's another: he seems to me a bigger man."
"Look--look again."
"It's so far off that I can't quite make out, and the glass won't keepsteady; but I think he has a big white beard. Yes, and he has taken offhis hat. His head is white."
Lady O'Hara half closed her eyes, and the captain, who was near, sawthat a smile came upon her lip.
"But you see some one else, Nic?" she said faintly.
"Yes," said the boy in a very husky voice; "but it must be a seaman:there is some one in a straw hat."
"And who will that be, Nic?"
"A sailor, I suppose."
"I do not say. Your father generally wore a straw hat. Can't you makeout his face?"
"No," said Nic, taking his eye from the glass quickly, and gazing at theboat, which seemed to have suddenly gone back some distance.
"I want to look without the glass," he added, after a minute or so; andthen, forgetful of the glorious panorama spread around beyond the bluelake-like harbour, he held on by the rail, gazing hard at theapproaching boat, seeing neither of the others, only that one with thewhite jacketed men who made the water flash at each dip of the oars.
Then by degrees Nic began to make out the faces, which grew clearer andclearer, till the figure wearing the straw hat rose up and waved it, andthe officer in uniform rose up then and took off his hat.
At that moment Nic was conscious of the fact that Lady O'Hara was closeby him, waving a white handkerchief.
Then he seemed to see nothing but a blurred picture of boats drawingnearer, as the great _Northumbrian_, with her sails hanging almostmotionless, glided slowly onward through the calm water.
He was conscious, though, of the gangway being manned, and of a guard ofsoldiers being drawn up to receive the governor, the officers and thecaptain and mates being ready too.
At last the boat came close in alongside; a sharp order was shouted, theguard presented arms, and a big burly grey officer stepped easily onboard, raised his hat to the officers, and then took Lady O'Hara's handsin his, gazed at her for a moment, and then quietly drew her arm throughhis, while she drew a deep, long breath, and stood there proud andhappy.
Nic just saw her, but only as it were out of the corner of his eye, forhe was tremblingly watching the gangway for the next comer--a tall,spare, grey, aquiline-looking man with face of a warm sun tan, and eyesthat seemed to pierce the boy through and through, as he held out hishand and cried "Father!"
"Yes, my boy. Then you knew me again? Why, Nic, lad, what a greatfellow you have grown! Lady O'Hara, welcome back."
"And glad to be back," cried the lady, shaking hands, and after a glanceat Nic, asking the question hovering on his lips, "And how are they atthe Bluff?"
"All well, and send loving greetings."
"Which I'll answer for myself, and very soon," cried the lady.
"And all well?" said the governor, with a look round as if addressingevery one.
Lady O'Hara answered.
"Yes, all well. An excellent voyage, and you'll thank the officers fortheir kindness to me and Dominic Braydon here. Gentlemen, I am goingashore in the boat, but I shall not say good-bye. My husband bids mesay that he will be glad to see every one who can leave the ship thisevening at dinner. What time, my dear?"
"Six, gentlemen," said the governor; and after a little officialbusiness the party descended into the boat, and, feeling as if it wereall a dream and impossible, Nic sat there being rowed ashore towardGovernment House, holding his father's hand for the first few minutestill he fancied that he was noticed, and then listening to him as hepointed out the various buildings ashore, and the vessels afloat, two ofthem being men-of-war, whose rigging was gay with bunting in honour ofthe governor's lady's return.
"Well, Nic," said his father at last, as they gazed searchingly in eachother's eyes, and with the most satisfactory result, "do you think youwill like Australia?"
"Like it?" cried Nic. "Why, of course, father: isn't it home?"
"Yes, but rather a rough, unpolished place."
"What does that matter!" said
Nic proudly. "Shan't I be with you allagain?"
First in the Field: A Story of New South Wales Page 6