The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-22
Chapter VI.
SYDNEY BAY,


Ihe refreshments Of the sound to people
grown weary by long months OF salt
water can only be realized by those who
have experienced it. The announcement
runs through the ship like q shout OF fire,
and instantly every body on board is
a-bustle. The passengers flock up on
deck, armed with every variety of per-
spective glass to search the watery waste
ahead for the blue shadow of coast which.
from the elevation of the deck, still lies
far beneath the horizon. The watch be-
low turn out of their hunks and ham
mock to tumble up and have a look, the
cook-usually black man in red stock
ing cap-puts his head out of the galley
door tosquint over the bows; the old stagers
fall a-snit1ing and declare that they can
smell the loan; the first yoyagers are all
eagerness to catch q sight of the new
land about which they have been dream
ing for weeks past; the inevitable ship
board dog sets up its throat in pro-
longed yeip, as though agitated by the
general excitement; the captain grows
anxious, and the mates become FESTIVE;
flags, whose gay bunting has lain hidden
away the whole voyage, are brought out
and run aloft to peak masthead; there is
q metallic rafting of anchors and cables
being got ready upon the forecastle; and
the figure of the leadsman, sounding line
in hand, is seen posted in the forechains.
1t was shortly after noon, upon as fair
an October day as ever Shone in the early
Polynesian spring, that the dim, cloud
like shadow of the land rose into view
from the deck of the Strathnarin; hover
ing, as it seemed a hair breadth above
the hard violet rim of the sea line, and
almost merging into the faint azure Of
the sky beyond its confines. There was
a brisk breeze blowing that set the wide
blue sea dancing III little glittering
waveiets; and under her full breasts of
canvas the fine ship sheered through the
translucent brine, that went streaming
away from under her black bends in
some faithful creature which had just
scented the goal she had been for months
in quest of, and was pushing forward
with every instinct bristllng as she
neared the conclusion of her mission.
Among the crowd of spectators that
lined the bulwark rail. standing side by
side as usual, were Charles Rawlings and
Marion Marston. They gazed intently
towards the growing outline Of the land,
seldom speaking. Presently Captain
Sturgess crossed over to that part of the
deck upon which they stood, and posted
himself alongside of them, levelling his
telescope for long stare ahead.
We'll, Miss Marston," said he, when
he had finished his survey, "yonder lies
Sydney, you see.
''When shall we get in?'' she asked.
1T looks a great way off yet"
'tWhy," answered he, casting his eyes
down at the passing water. as though to
measure the vessels rate of speed, 1--WE
certainly ought to pass through the
Heads and enter the Boy before sun
down. But il the wind fails shall not
go in till tomorrow morning. I never
would attempt the passage Of the Heads
sr,4 l
CURED there but few years ago. when
large ship named the Dunbar was totally
lost with all hands, save one man, ow-
ing to the skipper endeayoring to sail in
during the night
''Do not let us end our prosperous voy-
age with a like calamity" said Miss
Marston.
"And what are you going to do for the
present, Mr.. Rawlings, after our arri-
val?'' continued the commander.
81 am going to stay with one of the
gentlemen on board-Mr. Hartree-un-
til l can learn something about myself -
"Well, let me know where you are. for
1 shall be very glad to be of all the ser.
vice to you that I can.
You are most kind, Captain, and /
can never be sufficiently grateful to you
for your generosity
Tut, tut!' exclaimed the hearty old
skipper and the chief officer coming up
at that moment to ask him question,
he walked with him to another part OF
the deck.
Throughout the afternoon the land con.
tinued to grow upon the sight, vivifying
in tints as the face of it gradually stole
out, until by about four o'clock it lay
not more than couple of leagues away;
tall and brown and rugged, with never
a break discernible along the whole line
OF it to indicate the entrance to Sydney
Bay. There were several little vessels
about, standing out to sea, evidently
bound away coastwise, with one large
barque among them, whose white sails
cleaned like meshes of pearl under the
westering sun, heading SO as to pass
athwart the path of the Strathnairn The
pilot boat was now in view. small,
open craft pulling out to meet the in
ward steering ship. Sailors were called at
to the braces, to lay the mainyard aback
whilst she came alongside. This was-the
first link OF communication with the
new country, and the people crowded to
the side to watch the pilot as he assembled
the gangway ladder. A very common
place looking individual after all, and
just such a man as might step aboard in
the Thames Docks, with his bow legs
and beefy countenance, cloth cap and
navy blue clothes. But the boat he came
in was manned by half dozen dusky
Kanakas, or South Sea Islanders, and this
to be sure was novel spectacle, and one
which the passengers stared at as though
they felt themselves very handsomely re-
paid for the trouble of twelve thousand
miles yoysgs by such privilege.
The pilot shook hands with the cap
tain, vociferously congratulated him upon
his safe arrival, and then fell to bawling
out orders to ill upon the ship again.
Another hour Of sailing brought the yes
sci quite close to the high and apparently
oyerhanging line of coast, with the wide
chine betwixt the Heads now visible in
yawning chasm, and the low roar Of the
surf upon the white sandy fringe Of beach
threading the soft steady hum of the
breeze. By this time the sun had sailed
low down In the sky, and the under edge
of il hung but Il little distance above the
brow of the land, which was sharply
limned against the clear heavens, glow
ing large and crimson, and rayless as the
African moon shining through vapors.
The ship floated quietly into the narrow
entrance, and then there burst upon the
delighted gaze of such of the passengers
as had never before visited this fairy-like
spot, perfect scene of enchantment-
a broad, calm lagoon, whose ripping wat
ers were growing violet in the coming
dusk, studded all over with little islands,
densely covered with vegetation, and
alive with the dronirg of myriads of To-