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Chapter XIX. Afloat Once More—Among Friends—All's Well that Ends Well.

Next day we began for the third time to build a boat. Our former experience assisted us greatly in our present work. Several valuable tools had, however, been taken away along with the boat No. 2 by Jim Days, and of which we only now fully realized the loss. But we were in no wise disheartened, and though the job would take us much longer than the previous ones, our late good fortunate gave zest to our labor, and we went to work with a right good will.

It was well into the autumn again before everything was completed; but we would not put off our voyage again. A fair wind carried us clear of the shore, and we then altered our course and steered to the south. Instead of the cargo of seal-skins with which our first boat was loaded, and which had been stolen by the natives, our page 130 present little craft bore a freight worth twenty times as much. Gold to the amount of at least three thousand pounds was carefully wrapped up in canvas, and placed in a small locker at the stern. We still possessed our guns and a small supply of powder and shot. Of the curiosities brought from the cavern we had only the flag and two tomahawks left, the rest having been left in the boat with which Jim Days had bolted. As regards provisions, we had only dried fish and pigeons, or other birds, all our original stock of eatables brought from the wreck having vanished long ago.

Four days after starting on this our last voyage, we turned a long low point, beyond which the coast trended to the east. The same night the wind rose off the land, and despite our best exertions we were blown a long distance out to sea. In the morning no land was visible, but the wind having gone down we pulled towards the north-east. Next day about noon we again sighted land, this time almost due east.

By evening we were within a few miles of it, so we thought it best to lie-to until daylight, as the night came on very dark. Soon after daybreak, seeing no signs of any habitations, we altered our course almost due north, as I had no doubt but this must be Stewart's Island, which lay almost due south of the Bluff, a port in the sonthern extremity of the South Island of New Zealand; and reckoned that by crossing the straits, which I knew lay to the north of Stewart's Island and the Bluff, I should hit the latter place without difficulty.

Two days afterwards we sighted the South Island, and towards the afternoon we made out several houses on the beach. They proved to belong to several whalers, and most hospitably were we received by their inhabitants when we page 131 landed. Clean and substantial clothing was supplied us in the place of our present wofully dilapidated garments, and then, for the first time for many a long day, we feasted on wholesome bread and fresh mutton. Our story, especially that portion relative to the discovery of gold, created no little excitement amongst our worthy hosts, and when we showed them what we had gathered of the precious metal, they determined to pay a visit to the place next summer.

Another week, and we embarked in a sailing vessel for Dunedin, not before handsomely remunerating our kind friends at the whaling station for their attention to us. In three days, having been baffled by contrary winds, we landed at Dunedin—which, during the three years of our exile had grown wonderfully,—and proceeded to the same hotel at which we had stayed on our previous visit to the town.

Thus ended our adventures.

The after career of myself and companions may be told in a few words. We remained about a month at Dunedin, and then all embarked in the same ship and were landed safely in London. A few days afterwards we parted, never to meet again. Harry proceeded to Liverpool to join his friends; Moloney returned to Ireland, taking his parrot with him; and Hunter went to Yorkshire, where he found his mother still living. Spanish Joe intended going back to his own country, but whether he ever carried out his intention, I cannot say. As for myself, finding my father and mother both dead, I returned to my favorite element, the sea, and after a few years, finding I had amassed more than sufficient money to keep me in comfort for the remainder of my lifetime, I settled down in Canterbury, New Zealand. For the last two or three years I have been roaming about the different parts of the colony.

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But alas! I am getting old and feeble. I must stay at home from henceforth. Something has prompted me to have my three years' adventures on the south-west coast of New Zealand put on paper. A young acquaintance has kindly offered to get them published for me. Probably long before they are printed I shall be in my grave. Farewell, England! Farewell, New Zealand! May you always be prosperous, and your people happy, contented, and free!

The End

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