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A Dreaded Country

           TheMacquariewasthusrazedlikeapontoon.

           Whenthelowermast,thetopmasts,andtheroyalsweresawnandsplit,theprincipalpiecesoftheraftwereready.Theywerethenjoinedtothefragmentsoftheforemastandthewholewasfastenedsecurelytogether.Johntooktheprecautiontoplaceintheintersticeshalfadozenemptybarrels,whichwouldraisethestructureabovethelevelofthewater.Onthisstrongfoundation,Wilsonlaidakindoffloorinopenwork,madeofthegratingsoffthehatches.Thespraycouldthendashontheraftwithoutstayingthere,andthepassengerswouldbekeptdry.Inadditiontothis,thehose-pipesfirmlylashedtogetherformedakindofcircularbarrierwhichprotectedthedeckfromthewaves.

           Thatmorning,Johnseeingthatthewindwasintheirfavor,riggeduptheroyal-yardinthemiddleoftheraftasamast.Itwasstayedwithshrouds,andcarriedamakeshiftsail.Alargebroad-bladedoarwasfixedbehindtoactasarudderincasethewindwassufficienttorequireit.Thegreatestpainshadbeenexpendedonstrengtheningtherafttoresisttheforceofthewaves,butthequestionremainedwhether,intheeventofachangeofwind,theycouldsteer,orindeed,whethertheycouldhopeevertoreachtheland.

           Atnineo’clocktheybegantoload.Firstcametheprovisions,inquantitysufficienttolasttilltheyshouldreachAuckland,fortheycouldnotcountontheproductionsofthisbarrenregion.

           Olbinett’sstoresfurnishedsomepreservedmeatwhichremainedofthepurchasemadefortheirvoyageintheMacquarie.

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