Page:Australian Emigrant 1854.djvu/117

 for a change; take my advice, get ashore as soon as you can and dry yourself in the sun before evening, because it strikes me as likely that you wont get off the island for a day or two. I'm Dodge. When quite convenient to me a boat will be at the beach by the hut, and if you behave civilly, you will be taken on board, not else; let this lenient punishment act as a lesson upon you and the likes of you never to come to Westernport again after Old Dodge, or he will have recourse to severer measures than he has done in your case. Do you hear what I am saying?'

"The poor bailiff had now regained the mud flat, and I pulled the boat near him again, when he said 'Do not leave me here alone, dear Mr. Dodge, I will destroy the writ, I will do anything, O don't,—don't, I will stan suffin ansom, I will indeed, only take me back again.' 'Prisoner on the mud' said I impressively, 'do you think to tamper with me?—No! I'm a determined man, I am; it is a duty I owe to myself and to my friends at Westernport, to make an example of you; had I gone the entire animal, I should perhaps have given you a week of it, but in consideration of this being your first offence, I have allowed mercy to outweigh justice.' Here the ungrateful rascal had the audacity to cry out for more mercy. 'Why you greedy beast' said I, 'if you don't stop that dreadful noise, I shall have to give you a week yet. Now, I said, if you wish your sentence to be reconsidered, tell me how many writs you have for Westernport men?'

"Two Sir," he whimpered, besides your'n."

"Will you oblige me," said I, "by trying if they will float, just chuck 'em into the tide-way," and he did so. "All right" said I; "now get ashore the cleanest way—be as quick as you can, for the tide is making, and don't stop to thank me for my forbearance.—bye—bye;" and amidst a volley of entreaties