kind of thing;" and the two friends and partners again shook hands warmly; nor did the informality of their contract affect its being adhered to with integrity.
"What a splendid climate!" exclaimed Slinger, putting his head out of the port to enjoy the refreshing breeze, and then "By all that's powerful but there's something very like a steamer coming up astern."
Their preparations being all completed, they went on deck. A steamer was nearing them and a very small one too—a very Tom Thumb of steamers. After wheezing and puffing a great deal, the movement of the machinery being aided by the captain, who acted also as engineer, and added his own exertions to the two-and-a-half horse power of the engine, she was brought alongside to receive passengers. She was called the "Leviathan;" and was not the only example the Colony afforded of very contemptible things bearing magniloquent names.
The "Leviathan" having received three passengers, consisting of Hugh, Slinger, and a Mr. Weevel (a cabin passenger), and their luggage, started for the mouth of the Yarra—the town of Melbourne being situated on the left bank of that river, and by water, some five or six miles from the bay.
Mr. Weevel was a gentleman who had left England without any definite notion of the description of country to which he was consigning himself. He had once read a glowing work on India (Mr. W. was not a great reader), and his mind had never since been entirely free from the impression that all British possessions were necessarily somewhat alike. The idea he had conceived of Australia was that of a country where luxurious natives sat under shady groves by day, sipping oriental drinks and smoking genuine cigars; this pleasant life varied occasionally by a tiger hunt, in which the sportsman was effectually removed from all danger by being stationed in a strongly
