Page:Australian Emigrant 1854.djvu/63

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THE AUSTRALIAN EMIGRANT.
47

ple bolsterin of it up, and sendin 'em out in ship loads, the bone and muscle we could better employ here.—Wait a bit—our turn's a comin—we'll square accounts with 'em both yet. When I came here fust, not many months agone, yonder hill was a pastur for kangaroo and a huntin-ground for the natives; now there's more business done there, rough as it looks, than in any place in England of ten times the size. The plan you are staring at, young man, is correct enough; only, it is what Melbourne is going to be—not exactly what it is. I'll just give it five years," said the captain, prophetically. At the termination of that period, Melbourne had attained that degree of importance which position and natural advantages had marked out for it.




CHAPTER V.


The fare paid, our adventurers inquired of the captain what would be their best way of proceeding, and where they should deposit their luggage?

"Why," he said, "as to the matter of the luggage, get that put into some merchant's store; and, of course, at first you will stop at an inn—you haven't a tent. Suppose you try The Lamb.—Take care of your friend, there," he added to Hugh, as he pointed to Weevel:—poor fellow! he is uncommon green to be sure, and there's sharp customers in the settlement.—I'm a most afraid we shall have to put up a reglar quod here soon for some of 'em."

The luggage was piled on the bank, and Weevel directed to stand sentry over it, whilst Hugh and Slinger went in search