Orkney soon received the pleasing intelligence that his little
craft was safe in Sydney Harbour, but requiring some repairs. These
were completed with as much speed as possible, Mr. Orkney bearing
every expense, including that of the telegrams, which was
considerable. Again the miniature steamer proceeded from Sydney,
northward; but after some progress, Wyse, steering her into shallow
water, near shore, to anchor for the night, ran her on the
peak of the anchor, which made a hole in her bottom, and quite
incapacitated her from further service. Thus Mr. Orkney lost the
hope he entertained and the satisfaction he would have enjoyed, of
being serviceable to the lost explorers; but the credit due to him
is far from being diminished by his want of success, and the
patriotic effort deserves to be recorded to his eternal honour.
Through this incident I made his acquaintance, and ever since we
have been, and I hope shall continue to be, sincere friends.
My anxiety for my son's safety interfered with my attention to
ordinary professional avocations. I accordingly left Ballaarat for
a time, and continued in Melbourne, casting about to see how I
could render myself useful in the great object of my thoughts.
Pages:
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301