It is all very well to tell them about driving off the sheep and cattle and horses, and going to start a colony on our own account, but the soldiers would have been up to us before we had gone a day's journey.

Most of the fellows would have bolted directly they saw them.

As it is, I fancy only about a dozen have got away, perhaps not as many as that, and they are all men that one can rely upon.

One can feed a dozen without difficulty--a sheep a day would do it--and by giving a turn to each of the settlers, the animals won't be missed.

Besides, we shall want money if we are ever to get out of this cursed country.