I don't want to turn the settlers against us, for they have all got horses, and might combine with the troops to give chase, so it would be best to leave them alone, at any rate till we get back again.

Another reason for treating them gently is that even if they did not join the troops they might get into a funk, and drive their sheep and horses down into Sydney, and then we should mighty soon get short of food.

It will be quite time enough to draw upon them heavily when we make up our minds to get hold of a ship and sail away.

Money would be of no use to us here, but we shall want it when we get to a port, wherever that port may be." "That sounds right enough, Captain," one of the convicts said, "and just at present nothing would suit me better than to get so far away from this place that I can lay on my back and take it easy for a spell." There was a general chorus of assent, and there being neither tobacco nor spirits, the party very soon stretched themselves off to sleep round the fire.
In the morning they were up before daylight, and half an hour later arrived at one of the farms farthest from Sydney.

Here they found a flock of a hundred sheep.