"How many times have you fired before ?" "Never till to-day, only little brass cannons," said Nic.
"And they're poor things for educating the hand and eye," said the lady.
"Shooting looks easy, Dominic.

You think you have only to pull the trigger; but it's like other things, my boy, it wants learning." They walked back into the shop, where the guns and rifles selected were ordered to be packed with an ample supply of the best flints and ammunition in proper cases for the journey; and the gunmaker smiled his thanks, and wished for more masculine lady customers.
There were more peaceful purchases to be made, though.

Cases of seeds were ordered, and the seedsman undertook to pack and send in the autumn a couple of bundles of fruit trees for experimental purposes.
"For I want your father to try and make a good English garden out there, Dominic," said Lady O'Hara enthusiastically.

"Australia must become the home of many of our people; and though it is right on the other side of the world, we don't want it to remain foreign, but English." Those four weeks went like magic, and when only two days remained the list of purchases was pretty well complete, and included horses, cows, and sheep of select kinds, and a couple of retrievers, setters, and Scotch collie dogs.
They had been twice to the East India Docks, from which the ship was to sail, and now another visit was to be paid to make sure that the various packages had been delivered on board, to see to the live stock, and to have another look at the cabin.
"There, Dominic," said her ladyship at last, "I think I may say that I have--that we have--done all our work.

Now two days to pay a few visits, and then we go on board for our long, long journey.