Nic saw the albatross till he was tired of watching its gliding flight.

He fished and had very bad fortune, but better when he joined in with the sailors, who good-humouredly made room for him to help haul after they had hooked a shark, drawn the fierce fellow alongside, sent a loop down over its head right to the narrow part in front of the tail, and so got a double hold.
Then came the evening when all was excitement, for the skipper announced at supper that in all probability they would see land next morning, and a thrill ran through every breast.
He was correct: land was in sight at daybreak, and Nic was standing on deck to see it, hardly willing to be dragged away to breakfast, and back again with Lady O'Hara and the officers, all eager after their long, long voyage--for ships did not reach Australia in less than six weeks in the days of King George the Third--to see the land that was to be their home for many months, in some cases years, to come.
That afternoon they sailed out of the rough water between the great headlands into the lake-like expanse of the glorious harbour; and before long, after signalling, boats were seen approaching, their white sails glistening in the clear air.
"Smell, Nic," said Lady O'Hara, "home at last, boy! What do you think of the sunny land ?" "Think ?" cried Nic huskily--"it is glorious! I never saw the sky so blue, the land so green, and everything so beautiful.

But pray, pray don't talk to me.

I want to try and make out whether my father is in any of those boats." "I should say yes: in that," said Lady O'Hara, who spoke in a deep, subdued voice.
"Which--which ?" cried Nic.
"That one, with the union jack at the stern." "What, with the men in white ?" "Yes; it is the boat from the man-o'-war yonder.

The governor is in it, please God; and your father, as his friend, will most likely be with him." Just then one of the officers handed her a telescope, and went forward to order up a guard of men to receive the governor.
Lady O'Hara did not seem herself.