Altogether the skein was too tangled for us to attempt to unravel it. They
had seen vessels evidently, both sailing ships and steamers, but whether it
was yesterday, or ten years back, there were no means of ascertaining; but
to make certain that we were not being deceived, we instituted a strict
overhaul of the gunyahs, in hopes of finding something that might give us a
clue to the fate of the missing men. When we broke up our circle for this
purpose, the component parts of the "heap" assumed an upright posture, and
it was remarkable to witness the awe with which they regarded Lizzie. At
first they seemed afraid to approach her, and stood some five yards
distant, watching her whilst she puffed out the smoke from her relighted
pipe, and posed herself in an attitude of becoming superiority, for she saw
clearly enough that the happy moment for making an impression had arrived.
Gradually they drew closer and closer, and at last, three of the eldest
gins going down on all fours, crept slowly up until close in front of her,
when they stopped, and buried their withered old faces in the sand at her
feet. After enjoying their humiliation for a few seconds, she condescended
to speak to them, and very shortly they were all chattering away on the
most amicable terms.

Meanwhile the gunyahs or native huts, and the camp, had been thoroughly
searched, but without bringing to light anything European, except a few
bottles, and a pint pot which had been accidentally left behind by one of
the party on the occasion of Lizzie's abduction. The gunyahs were better
constructed than usual, and consisted of saplings bent in an arch and
covered with tea-tree bark, a great improvement on all the native dwellings
we had hitherto seen, which were generally little better than a rude screen
against the wind. But our time was precious, for we carried but little
provision; and we could not afford to loiter about, even in so pleasant a
spot as this little bay; so, after dispatching a hasty dinner, we started
off afresh, to the immense relief of the gins, and got out of the valley by