A Complete Account of the Settlement

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第6章

A Complete Account of the Settlement 佚名

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A Complete Account of the Settlement
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  LieutenantAbbot,andensignPrentice,oftheNewSouthWalescorps,werethetwoofficersundermycommand,andwiththreesergeants,threecorporals,andthirtyprivates,completedthedetachment.

  WeproceededdirectlytothefordsofthenortharmofBotanyBay,whichwehadcrossedinourlastexpedition,onthebanksofwhichwewerecompelledtowaituntilaquarterpasttwointhemorning,fortheebbofthetide.Asthesepassing-placesconsistonlyofnarrowslipsofground,oneachsideofwhicharedangerousholes;andasfordingriversinthenightisatalltimesanunpleasanttask,Ideterminedbeforeweenteredthewater,todisburthenthemenasmuchaspossible;thatincaseofsteppingwrongeveryonemightbeasready,ascircumstanceswouldadmit,torecoverhimself.

  Thefirelockandcartouche-boxwereallthatwecarried,thelattertiedfastonthetopofthehead,topreventitfrombeingwetted.Theknapsacks,etc.Ileftinchargeofasergeantandsixmen,whofromtheirlowstatureandothercauses,weremostlikelytoimpedeourmarch,thesuccessofwhichIknewhingedonourability,byarapidmovement,tosurprisethevillagebeforedaybreak.

  Thetworiverswerecrossedwithoutanymaterialaccident:andinpursuitofmyresolution,Iorderedtheguidestoconductusbythenearestroute,withoutheedingdifficulty,orimpedimentofroad.Havingcontinuedtopushalongtheriver-bankverybrisklyforthreequartersofanhour,weweresuddenlystoppedbyacreek,aboutsixtyyardswide,whichextendedtoourright,andappeareddryfromthetidebeingout:Iaskedifitcouldbepassed,orwhetheritwouldbebettertowheelroundtheheadofit.

  Ourguidesansweredthatitwasbadtocross,butmightbegotover,whichwouldsaveusmorethanaquarterofamile.Knowingthevalueoftime,Idirectlybadethemtopushthrough,andeveryonebegantofollowaswellashecould.Theywhowereforemosthadnot,however,gotabovehalfoverwhenthedifficultyofprogresswassensiblyexperienced.Wewereimmersed,nearlytothewaistinmud,sothickandtenacious,thatitwasnotwithoutthemostvigorousexertionofeverymuscleofthebody,thatthelegscouldbedisengaged.Whenwehadreachedthemiddle,ourdistressbecamenotonlymorepressing,butserious,andeachsucceedingstep,buriedusdeeper.Atlengthasergeantofgrenadiersstuckfast,anddeclaredhimselfincapableofmovingeitherforwardorbackward;andjustafter,EnsignPrenticeandIfeltourselvesinasimilarpredicament,closetogether.

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