AT FOOT OF THE SNOW MOUNTAINS 203 



cod, bit its neck so as to kill it, and put it by his side 

 on the reef. He then plunged his arm in for another 

 and got two fine fish out of the one small pool. That 

 was wonderful fishing from his point of view. 



Every day on our way to Thursday Island we 

 anchored at some little island. It would have perhaps 

 suited me better in one way to have pushed on, sailing 

 both day and night ; but I got a great deal of fun out 

 of the enjoyment of my boys at these intermediate 

 islands, and the generous feeding put them in good 

 heart for the hardships that were to follow. Besides, 

 in the South Seas there is none of the wild rush of a 

 civilised city. There are no trains to catch, no news- 

 papers to bring out, nothing to be done that must be 

 done now. It is a land of lots of time. 



Entering Thursday Island harbour I found all the 

 flags on the shipping flying at half-mast, and learnt 

 that this was in consequence of King Edward's death. 

 Of course I half-masted our vessel's flag and explained 

 to the boys why this mark of respect was shown. It 

 fell to me to convey the news of the death of King 

 Edward to Dutch New Guinea when I arrived there. 



At Thursday Island I completed the taking in of 

 my supply of provisions, shipping the stores that had 

 come up from Sydney mostly tinned foods, fish, 

 meat, and groceries. (At Samarai I had taken in 

 three tons of rice.) I found awaiting me at Thursday 

 Island letters of introduction from Burns Philp & Co., 

 to the Dutch authorities at Merauke. 



