COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
417 
Having thus taken all possible precaution, is2o. 
our people returned on board to pass the night. Sept. 21 . 
My anxiety, however, prevented my retiring to 
bed so early, and I continued watching our pro- 
perty in the momentary expectation of something 
occurring. The moon was fortunately at her 
full, and shone sufficiently bright to enable me 
to distinguish any moving object near the tent. 
At eight o’clock a light was suddenly observed 
on the summit of the hill that rises over the 
beach ; but, after being stationary for ten mi- 
nutes, it disappeared: at first, it was thought 
to be a native’s fire; and afterwards it was 
suspected to be occasioned by an insect. At 
midnight, as the light had not again been seen, 
I retired to rest, leaving a watch on the deck 
to give alarm, should any thing occur; but, 
in less than an hour, was disturbed by the cry, 
“ The tent’s on fire !” On reaching the deck 
I found the alarm had not been made without 
reason, for a flame was actually blazing close 
to them. 
At the first appearance of the flames, two 
musquets were fired in the direction of them, 
and our people were immediately landed. On 
reaching the tent every thing was secure and 
quiet, but the fire was still burning at about 
twenty yards behind it. Having cautiously ap- 
Vol. I. 2 E 
