.? COAffrs O!? AUSTRALIA. 417 Having thus taken all possible precaution,' our people returned on board to' pass the night. My anxiety, bewever;?prevented my. retiring* to bed so early, and I continued watching our pro- petty 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, at?er being stationary for ten mi- nutes, it disappeared: at first, it was thought to be a native's fire; and ai?erwards it was suspected to be oceasioned 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 ?ing 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. ? E
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