Page:The Boy Travellers in Australasia.djvu/74

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
50
THE BOY TRAVELLERS IN AUSTRALASIA.

cused himself shortly afterwards to inform the youths of the change in their plans.

Of course they were delighted at the opportunity of making an acquaintance with the islands that were included in the Pera's proposed voyage, and earnestly congratulated themselves on their good-fortune.

AT HOME ON THE "PERA."

The baggage of the party was sent on board in the forenoon of the next day; the travellers followed it, and a little before two o'clock in the afternoon the Pera steamed out of Honolulu and headed southward. When she had made a good offing her engines were stopped, the fires were put out, and the yacht proceeded at a splendid pace with the strong trade-wind on her port beam. Her course was directed to the south-east, so as to enable her to cross the equator about longitude 140° west, and take advantage of the south-east trades in making the Marquesas.

Frank undertook a journal of the voyage; but like most works of the kind, it abounded in repetitions, and our space will not permit ex-