Rum was a curse to the convicts, immigrants, and natives. Its
average price was then about 4s. 3d. per gallon. The daily ration of
a soldier consisted of one pound of bread, one pound of fresh meat,
and one-seventh of a quart of rum. But on this day, to Mr. Tyers and
his men, the liquor was a perfect blessing. He was sitting on the
floor with his back to the slabs.
"You don't know me, Mat?"
"Know ye, is it? Sure I never clapped eyes on ye before, that I know
of. Are ye runaway Government men? Tell the truth, now, for I am
not the man to turn informer agin misfortunate craythurs like
yourselves."
"My name is Tyers. I passed this way, you may remember, not very long
ago."
"What! Mr. Tyers, the commissioner? Sure I didn't know you from
Adam. So ye never went to Gippsland at all?"
"Our horses got at the provisions and spoiled them; so we had to come
back, and we have had nothing to eat for three days. There is one
man somewhere behind yet; I am afraid he will lie down and die. Do
you think you could find him?"
"For the love of mercy, I'll try, anyway. Norah, dear, take care of
the poor fellows while I go and look for the other man; and mind,
only to give 'em a little food and drink at a time, or they'll kill
their wake stomachs with greediness; and see you all do just as Norah
tells you while I'm away, for you are no better than childer.
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