Davy shipped a crew of six men, and
started in his whaleboat for the island; but the wind was blowing
hard from the west, and they did not arrive at the island until next
day. The blacks had then all disappeared; and, as the men wanted
something to eat, Davy told them to dig up some potatoes, while he
went and shot six rabbits. When he returned with his game, the men
said they could not find any potatoes. He said, "That's all
nonsense," and went himself to the garden; but he could not find one
potato. The blackfellows had shipped the whole crop in their canoes,
so that there was nothing but rabbit for breakfast.
In this manner the reign of the Page dynasty came to an abrupt
termination. The baby heir-apparent grew up to man's estate as a
private citizen, and became a fisherman at Williamstown.
UNTIL THE GOLDEN DAWN.
After Mr. Latrobe's short visit to Port Albert, Gippsland was for
many years ruled by Mr. Tyers with an authority almost royal. Davy,
after his first rebellious outburst at the burning of the huts, and
his subsequent appointment as pilot, retired to the new Port Albert
and avoided as much as possible the haunts of the commissioner. On
the salt water he was almost as powerful and imperious as was his
rival by land. He ruled over all ships and shipwrecks, and allowed
no man to say him nay.
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