Explore "Red O'Shaughnessy" by J.H.M. Abbott on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
THE days went slowly for O'Shaughnessy until the time came round for his master and himself to sail for Sydney in the Government schooner. He was kept busy with preparations for their departure, and when at last the subaltern officer arrived who was to relieve Captain Axthorpe temporarily in the command of the Coal River Settlement, during that gentleman's absence on leave for a fortnight at headquarters, he had all the Commandant's effects in good order and condition. They went on board the little vessel the night before she sailed, so as to be ready to take advantage of the ebb-tide in getting to sea at daylight on the following morning.
As the sun rose, they drifted over the bar and came abreast of the Coal Island, where a gentle nor'-easter filled the schooner's sails, as she came round on to her course towards the south. The flag on its tall mast at the signal station on Collier's Point--the site of the present Fort Scratchley--was dipped in honor of the Commandant, as they began the voyage to Port Jackson, and duly answered from the schooner. They saw the curling spirals of blue smoke eddying up into the sunny morning from the breakfast fires of the little village as they slipped past it at sea, and standing on the fo'c'sle-head, O'Shaughnessy waved a hand in derisive farewell as he muttered to himself: "Good luck to ye, Newcastle, an' 'tis Ned O'Shaughnessy wouldn't give a tinker's damn if he niver saw ye again."