John Boyle O'Reilly

“ There is never a stone in its bed great enough to break the surface into a whirl or ripple. Its water turns no busy wheels. Along its banks are seen no thriving homesteads. Here and there, in the shallows, a black man, with upraised spear, stands still as an ebony statue, while his wives and children sit upon the shaded rocks on the shore, and silently watch his skilful fishing. ”

“ Little spoke to her about the voyage.
"You brought us back a man we wanted in this colony, Miss Walmsley," he said; "the man who has made the country worth living in."
"Mr. Wyville—yes," said Alice confidently; "he could ill be spared from any country."
"No, I don't mean Wyville; I mean Mr. Sheridan—Agent Sheridan, we call him,"
"Yes, sir," said Alice, her eyes lowered to the table.
"He's the cleverest man that ever came to this colony," said the well-meaning farmer; "I hope he'll get married and settle down here for life." ”

“ Presently, without a quiver of warning, the statue moves its arm, the long spear is driven under water like a flash, and is raised to bear ashore its prize of a wide-backed plaice. Along the wooded banks, the kangaroo nibbles the fresh grass, and the bright-skinned carpet snake dives into the pleasant water, that has become almost his second home. ”