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[Page 4]
Sat - 1 pm - We have seen no more of the submarines AE1 & AE2 They have gone on ahead -
We came to Tacking Point which is on the coast near Port Macquarie - Presently we saw the smoke of a boat - low down - We made her out as a gun boat - She was the gunboat 'Protector' - We slowed & she came up – signaled & past us -
Presently the captain came up & said "Its follow your leader "– to Palm Island – Palm Island is 46 m North of Townsville – no settlement - In case we separate that is our rendezvous - In this tub we shall take 5 dys or more covering the 900 miles to Palm Island - P - Island is on the Barrier Reef – 40 miles from the mainland -
Well, we'll get our sea legs & get things fitted up - We ought to have had 2 - 3 carpenters – one is not enough - There's a galley to be made on deck - men's quarters to have more bunks in them - my dispensary shelves & only one man to do it - He wont rest anyway -
I'm looking at what I've got & seeing how I can make shift - I do think that we've done fairly well for a body of men chucked together suddenly - some of us with a few hours notice & things are fairly shipshaped - ee have 3 months provisions & a lot of sheep so we shant go short -
Monday Aug 31 - 14
We put in a quiet day - The gunboat was leading & we just followed the whole of Sunday - Two boats going South were signaled but they held on & took no notice -
Monday mg - Captain & I inspected the ship - This just suits me & my sense of cleanliness, punctuality & order = We're going to have our boat clean & shipshape - tub though she is & the men will be well & fit for duty if I've any say in the matter - This aftn we got a couple of revolvers & had