Married, the Roxburghs travel to Australia, visiting the black sheep of the family, Austin's brother Garnet. The dangerous character contrasts to sickly Austin, affecting Ellen in ways she is not entirely prepared for. Fleeing finally for England again the Roxburghs board the ill-fated Bristol Maid . The novel builds like a snowball to this point, and the payoff of the careful characterization starts here. With brilliant detachment White describes what happens as the ship founders and after.
Numerous deaths follow.
Only two finally survive the shipwreck and its aftermaths. Ellen is one of them. Her harrowing experiences among the aboriginal population are again very well done, culminating in her escape and rescue. Clinging to civilization in her fringe of leaves Ellen endures. It is in the final chapter, when she has regained civilization, that White's art shines true.