Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-11-08
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A. was unucr UrlII1dnr rnOOu, HOW
ever, that Tom had his last glimpse OF
the town for several months to come.
Nor did he ever see its sad~sights again
with the same startled eyes nor hear
its sad sounds with the same thrill OF
horror. 1t was a different nature-it
was another man--that came back to
Sydney after many weeks.
The exodus In the meanwhile proved
q pleasanter experience than had at
frst appeared possible. The small ad-
venture ut the Bull and Tumbledown
had established some degree Of mu-
tual regard between Mr. Nat and his
new groom. Their ride up country
spread over the better part Of a week.
during which time the master suffered
more than once as he had been suffer-
Ing when the man first met him. But
In the intervals he treated Tom with q
certain stupid good humor, which,
however, never for a moment conceal
ed the capacity for an equally stupid
cruelty, and the nearest approach TO q
quarrel on the way was occasioned by
the brutal beating of the pack horse,
in which Tom interfered. They were
good friends, however, on the whole,
and once or twice Mr. Nat made quite
al interesting guide. In Parramatta
he pointed out large building, like a
poorhouse, and offered to wait outside
while Tom went in to choose wife.
"a wifew said Tom, with shudder.
"What is the placer
"They call it factory. 1t is for the
women what Hyde Park barracks are
to you fellows. They go there till
they're assigned and afterward when
they're turned into government. Cut
in and take your choice. Pm not jok-
ing. I've chosen 'em for our men be-
fore today, and you're the sort that
deserves one Get a lightweight, and
we'll take her up on the pack horse"
Tom shook his head and thought of
Claire until they stopped at an inn
where q new surprise awaited him.
The resplendent landlord stared when
he saw Tom and tilted white top hat
over his eyes, but not before the latter
had recognized fellow convict per
Seahorse. They had parted in the bar
rack yard, where Tom had seen the
other carried off by gorgeous female
In q nankeen pelisse and bright green
veil, to whom he had been assigned.
w., 9TH a crltr Of q
keen pelisse in the bar parlor, and as
he rode away he asked Mr.. Nat wheth-
err convicts were ever assigned to their
wives.
"They have been often enough" was
the reply, "but it's being put a stop to
now. Why, some of the best shops in
Sydney are carried on by cOnvicts as
signed to their wives and on capital
which was originally the proceeds of
the robbery the husband was Jagged
for! The wife brings 1t out and is here
to meet him when he lands! At least
that used to be the dodge, but BOurke
tried hard to put his foot on it, and If
you hear of case just let me know"
So Tom said no more.
But the most interesting roadside
character was encountered at con-
tractors store much farther on the
way, where Mr.. Sullivan nudged Tom
and made him take note Of a portly
man in a magnificent waistcoat, who
sang a song in the most charming BARI
tone while the travellers were having
their supper.
"Do you know who that was" said
Toms master when they were once
more on their way. "That was Hunt
the accomplice of Thurtell, who MUIR
dered a man called Weare. You re-
member it, do you? Well, that's the
man, and he just bears out what / say
we don't care kick what convict
has done in the old country so long as
he don't go doing it again out here.
But there, keep forgetting you're one
yourself Somehow or other you're not
like the rest, and you take my advice
and go on like you've begun" AS he
paused the voice Of Hunt was waited
to their ears in new song that died
very sweetly on the soft night air.
The latter stages of the journey were
marked by looks Of recognition wher-
ever young Sullivan baited his horses,
but by never a single look Of welcome,
and an ominous climax was reached
when the little cavalcade passed
stockade and chain gang within
twenty miles Of their destination.
Here was long line of heavily ironed
men, some eighty in all, strung togeth-
er like beads on rosary and at work
with pick and shovel beneath the burn
ing sun and the eyes and muskets OF
the military. AS the riders approach
ed word seemed to 60 along the line,
and face after face was raised with
curse and howl as the horses passed.
Such faces as they We're! Tom had
not seen the like in Newgate, nor
aboard the Seahorse, nor yet. In such
a number, in Sydney itself. Those, on
the whole, were only on the lower
slopes of degradation, but these had
reached its lowest depths, and Tom
rode by them with an aching heart
and averted eyes.
His attention, indeed, became concen-
trated upon his companion, who had
checked his horse instead Of urging 1t
forward and was walking instead OF
galloping this horrible gauntlet. Tom
could see but one sunburnt cheek and
one cold blue eye, but the first kept Its
color, the second never finched, and
The gross lip that jutted out between
beard and mustache never quivered
,nce all the way. Nor until he was
we'll past the gang did Mr.. Nat put
,nu-s to his horse. but when he did 1t