ly of food and clothing,
and whose aim seemed to be to take the utmost out of him at the least
possible expense. Driven at length to desperation, he, with three
fellow-servants, absconded; and when taken, made a complaint to the
magistrate, before whom they were brought almost without clothes. Their
statements were found to be literally correct; but for absconding, they
were sent to New Castle, one of the penal stations of New South Wales,
where Sears remained nearly two years. At the expiration of that time,
he was again assigned, but unfortunately to a man, if possible, worse
than his former employer, and again absconded. For this offence, he was
sent to Moreton Bay, another penal settlement, and endured three years
of horrible severity, starvation, and misery of every kind. His temper
was by this time much soured; and, roused by the conduct of the
overseers, he became brutalized by constant punishment for resisting
them. After this, he was sent to Sydney, as one of the crew in the
police-boat, of which he was soon made assistant cockswain. For not
reporting a theft committed by one of the men under his charge, he was
sentenced to a road-party; and attempting to escape from it, he was
apprehended, and again ordered to Moreton Bay for four years more. There
he was again repeatedly flogged for disobedience and resistance of
overseers, as well as attempting to escape; but having most courageously
rendered assistance to a vessel wrecked off the harbor, he attracted the
attention of the commandant, who afterwards shewed him a little favor.
This was the first approach to kindness he had known since when, years
before, he had left his home, and had its usual influence. He was never
again in a scrape there. His good-conduct induced the commandant to
recommend him for a mitigation of sentence, which he received, and he
was again employed in the police-boat. The free cockswain of the boat
was, however, a drunkard, and intrusted much to Sears. Oftentimes he
roused the men by his violence, but Sears contrived to subdue his
passion. At length, one night, returning to the hut, drunk, the man
struck at one of the crew with his cutlass, and the rest resisted and
disarmed him. But the morning came; the case was heard; their story was
disbelieved; and upon the charge and evidence of the aggressor, they
were sent to an ironed gang, to work on the public roads. When Sears
again became eligible for assignment, a person whom he had known in