t think, however,
that you will discover any exaggerations. Some of the events narrated
are doubtless tragic and terrible; but I hold it needful to my purpose
to record them, for they are events which have actually occurred, and
which, if the blunders which produced them be repeated, must infallibly
occur again. It is true that the British Government have ceased to
deport the criminals of England, but the method of punishment, of which
that deportation was a part, is still in existence. Port Blair is a Port
Arthur filled with Indian-men instead of Englishmen; and, within the
last year, France has established, at New Caledonia, a penal settlement
which will, in the natural course of things, repeat in its annals the
history of Macquarie Harbour and of Norfolk Island.

With this brief preface I beg you to accept this work. I would that its
merits were equal either to your kindness or to my regard.

I am,

My dear Sir Charles,

Faithfully yours,

MARCUS CLARKE

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, MELBOURNE

CONTENTS

DEDICATION
PROLOGUE

BOOK I.--THE SEA. 1827.

I. THE PRISON SHIP
II. SARAH PURFOY
III. THE MONOTONY BREAKS
IV. THE HOSPITAL
V. THE BARRACOON
VI. THE FATE OF THE "HYDASPES"
VII. TYPHUS FEVER
VIII. A DANGEROUS CRISIS
IX. WOMAN'S WEAPONS
X. EIGHT BELLS
XI. DISCOVERIES AND CONFESSIONS
XII. A NEWSPAPER PARAGRAPH

BOOK II.--MACQUARIE HARBOUR. 1833.

I. THE TOPOGRAPHY OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND
II. THE SOLITARY OF "HELL'S GATES"
III. A SOCIAL EVENING
IV. THE BOLTER
V. SYLVIA
VI. A LEAP IN THE DARK
VII. THE LAST OF MACQUARIE HARBOUR
VIII. THE POWER OF THE WILDERNESS
IX. THE SEIZURE OF THE "OSPREY"
X. JOHN REX'S REVENGE
XI. LEFT AT "HELL'S GATES"
XII. "MR." DAWES
XIII. WHAT THE SEAWEED SUGGESTED
XIV. A WONDERFUL DAY'S WORK
XV. THE CORACLE
XVI. THE WRITING ON THE SAND
XVII. AT SEA

BOOK III.--PORT ARTHUR. 1838.

I. A LABOURER IN THE VINEYARD
II. SARAH PURFOY'S REQUEST
III. THE STORY OF TWO BIRDS OF PREY
IV. "THE NOTORIOUS DAWES"
V. MAURICE FRERE'S GOOD ANGEL
VI. MR. MEEKIN ADMINISTERS CONSOLATION
VII. RUFUS DAWES'S IDYLL
VIII. AN ESCAPE
IX. JOHN REX'S LETTER HOME
X. WHAT BECAME OF THE MUTINEERS OF THE "OSPREY"
XI. A RELIC OF MACQUARIE HARBOUR
X