Page 367 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

CHAPTER IX. JOHN

REX’S LETTER HOME.

he ‘little gathering’ of which Major Vickers had spoken
Tto Mr. Meekin, had grown into something larger than
he had anticipated. Instead of a quiet dinner at which his
own household, his daughter’s betrothed, and the stranger
clergyman only should be present, the Major found him-
self entangled with Mesdames Protherick and Jellicoe, Mr.
McNab of the garrison, and Mr. Pounce of the civil list. His
quiet Christmas dinner had grown into an evening party.
The conversation was on the usual topic.
‘Heard anything about that fellow Dawes?’ asked Mr.
Pounce.
‘Not yet,’ says Frere, sulkily, ‘but he won’t be out long. I’ve
got a dozen men up the mountain.’
‘I suppose it is not easy for a prisoner to make good his
escape?’ says Meekin.
‘Oh, he needn’t be caught,’ says Frere, ‘if that’s what you
mean; but he’ll starve instead. The bushranging days are
over now, and it’s a precious poor look-out for any man to
live upon luck in the bush.’
‘Indeed, yes,’ says Mr. Pounce, lapping his soup. ‘This is-
land seems specially adapted by Providence for a convict
settlement; for with an admirable climate, it carries little

For the Term of His Natural Life