Chapter I: Front Matter

THE BLACK POLICE.

_A STORY OF MODERN AUSTRALIA._

BY
A. J. VOGAN.

_WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAP BY THE AUTHOR_

LONDON:
HUTCHINSON & CO.,
25, PATERNOSTER SQUARE.

[_All rights reserved._]

TO MY READERS.

In the following story I have endeavoured to depict some of the obscurer portions of Australia’s shadow side.

The scenes and main incidents employed are chiefly the result of my personal observations and experiences; the remainder are from perfectly reliable sources.

ARTHUR JAMES VOGAN.

TAURANGA, NEW ZEALAND.
_September 1890._

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

I. A PENNY FOR BAD NEWS 1

II. ΣΚΥΤΑ’ΛΗ 5

III. EUREKA 13

IV. PADDY’S MARKET 19

V. THE SELVAGE EDGE OF CIVILIZATION 33

VI. TWO ESCAPES: A FALL AND A RISE 52

VII. MESSRS. WINZE AND CLINSKEEN 68

VIII. THE BLOODY SKIRT OF SETTLEMENT 85

IX. MURDER, MADNESS, AND MELODY 115

X. MISS LILETH MUNDELLA AND MR. WILSON GILES 143

XI. THE BLACK POLICE 165

XII. BILLY AND THE “HATTER” 184

XIII. CLAUDE’S LETTER TO DICK 215

XIV. HECATE AND HEBE 230

XV. THE GHOST OF CHAMBER’S CREEK 252

XVI. LILETH’S DISAPPOINTMENT 277

XVII. EN AVANT! 291

XVIII. A STATION SKETCH 326

XIX. THE GRAVE 338

XX. A “DISPERSING” PARTY 355

XXI. FATE’S AVENGING HAND 372

XXII. LAST WORDS 379

THE BLACK POLICE.