“YOU are entitled to half the reward offered for the apprehension of this man,” said the leader of the police to Obed Stackpole. “I congratulate you. Fifty pounds is a sum not to be despised.”
“Especially when a man has been robbed of all he possesses by bushrangers,” said Obed. “If you’ll excuse me, captain, why does your government allow them rascals to roam round the country, plundering and killing honest men?”
The captain of police shrugged his shoulders.
“We can’t help it, my good man. We do all we can,” he answered.
“In my country we would soon put a stop to it.”
“You mean America?”
“Yes; the land of the Stars and the Stripes,” said Obed proudly.
“It is more difficult here,” observed the police captain. “The nature of the country makes pursuit difficult. Besides, we have had so many convicts sent out here in past years that there is a large proportion of lawless men in the colony. Some of these men have made themselves very formidable. There is Captain Stockton, for instance.”
“Was, you mean, captain.”
“I don’t understand you.”