The Project Gutenberg EBook of Robbery Under Arms, by
Thomas Alexander Browne, AKA Rolf Boldrewood

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Title: Robbery Under Arms

Author: Thomas Alexander Browne, AKA Rolf Boldrewood

Release Date: August 27, 2008 [EBook #1198]
Release Date: February, 1998

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBBERY UNDER ARMS ***

Produced by Alan R. Light

ROBBERY UNDER ARMS

A Story of Life and Adventure in the Bush and in the Goldfields of
Australia

By Thomas Alexander Browne, AKA Rolf Boldrewood

An Australian writer. 1826-1915.

Author of 'The Miner's Right', 'The Squatter's Dream', 'A Colonial
Reformer', etc.

[Note on text: Italicized words or phrases are capitalised. Some obvious
errors have been corrected, as noted at the end of the text.]

Preface to New Edition

I dedicate this 'ower true tale' of the wilder aspects of Australian
life to my old comrade R. Murray Smith, late Agent-General in London for
the colony of Victoria, with hearty thanks for the time and trouble he
has devoted to its publication. I trust it will do no discredit to the
rising reputation of Australian romance. But though presented in the
guise of fiction, this chronicle of the Marston family must not be
set down by the reader as wholly fanciful or exaggerated. Much of the
narrative is literally true, as can be verified by official records.
A lifelong residence in Australia may be accepted as a guarantee
for fidelity as to local colour and descriptive detail. I take this
opportunity of acknowledging the prompt and liberal recognition of the
tale by the proprietors of the 'Sydney Mail', but for which it might
never have seen the light.

ROLF BOLDREWOOD.

117 Collins Street West,

Melbourne, 12th December 1888.

ROBBERY UNDER ARMS

Chapter 1

My name's Dick Marston, Sydney-side native. I'm twenty-nine years old,
six feet in my stocking soles, and thirteen stone weight. Pretty strong
and active with it, so they say. I don't want to blow--not here, any
road--but it takes a good man to put me on my back, or stand up to me
with the gloves, or the naked mauleys. I can ride anything--anything