deal of life for a man sometimes
after that.

And then I knew that there would be one that would be true to me anyhow,
that would wait for me when I went out, and that would not be too proud
to join in her life with mine, for all that had come and gone. Well,
this might give me strength. I don't think anything else could, and from
that hour I made up my mind to tackle it steady and patient, to do the
best I could, and to work out my sentence, thankful for the mercy that
had been showed me, and, if ever a man was in this world, resolved to
keep clear of all cross ways for the future.

So I began to steady myself and tried to bear it the best way I could.
Other men were in for long sentences, and they seemed to be able to keep
alive, so why shouldn't I? Just at the first I wasn't sure whether I
could. Year after year to be shut up there, with the grass growin' and
the trees wavin' outside, and the world full of people, free to walk or
ride, to work or play, people that had wives and children, and friends
and relations--it seemed awful. That I should be condemned to live in
this shut-up tomb all those long, weary years, and there was nothing
else for it. I couldn't eat or sleep at first, and kept starting up at
night, thinking they was coming for me to carry me off to the gallows.
Then I'd dream that Jim and Starlight was alive, and that we'd all got
out of gaol and were riding through the bush at night to the Hollow
again. Then I'd wake up and know they were dead and I was here. Time
after time I've done that, and I was that broken down and low that I
burst out crying like a child.

Chapter 52

The months went on till I began to think it was a long time since
anything had been heard of father. I didn't expect to have a letter or
anything, but I knew he must take a run outside now and again; and so
sure as he did it would come to my ears somehow.

One day I had a newspaper passed in to me. It was against the
regulations, but I did get it for all that, and this was the first thing
I saw:--

STRANGE DISCOVERY IN THE TURON DISTRICT.

A remarkable natural formation, leading to curious results, was last
week accidentally hit upon by a party of prospectors, and by them made
known to the police of the district. It may tend to solve the doubts
which for the last few years have troubled the public at large
with respect to the periodical disappearance of a certain gang of
bush-rangers now brok