h in the year 1834 were bestowed upon
officers of garrison. He had been Superintendent of Works at
Bridgewater, and when he got his captaincy, Assistant Police Magistrate
at Bothwell. The affair of the Osprey made a noise; and it was tacitly
resolved that the first "good thing" that fell vacant should be given to
the gallant preserver of Major Vickers's child.

Major Vickers also prospered. He had always been a careful man, and
having saved some money, had purchased land on favourable terms. The
"assignment system" enabled him to cultivate portions of it at a small
expense, and, following the usual custom, he stocked his run with cattle
and sheep. He had sold his commission, and was now a comparatively
wealthy man. He owned a fine estate; the house he lived in was purchased
property. He was in good odour at Government House, and his office of
Superintendent of Convicts caused him to take an active part in that
local government which keeps a man constantly before the public.
Major Vickers, a colonist against his will, had become, by force of
circumstances, one of the leading men in Van Diemen's Land. His daughter
was a good match for any man; and many ensigns and lieutenants, cursing
their hard lot in "country quarters", many sons of settlers living on
their father's station among the mountains, and many dapper clerks on
the civil establishment envied Maurice Frere his good fortune. Some went
so far as to say that the beautiful daughter of "Regulation Vickers" was
too good for the coarse red-faced Frere, who was noted for his fondness
for low society, and overbearing, almost brutal demeanour. No one
denied, however, that Captain Frere was a valuable officer. It was said
that, in consequence of his tastes, he knew more about the tricks of
convicts than any man on the island. It was said, even, that he was wont
to disguise himself, and mix with the pass-holders and convict
servants, in order to learn their signs and mysteries. When in charge at
Bridgewater it had been his delight to rate the chain-gangs in their
own hideous jargon, and to astound a new-comer by his knowledge of his
previous history. The convict population hated and cringed to him, for,
with his brutality, and violence, he mingled a ferocious good humour,
that resulted sometimes in tacit permission to go without the letter
of the law. Yet, as the convicts themselves said, "a man was never safe
with the Captain"; for, after drinking and joking with them, as t