In the interval, Donald and Mary were married, and as Charlie could not wait any longer, he was compelled to return to his station, taking with him Donald as overseer, and Mary as housekeeper. Mr. McKay promised to send word by special messenger as soon as the ship arrived, but that happy event never occurred; for years passed away without any news concerning the missing vessel, which filled all parties with intense sorrow. Charlie was thus once more plunged into grief, and this time apparently without the least hope of enjoying the slightest happiness. He blamed himself for encouraging Mr. McKay to send for his niece, and the uncle took all the blame upon his own shoulders, which prayed upon his mind and ultimately brought him to his grave.
Mary (now Mrs. Munro) shared in the universal grief at the loss of her young mistress, and named her first born after her.
On one of his trips to Sydney, Charlie became acquainted with a very respectable and worthy family, named Forbes, the head of which was a brother to the Advocate in Edinburgh, and one of the earliest and wealthiest squatters in the colony. The eldest of the family, a young lady possessing many attractions, was engaged to a gentleman by the name of Melville, who had lately arrived; he was possessed of considerable wealth and was searching for stations, and on his return the marriage was to be celebrated.
This Mr. Melville (whom Charlie had not as yet seen) was also an acquaintance of the Forbes' in Edinburgh, but Charlie could not recollect that name among the visitors at the Advocate's house, he therefore supposed that the acquaintanceship was formed after he left.
About this time, some of the inland districts were infested with a band of bushrangers, under the leadership of a fearful desperado, known as Captain Melrose, whose depredations outrivalled those of any gang in the annals of colonial history. Not a week, or hardly a day, passed without bringing some fresh intelligence of outrages committed by them.
A large reward was offered by government for their
