not let those blank blacks humbug him out of clothes any more.  But nothing would induce the shepherd to remain another day; he forswore pastoral pursuits for the rest of his life.  His courage had been tried and found wanting; he had been covered—­or, rather, uncovered—­with disgrace; and his dignity—­at least in Riverina —­was gone for ever.  In other scenes, and under happier auspices, he might recover it, but on Robinson’s station he would be subjected to the derision of the station hands as long as he stayed.

How he lived for some time afterwards is unknown; but in 1853 he was a policeman at Bendigo diggings.  At that time any man able to carry a carbine was admitted into the force without question.  It was then the refuge of the penniless, of broken-down vagabonds, and unlucky diggers.  Lords and lags were equally welcomed without characters or references from their former employers, the Masters’ and Servants’ Act having become a dead letter.  Hyde entered the Government service, and had the good sense to stay there.  His military bearing and noble mien proclaimed him fit to be a leader of men, and soon secured his promotion.  He was made a sergeant, and in a few years was transferred to the Western District, far away, as he thought, from the scene of his early adventure.

He lived for several years after meeting with and cutting his old employer, Robinson, and died at last of dyspepsia and peppermints, the disease and the remedy combined.

WHITE SLAVES.

Many men who had been prisoners of the Crown, or seamen, lived on the islands in Bass’ Straits, as well as on islands in the Pacific Ocean, fishing, sealing, or hunting, and sometimes cultivating patches of ground.  The freedom of this kind of life was pleasing to those who had spent years under restraint in ships, in gaols, in chain-gangs, or as slaves to settlers in the bush, for the lot of the assigned servant was often worse than that of a slave, as he had to give his labour for nothing but food and clothing, and was liable to be flogged on any charge of disobedience, insolence, or insubordination which his master might choose to bring against him.  Moreover, the black slave might be sold for cash, for five hundred to a thousand dollars, according to the quality of the article and the state of the market, so that it was for the enlightened self-interest of the owner to keep him in saleable condition.  But the white slave was unsaleable, and his life of no account.  When he died another could be obtained for nothing from the cargo of the next convict ship.

Some masters treated their men well according to their deserts; but with regard to others, the exercise of despotic authority drew forth all the evil passions of their souls, and made them callous to the sufferings of their servants.