An accurate plan of Mr. Reeve’s Special Survey of Tarra Vale having been completed, notice is hereby given that farms of various sizes are now open for sale or lease.  The proprietor chiefly desires the establishment of a Respectable Tenantry, and will let these farms at the moderate rent of one bushel of wheat per acre.  The estate consists of 5,120 acres of rich alluvial flats; no part of the estate is more than two miles from the freshwater stream of Tarra.  Many families already occupy purchased allotments in the immediate vicinity of the landing place and Tarra Ville.  There is a licensed hotel, good stores and various tradesmen, likewise dray roads from Maneroo and Port Philip.  Apply to F. Taylor, Tarra Ville, or John Brown, Melbourne.

There were several doubtful statements in this notice, but, as the law says, “Buyer, beware.”

Joshua Dayton was not a capitalist, but he belonged to the Industrious Labouring Class, and he offered himself, and was accepted as a Respectable Tenant, at the rental of a bushel of wheat to the acre.  He was a thief on principle, but simple Mr. Taylor, of Tarraville, put his trust in him, because it would be necessary to fence and improve the land in order to produce the bushel of wheat.  The fee simple, at any rate, would be safe with Mr. Reeve; but we live and learn—­learn that there are men ingenious enough to steal even the fee simple, and transmit it by will to their innocent children.

The farm comprised a beautiful and rich bend of the Tarra, forming a spacious peninsula.  Joshua erected a fence across the isthmus, leaving the rest of his land open to the trespass of cattle, which were, therefore, liable to be driven away.  But he did not drive them away; he impounded them within his bend, and at his leisure selected the fattest for slaughter, thus living literally on the fat of the land.  He formed his boiling-down establishment in a retired glade, surrounded with tea-tree, tall and dense, far from the prying eyes and busy haunts of men.  His hut stood on a gentle rise above the highest flood mark, and in close proximity to the slip rails, which were jealously guarded by his Cerberus, Neddy, a needy immigrant of a plastic nature, whose mind succumbed under the strong logic of his employer.

Neddy had so far led an honest life, and did not fall into habits of thievery without some feelings of compunction.  When Joshua first drove cattle into the bend, he did not tell Neddy that he had stolen them.  Oh, no!  He said: 

“Here are a few beasts I have had running about for some time, and I think I’ll kill one or two of the fattest and make tallow of them.  Beef is worth next to nothing, and we must make a living somehow.  And I know you would like a little fresh beef, Neddy; a change of diet is good for the health.”

But Neddy was not so much of a fool as to be able to shut his eyes to the nature of the boiling-down business.  The brands were too various, and Joshua claimed them all.  Neddy said one night: