Chapter 6 Summary

Ned Corcoran thinks that the native "problem" should be dealt with by force. He threatens to shoot any aborigine seen on his property. His comments make many others uneasy due to their bluntness, but most don't necessarily disagree with him. There are others who just want to live in peace and set up their communities. They see a future in which natives will be used as laborers or servants. These people are constantly worried about what would happen if they are wrong and the settlement is attacked.

Gemmy understands these two groups and acts accordingly. The violent-thinking ones are actually the easiest to deal with because they are so obvious. They act friendly toward him and try to get useful information about his previous life. When pressed for exact locations, he shifts landmarks to protect his previous "family." He feels a responsibility to...