Chapter 19 Summary

Brushfires are burning back at the settlement when Gemmy comes to visit George Abbot at the schoolhouse to ask for his papers back. George has been thinking of Leona when he sees Gemmy at the window. He realizes it would be difficult to explain to Gemmy that Mr. Frazer has his papers in Brisbane. When George offers Gemmy seven sheets of homework paper, Gemmy puts them in his pockets and leaves. Gemmy walks towards the swamp as it begins to rain. He takes out the papers and lets the water wash the ink off the pages. Then the pulpy paper disintegrates and falls back to earth.

Chapter 19 Analysis

Gemmy feels that by writing his account, Mr. Abbot had taken his magic into the papers themselves. When he retrieves the papers and destroys them, the magic returns to him. This is a typical aboriginal...