How do you do, my small child?
Sam, my dear, if ever I get cashiered for being too handsome to remain in the Service, I'll carry you about and exhibit you, as the biggest and ugliest boy in the Australian colonies." Captain Desborough has been mentioned before in these pages.

He was an officer in the army, at the present time holding the situation of Inspector of Police in this district.

He was a very famous hunter-down of bushrangers, and was heartily popular with every one he was thrown against, except the aforesaid bushrangers.

Sam and he were very old friends, and were very fond of one another.
Desborough was sitting now at the upper end of the table, with the Colonial Secretary, Major Buckley, Captain Blockstrop, Captain Brentwood, and Doctor Mulhaus.

They looked very serious indeed.
"It was a very lucky thing, Desborough," said the Major, "that you happened to meet Captain Blockstrop.