Unluckily for me, the beginning of '53 was the hey-day of Captain Melville, the notorious bushranger.

He was a young fellow of my own age.

I determined to imitate his exploits.

I could make nothing out there from an honest life; rather than starve I would lead a dishonest one.

I had been born with lawless tendencies; from smuggling to bushranging was an easy transition, and about the latter there seemed to be a gallantry and romantic swagger which put it on the higher plane of the two.