The black, who had only seen Sydney from steamers' decks, had never been in a city in his life.

All he knew of the world was steamers, far-outlying south-sea isles, and his own island of King William in Melanesia.

So Kwaque remained in the two rooms, cooking and housekeeping for his master and caring for Michael and Cocky.

All of which was prison for Michael, who had been used to the run of ships, of coral beaches and plantations.
But in the evenings, sometimes accompanied a few steps in the rear by Kwaque, Michael strolled out with Steward.

The multiplicity of man-gods on the teeming sidewalks became a real bore to Michael, so that man-gods, in general, underwent a sharp depreciation.