Chapter 42, Starlight (as Mr. Lascelles) dances with Maddie Barnes one

night, and the next day (in the same disguise) she does not recognise him. And then there are some gaps: In Chapter 24, the story line suddenly jumps from a scene where the characters are riding to the Hollow, to a discussion about selling horses. In Chapter 31, Dick Marston says “I did live to do her [Maddie Barnes] a good turn back...” but there seems to be nothing later in the story worth mentioning in this line. In Chapter 35, a reference is made to “old Mr. Devereux's box”, which was apparently discovered in Chapter 22 or 23, but cut out from this edition.

The story is still quite readable and enjoyable despite these things, but they are mentioned so that the interested reader may look further (if they desire) into obtaining an edition which includes the complete text in the original Newspaper serial; and to give a general idea what sort of things might have been cut.

“Captain Starlight” was the name used by a real bushranger, Frank Pearson (1837-99), but Boldrewood claimed that his “Starlight” was a composite based in part on “Captain Midnight” and Harry Redford (ca. 1842 to 1901), the latter of which stole a herd of cattle in a similar manner to that described in the book. The factual events that contributed to the story took place in the late 1860's and other periods; but Boldrewood set his story in the 1850's. The name “Starlight” is also used in Adam Lindsay Gordon's famous poem, “The Sick Stockrider”.

“Warrigal”, the name of the half-caste character, is also an Australian term for the Dingo, or native dog.

A couple other famous highwaymen are alluded to in the story.

Dick Turpin, who is mentioned twice, was an English highwayman, 1706-39. There is apparently a legendary ride from London to York that is popularly attributed to him, the idea being that he established an alibi by covering the distance so swiftly after a robbery.

Claude Duval was famous for being gallant to women. Born in France, he came to England with the Duke of Richmond about 1660 (the Restoration), and turned out shortly afterwards.

Terms: -----

There are a number of Australian terms in the text, which may not be listed in non-Australian dictionaries--even unabridged ones. Here are a few:

bail up: To stick up. According to Boldrewood, from the term used with cows, where “bail up” means to secure a cow's head in a bail, a type of frame, before milking.

bunyip: (pronounced bun-yup) A large mythological creature, said by the Aborigines to inhabit watery places. There may be some relation to an actual creature that is now extinct.

dinkum: Now means honest or genuine, but used by Boldrewood in its obsolete sense, work, or an amount of work. (In fact, one major Australian dictionary quotes this very book for an example of this obsolete sense.)

forester: The eastern gray kangaroo.

gin: An Aboriginal woman--from an aboriginal word for “woman” or “wife”. (Considered derogatory in current usage.)

jerran: Afraid. From an aboriginal language. Now obsolete.

mallee scrubber: “Mallee”, a variety of Eucalyptus, or a remote, wild area (like “bush”); “Scrubber”, a farm animal that has gone wild; hence, “mallee scrubber”, a wild farm animal in this environment.

shout: To buy drinks for a group, or the act of buying drinks.

store cattle: Cattle that are not ready for market, but need to be fattened first. Hence, they are “in store” for future use, or for use as stock.

skillion: A lean-to or outbuilding.

turkey: Probably Eupodotis (Otis) australis, the Australian Bustard. (Also “native turkey”, “wild turkey”.)

Corrections: -----------

The following errors were corrected from the original text: