First published in 1874, a powerful tale of an Australian penal settlement, which originally appeared in serial form in a Melbourne paper.

The story of Rufus Dawes, a young man transported for a murder which he did not commit. The harsh and inhumane treatment handed out to the convicts, some of whom were transported for minor crimes, is vividly conveyed. The novel was based on research by the author, as well as a visit to the penal settlement of Port Arthur in Tasmania.