It was generally believed that he had been killed by the blacks, but of this there was no actual proof.
Mr.Bastow was much disturbed when he heard the news.

"Suppose he comes back here, Mr.Thorndyke." "I won't suppose anything of the sort," the Squire replied.

"I don't say that it would be altogether impossible, because now that vessels go from time to time to Sydney, he might, of course, be able to hide up in one of them, and not come on deck until she was well on her way, when, in all probability, he would be allowed to work his passage, and might be put ashore without any information being given to the authorities.
I have no doubt that among the sailors there would be a good deal of sympathy felt for the convicts.

No doubt they have a hard time of it, and we know that the gangs working on the roads are always ironed.
Still, this is very unlikely, and the chances are all in favor of his being in hiding in the bush.
"The shepherds and other hands on the farms are chiefly convicts, and would probably give him aid if he required it, and there would be no difficulty in getting a sheep, now and then, for, as all reports say, one of the chief troubles out there are the wild dogs, or dingoes, as they are called; any loss in that way would readily be put down to them.
As to money, he would have no occasion for it; if he wanted it he would get it by robbing the settlers, he would know that if he came back here he would run the risk of being seized at once on landing or of being speedily hunted down as an escaped convict.

I don't think that there is the slightest occasion for us to trouble ourselves about him." But though the Squire spoke so confidently, he felt by no means sure that Arthur Bastow would not turn up again, for his reckless audacity had made a great impression upon him.