It was a little girl of about three years old.

Why they did so I don't know; perhaps the chief took a fancy to her.

Maybe he had lost a child of the same age, and thought his gin would take to the little one.

Anyhow, he carried her off.
"The father happened to be away at the time.

He had gone down to Sydney with a waggon, for stores; and when he got back he found the house burned, and the bodies of his wife, two boys, and two men, but there was no trace of that of the child.
"He was nearly out of his mind, poor fellow.