narrative introduces us to the historical context of Australia as a convict colony, with Mr. Tolmer at the forefront of efforts to capture escaped prisoners. After a group of convicts goes missing, Tolmer is observed engaging in discussions with local settlers regarding the implications of convicts in their community. He devises a plan to utilize a trusted subordinate to gather intelligence on the whereabouts of the convicts, emphasizing the tension between settlers and convicts, and the constant threat the latter pose. The narrative promises to unfold in a detailed exploration of the interactions between law enforcement and outlaws in the challenging Australian bush. (This is an automatically generated summary.)