The Woolpack

Total Words: 9,039 Omitted Words: 1,776

Percentage of Omissions: 19.7

Chapter 10 begins with the raid of the Woolpack Inn during which the gang is challenged by a group of constables. During this episode, Cash, for the first time, wounds one of his opponents, later learning that ‗my ball had entered his left side and tore away two ribs from his backbone‘. Being in an even worse situation than before, the gang finds refuge at Cobb‘s Hill with the B—n family, who are Kavanagh's‘s relatives. The tale of adventure then continues with Mrs B—n‘s trip to Hobart in search of Eliza and with news of Cash‘s presence. This introduces Mr Marriot, Cash‘s future rival, and forecasts the betrayal and capture of Cash.

Folios 193 & 194

This omission involves Cash‘s request for grog. Cash reflects that ‗it was rather imprudent to send Mr B—n on such an errand to a populace township…particularly as he was aware that a verry large reward was offered by the government…‘.'24. Cash then reveals the truth of Marriot‘s betrayal by recalling Price‘s later affirmation that shoemaker Marriot was indeed the police informant. Attention shifts to Jones‘ ‗wonderful progress in the good graces of Mrs B—n‘, indicating their impending affair. Cash becomes uneasy about Eliza‘s absence ‗as I was confident that it must be something extraordinary that could have detained her…‘, whereupon Mrs B—n assures Cash that Eliza had ‗…arrived at ten o‘clock that morning…‘ and that the reason for not telling him immediately was ‗…merely to see how I would bear the disappointment‘.

The deletion of this passage is puzzling because the aura of impending treachery engenders a feeling of suspense, a common device of action stories; therefore, the logical assumption is that brevity was uppermost in the editor‘s mind. Although the omission

may be seen as having little value to the historical record, it has a bearing on the social history of the time as it indicates the power of opportunism over mechanical solidarity.

Folio 199

This short omission is an affirmation of Cash as a faithful and honourable man with a sense of duty ‗…to provide for her [Eliza] in the only manner the laws of the country prescribed'.25 The passage has little value to either history or the story of adventure, but it does add to the developing myth of righteous Cash.

Folios 201 & 202

Eliza has now joined Cash, Kavanagh and Jones in their fortress on Mt Dromedary where they could ‗…see several parties of police and military scouring the country in search of us ...'.' Accordingly, Cash becomes concerned for Eliza‘s welfare. The omitted passage excludes Eliza‘s warning that ‗…my comrades were not kindly towards me…‘ and that ‗they would part with me when they knew more of the country …‘.' Cash confidently rejects her warning with ‗…they could not do without me …‘.' He then returns to Eliza‘s welfare, advising her not to take ‗any of the articles26 _{we had given her in town as the}

police would be awaiting her return … ‘.'27 _{Here the omission is interrupted with the}

gang‘s chance meeting with ‗…a gentleman named Cook who we lightened of a watch and double barrelled shotgun‘. The omission resumes with Cash‘s denial of The Advertiser’s report that 'Kavanagh told Mr Cook that I had received a flesh wound…at the Woolpack…' or that he had threatened Captain Forster at Brighton. The exclusion of the above passage eliminates the developing theme of ‗lack of honour among thieves‘ in desperate situations; otherwise, it adds little to the history of the time.

Folios 203 & 204

This omission centres on the gang‘s departure from the B—n‘s where once more they are given refuge. Cash takes the opportunity to compliment Jones ‗…upon the wonderful progress he was making with Mrs B—n …‘, to which Jones seems to be flattered and it

25 _{Cash probably means ‗theft‘.} 26 _{Presumably stolen goods.}

appears to Cash ‗…that if they did not come to a good understanding it would not be her fault‘. A friendship is also developing between Kavanagh and Mrs B—n who infers that he must be her uncle, causing Cash to reflect that ‗…the former [Mrs B—n] appeared to be proud of the relationship …‘.' In depicting Cash‘s growing isolation, the above omission foreshadows his later betrayal and develops the theme of opportunism. To emphasize the point, the editor‘s decision to exclude the above passages loses their value to social history in their depiction of the social milieu.

This chapter is relatively straight forward in that the growing antagonisms between the members of the Cash gang and the B—n's and the growing isolation of Cash indicates the eroding solidarity within the gang and their collaborators (Folios 193 & 194, 201 & 202, 203 & 204). It is impossible to determine what was in the mind of the editor(s) regarding their view of what was irrelevant to the Cash adventure tale; however, it would appear that Folio 199 stands by itself as this passage does not connect to the surrounding text.