'Robin, a green English stripling, comes out to Victoria to join Harry, his mate, on the diggings. Harry quickly pockets his money and after only a few days they are separated. An older man, Bill, takes pity on Robin, twice saves him and advises him to return to Melbourne to be a clerk as he won't survive on the diggings.
'Robin soon discovers Harry's exploitative nature and resolves to return to England. His plans are interrupted when his and Harry's childhood guardians come to Australia – this time with a young orphaned girl. She and her companion flee to the guardians from her station where the overseer (Harry under another name) is pressing her to marry him. Robin foolishly binds himself to secrecy about Harry's true character and must watch Harry's machinations silently, assisted only by Bill, as the plot works itself out through seduction, delirium tremens and forged letters.' (PB)
