Cirrus@Austlit

'Overcome by toxic enemy gas in the muddy trenches of Flanders, Jim and Wally are sent to hospital in London.  Mr Linton and Norah whisk them off to recuperate in the clean air and safety of Ireland – via a hazardous crossing of the Irish Sea.

'Ireland entrances them, and catching trout thrills them as they fish the lochs.  They encounter a crippled man who turns out to be a delightful wealthy landowner only too glad of their company.  They go touring the countryside with him, experiencing life in the villages and being enthralled by his knowledge and stories of old Ireland.

'Car troubles strand them at a seaside village for a few days, where the boys discover a sea cave with a hidden cache of fuel tins indicating the proximity of a German submarine. Risky plans are set afoot for enemy capture.  They succeed, but at great cost.'  (Publication summary)

From the first instalment of the serialisation of the novel in THE SYDNEY MAIL, 30 July 1919:

"Our new serial, "Captain Jim," is by Mary Grant Bruce, whose reputation as a writer has been a steadily growing influence in Anglo-Australian literary circles for some years past. She achieved great success with children's stories, and we can name no Australian writer who has shown more sympathy with, and understanding of, the child mind. In her more mature work, of which "Captain Jim" is the latest example, Mrs. Bruce re-impresses the reader with her innate sense of literary style. Her appeal to the adult reader is a summons to the best that is in human nature, and yet there is no tawdry sentiment. Our serial is as breezy as the hills of Gippsland, where the talented authoress spent her early days. Quite recently she returned from England. "Captain Jim" is not a war story, although it is of the war period and gives glimpses of khaki. The major characters are Norah Linton, a big-hearted, fearless, Australian girl; David Linton, her father, an Australian sheep-farmer, from whom his family gels its vein of optimism and good humour; Captain Jim Linton, Norah's soldier brother, who has some exciting adventures; and Wally Meadows, Jim's soldier chum—a machine-gunner of typical Australian build and spirits. Of hardly less importance are Miss de Lisle, an English cook, and Allenby, an English disabled ex-sergeant, who proves a trump at the right time. The story rings with truth and scintillates with humour."

'Returning from visiting Tommy,  Norah rescues Mrs Reilly, an Irish immigrant mother and her daughter Mary-Kate from their runaway horse and sulky.  At Billabong, her father relives old memories of the wilder side of his youth.  Left alone at home, Tommy is frightened by an intruder.  The man escapes when Jim comes on the scene.  The girls visit the Reillys, finding Mrs Reilly desperately ill so both families help out where they can.  Mary-Kate becomes a willing pupil at Billabong learning everything from cooking and cleaning to dispatching snakes.  There is a dance at night and a mustering of cattle by day where Norah is terrorised by a rogue bull until Wally charges in to save her — and surprises himself.

'The escaped criminal is found, but they don’t have the heart to turn him in.  Wally is recalled to Queensland to deal with his brother’s property.  Routing devious cattle-stealing station hands, he finds himself in trouble and very nearly killed.  Rescue comes out of the blue.  Jim is summoned to his side and Norah will not be left behind.  They hope Wally will live.'  (Publication summary)

'Freddy Paxton and Jack Young fly their aeroplanes from Queensland to Billabong, wowing everyone who sees them.  They are there to help mine the gold, as only trusted friends are in the know.  But word gets out, and a couple of casual shearers steal the gold that is ready to go to the bank, using one of the planes for their getaway, and kidnapping young Bill along with them.  Bill uses all his resources to outwit them and escape, rescues the ‘Christmas pudding’ and makes friends with a lively little old lady on whose farm he has landed.'  (Publication summary)

'Dick Yorke is invited to Billabong to be a companion to Bill, and his sister Betty goes too.  Bill is far from pleased to have a new boy to show around but eventually, after a tussle, they become great mates.

'Aware that prospectors will come after the gold, the Billabong people clear land and peg claims in a substantial area surrounding their find.  Newcomers, some hard-bitten and obnoxious, have to settle for claims on the outskirts. Two of them visit the homestead uninvited, confronting Norah and her son Davie demanding food.  Dick sounds the alarm, Jim’s dog Kim comes to the rescue and savages the tough McGill.  Improved defence of Billabong is arranged.

'Back at the diggings, Jim hears that McGill has taken over the Walker camp opposite their sluice boxes.  Fearing skulduggery they hope to catch McGill red-handed. Lee Wing devises an ingenious plan, which works brilliantly, leaving the would-be thieves extremely sorry for themselves to the amusement of the entire diggings.  Shamed, McGill, relegated to camp cook duties goes hunting, returning with meat of a Billabong calf, calling it a wallaby – again and again.  Mrs Walker returns to ‘keep an eye’ day in, day out on her mine whilst McGill’s crowd work it, annoying them greatly.'  (Publication summary)

'Following straight on from Billabong Gold, McGill is tried and found guilty on all counts.  A woman with a weak heart faints in court and is taken to hospital in a state of exhaustion…  McGill’s oft–deserted wife who refuses to believe he is totally bad.  She visits him in prison only to be rebuffed, and sadly returns to her quiet little farm and her old, somewhat demented helper.

'Jim and Tommy are married at Billabong.  Wally shows signs of exhaustion and Norah talks him into taking a holiday to recuperate, with her and Davie, their three-year old boy.  Davie speaks his own brand of English spattered with Irish brogue, Aboriginal pidgin and Chinese inflections.  They drive north-east toward the sea, stopping at will, fetching up at the Wallace family farm for a couple of days where Davie plays happily with other children. Reaching the sea at last — to Davie a “Welly big lagoon” — they delight in days on the sand and in the waves, watched enviously from the cliffs by a pair of sad eyes.'  (Publication summary)

'Trapped in London for two years as governess and servant under her nasty stepmother, petite and gentle 19-year-old Cecilia (Tommy) Rainham longs for the day the War will finish and her brother Bob will be home from the Royal Air Force to rescue her.  Fortune smiles on them and a much-loved aunt’s inheritance allows them to set sail for Australia, narrowly escaping the clutches of the stepmother.   Coincidentally, on the same troopship, the Linton family are making their return after five years away.

'Strong bonds of friendship form, and Billabong becomes their haven whilst they learn the ropes of station management and plan their future home.  All seems rosy until the skies blacken and a bushfire all but destroys their new life.  Undaunted, they pick up the pieces, and with Billabong behind them and help from willing hands, begin all over again.' (Publication summary)

'Enjoyed by generations of young Australians since its publication in 1910, A Little Bush Maid is the ultimate, idyllic tale of an adventurous girl growing up in the Australian bush.

'Billabong, a large cattle and sheep property in the Australian countryside, is home to twelve-year-old Norah Linton, her widowed father and her older brother, Jim. Norah's prim and proper aunts, who live in the city, consider she is in danger of "growing up wild" - riding all over Billabong on her beloved pony, Bobs, helping with mustering, and joining in all the holiday fun when Jim and his friends come home from boarding school. A fishing trip results in unexpected drama when they discover a mysterious stranger camped in the bush. Who is this stranger and why is he there? Norah's resourcefulness is tested to the full!' (Publication summary : 2015 edition)