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38 steadily, day by day, to follow the plough or tail sheep. He loved better a chase after the Kangaroo, or dash among the rocks after wild cattle, or a ramble with the laughing sons of the forest. Sterner engagements soon occupied the Tasmanian settlers. Bands of marauding bush-rangers troubled the thinly inhabited districts. Aroused by harsh treatment, or impelled by love of plunder these bold adventurers, now concealed in the tangled scrub or mountain cavern, and now suddenly pouncing upon some lone farm, filled the country with alarm, and afforded many a Robin Hood tale for the fireside. Among those worthies, Brady occupies the first place. Of good family and collegiate education, some youthful folly sent him to the distant land of chains. His bodily sufferings and his mental tortures, under the convict overseers of Macquarie Harbour induced him to attempt an escape at the risk of life. Accompanied by others, he crossed the intermediate frightful wilderness, rallied the party together, declared war upon society, and was chosen chief of the banditti. A few rob beries supplied them with arms and horses. A corps of twenty five mounted villains under such able generalship soon spread desolation far and wide. Their mission was simple, and faithfully executed ; they were to spare the poor and helpless, to be tender and respectful to females, to shed no blood, but to spoil the wealthy. For several years Governor Arthur sent soldiers, constables and settlers against them in vain. They robbed and left no track. But we are not writing the history of Australian highwayman, we must, therefore, forbear commencing a narrative of the exploits of this prince of bush-rangers. It is sufficient to say that, though no constable thief catcher, Batman was, like other colonists, anxious to put down this violence, and his love of the adventurous took him from his Ben Lomond home in search of the now broken, disspirited and fugitive band. Brady in one encounter got seperated from his last mate, and was severely wounded in his foot. Thus alone, limping along a secluded gully under the Western Mountains in 1825, he encountered the bold eye and stalwart frame of John Batman. They recognized each other. A commanding voice directed the robber to stand and surrender. Brady acknowledged that his time was come, but declared that to no other man but Batman would he yield without a final struggle. A liberal land grant of one thousand acres rewarded the brave capture.
