I now return to narrate a continuation of the painful experiences of our early days connected with our contact with the convict element from the older colonies. Next in order came the cattle stealers of the Black Forest.

The settlers had for some time felt the loss of cattle, of which no traces could be found. Many complaints reaching the Government, two officers were ordered on this special duty. Sergeant-Major Alford and another officer (as an occasional help) were instructed to go out disguised as bushmen and scour the country.

After searching the gullies to some distance north of Adelaide and south as far as the Sturt River, Sergeant-Major Alford by himself made a cast of the plains around Adelaide. In passing Ashford he saw the late Dr. Everard, and on asking him if he had seen any suspicious-looking people at any time passing with cattle, the doctor replied that he had seen cattle driven down the Forest track, and pointed to it. On this Mr. Alford proceeded in that direction.

I will here mention for the information of the greater part of those who may read these articles that on the opposite side of the road on the Ashford estate are still a number of trees, formerly the commencement of the Black Forest, which, with the exception of this patch, has vanished, and they are now the only remains of that ancient and dense wood which extended a few miles south and towards Holdfast Bay, in many places having a thick undergrowth of scrub ; at the time of which I am writing not at all encroached on with clearings.

The time the question was put to Dr. E. was late on a Saturday afternoon. Although the sergeant major had not obtained any leading information from the doctor, he thought it well to make a search, intending, if he found any traces of cattle slaughtering going on, to return early in the morning, when the cattle stealers might be at work, and when, with a sufficient force, the whole of them might be caught.

He proceeded down a slight track, and after going about a mile and a half came to a fallen tree across the track, of which he took particular notice, and here he made a cast to the north, intending to make a circular course. After creeping through the thick bush for a mile or so he heard a dog bark, and then took a direction towards the sound, and soon saw through the thick bush and trees a stockyard and cattle, and men. He then immediately turned away to avoid being seen from the yard, and kept on at a good pace.

On clearing the trees he perceived that he was followed and watched by a man on horse-back. Without appearing to notice him, Alford kept dodging about as if in search of cattle, and when he saw the coast clear set off at full speed to the barracks, where he reported himself to Inspector Tolmer, and proposed to go again with one man to lie in wait till daylight, when the suspected persons might be seen at work, and if it was cattle slaughtering going on, then to return and obtain a sufficient force to surround the place and capture the lot in the commission of their crime.

Having procured a fresh horse he started from the barracks late at night, accompanied by Sergeant N ——. They crept down the track and passed the fallen tree, continuing on the track, but not intending to approach too near the yard. The sergeant-major's horse, neighed, which was answered by another horse close at hand tied to a tree. It was a starlight night, and on looking about they perceived a pair of bullocks in yoke also fastened to a tree, and near them a dray, with casks and a bag of salt in it, a short distance ahead.

They now saw three or four men in a yard, who appeared to be busy at work — they could hear the noise of steeling the knives. They had unintentionally approached too near to hope to retire without giving an alarm, and then the game would be lost. Mr. Alford decided there was nothing for it but to rush to make a capture. He therefore whispered to his comrade that he would quietly dismount and creep to the fence, and on his rushing over his mate was to gallop round to the opposite side. Accordingly he made the rush, calling out, ''Men, surround the yard ; shoot down any escaping. Surrender yourselves prisoners or you are dead men !''

He caught one before he could clear the stockyard fence, and told him he would blow his brains out if he did not quietly surrender. Not expecting to find the work begun till early morning, they had only gone out as scouts, and had each one small pistol. Alford's man surrendered quietly before the yard could be surrounded by one man, as the Irish soldier did his prisoners.

When Alford made his capture the three cattle stealers had cleared the fence and bolted. Sergeant N—— followed one, whom he singled out as Dick Fenton, but the timber, standing and fallen, gave a chance to the fugitive, who after being chased some distance was lost sight of.

Our sergeant-major now went to work with his prisoner, and promising him if he continued to behave well and give him information he should have favor shown him, he first asked, ''How many beasts have been killed this time ?'' The answer was, ''Four; three cut up, lying on the tarpaulins — one not finished dressing.''

''Have the brands been cut off the skins?'' ''No.'' ''Then roll them up and pass them through the fence.''

This done, he was ordered out of the yard. But Alford seeing some bottles standing at the fence asked what was in them. Answer — ''Grog ; please let me have a drain.'' The answer given to that request was the smashing of the bottles.

As a matter of course the loaded pistol was in hand, cocked, and ready for use. The prisoner was now conducted to the dray, and ordered to remove the empty casks and the bag of salt from the dray, and to place the skins therein, also a coat found on the fence, and put the bullocks to the pole of the dray. The horse belonging to one of the firm was then tied behind the dray, all ready for the start to the barracks. It would appear that the employment on Sunday would have been to salt the beef for a shipping order.

The sergeant-major having mounted, ordered a start, closely guarding the prisoner driving the bullocks, who, however, tried a dodge before the forest was cleared in taking down a wrong track leading south, which was no sooner discovered than the pistol was at his ear, with orders to turn.

On the party nearing Dr. Everard's residence Sergeant N—— was met, as it appeared escorting two men on foot, who at first seemed to be prisoners. It was soon explained ; they had been called up to assist the sergeant, and were now with him to look out for his brother officer. They were old McLean and one of his sons. They were thanked and dismissed, and the party arrived safely at the barracks. But their duty was not completed.

Losing no time, before daylight they visited a grog shanty on South-terrace, which they had been told was the resort of Gofton, whom they knew to be one of the three who had escaped from the yard. Arrived at the place, one went at the front and the other behind the hut. On a summons being given to open the door, the wife of Brodrip, the proprietor, answered, and declined to give admission. After being told that they were policemen, and asked where her husband was, she said at Thebarton, where he had gone to a party. She still refusing to open the front door, it was burst open. On a light being produced, Gofton, the man they were seeking, was found lying on a couch in the taproom. On being called to sit up, he was asked what he had been at. He said he had been having a spree.

''Yes,'' said the sergeant-major, "I see you have ; your moleskins are bloody, so are your shirt sleeves, and you are without your coat ; so get up, you are my prisoner ; hold out your hands.'' The snaps of the handcuffs soon sounded. It should be here mentioned that a coat well known to the police as Gofton's, of a peculiar check, was found hanging on the stockyard fence, and was brought away with the skins.

Gofton was also taken to the barracks, and thus two out of the four were secured. Dick Fenton was immediately sought after ; but he escaped on board ship, assisted, it was said by an Adelaide publican. As to the fourth man suspected, viz., Stag, neither of the officers were able to swear to him, and so he was not had up on this charge.

Dick Fenton had come overland with Mr. Huon, from whom I had purchased two mobs of cattle, as I have previously explained. Though of the prison class, he was a trusted servant of Mr. Huon, and had been placed by him in charge of a preliminary section on the Torrens which I had sold to his employer, and towards which he had run when escaping from the sergeant. This man was with the party with stockkeeper Hart, whose history I have given in a previous chapter.

Of course Fenton knew my cattle well, some of which then ran about the Sturt, that is, such as were brought in for sale to the butchers. I had from time to time been losing cattle, which at the time I supposed had strayed, but of which no trace has ever been found, as the skins were as a rule destroyed as the cattle were slaughtered by such parties.

As Stag could not be brought up on the cattle stealing charge, there was an enquiry set on foot as to a horse which was often seen in his possession and which he was often riding. Our sergeant-major, pushing his enquiries, found that the South Australian Company had some time previous to this lost a horse somewhat answering to the description of this one, which had escaped immediately on being landed. On this Alford applied for a warrant to arrest Stag, and waited upon him at a public-house kept by old Anthony Best (who had joined us from Tasmania), where Stag was known to lodge.

Our officer found Stag at home, and other company in the house. After conversation on general subjects, Mr. Alford said, ''Oh, Stag, our Inspector, Mr. Tolmer, wishes you to call on him — you may as well walk down with me.'' The message not suiting Mr. Stag, he declined (smelling a rat), and ordered the landlord to bring round his horse. On the landlord doing this our officer declared the horse to be a stolen one, and charged Best to take him back to the stable and hold him for the Government.

Addressing Stag, he said, ''You are my prisoner on the charge of horse stealing ; and now you must go."' On this Stag drew from his pocket with his right hand a pistol, and also one with his left hand, but before he could cock either of them, as he turned partly round to leave the house, Mr. Alford sprang on his back, with his arms round his neck, and after a struggle both came to the ground, and the pistols dropped from Stag's grasp. The struggle, up and down, lasted for some time. Stag was much the strongest and heaviest man, but he failed to shake off his capturer, who hung on like grim death until assistance came, for the spectators at the commencement of the fray rendered no assistance to the officer. On the arrival of additional policemen Stag was escorted to the barracks of the horse police, where the horse was also taken.

The horse was claimed by the Manager of the Company, and Stag was brought before the Police Court on the charge of stealing it. As there was some doubt about the identity of the animal, Stag was released on bail after being committed for trial to the Supreme Court.

I felt it necessary to give all the previous particulars before we come to the murder of Gofton. It is well to mention that more than one of our original butchers were in the habit of buying part of their beef from the cattle-stealers. Those men are not now in business here. The bulk of the beef had been salted and sold to the ships. Not long after Stag got out on bail, and before Gofton could be brought to trial on the charge of cattle-stealing, the latter managed to escape from custody by jumping over the fence around the temporary gaol (made of palings), the guards placed at the corners of the yard with loaded carbines failing to fire at him.

A fast horse, which I may mention I had some time before sold to a man who was afterwards believed to be one of the gang, was tied to a tree between this temporary gaol and the river bank, and was mounted by Gofton, who thus managed to escape. The country was scoured day after day, and Gofton's haunts visited, from which he continued to move until he was traced to the neighborhood of the North Arm.

A considerable number of the mounted police, under Inspector Tolmer, were out patrolling between Port Gawler and the Dry Creek Junction, and about the North Arm of the Port. A black tracker was also with the party. Stag, on the same horse on which Gofton had escaped, had been seen on several occasions riding between Hindmarsh and the Dry Creek before the police had been placed on patrol as I have mentioned, and then had to cease his visits in taking supplies of food to his partner in crime ; thus Gofton was left to starve.

After being brought to a great strait he ventured out, and visited a small dairy station towards the hills, at which he applied for a drink of milk and some bread, and had a quart handed to him, which he took off at one drain, and tendered to the woman a sovereign in payment. The woman was much surprised at his actions, and information soon reached the police, when Inspector Tolmer with the black tracker, and Sergeant-Major Alford in close attendance, with the bulk of the police also following, were led by the black guide to a saltwater creek connected with the North Arm, to which the black had worked the tracks.

He was followed towards the main or Port Creek. Inspector Tolmer with the sergeant-major were on one side ; the tracker was on the other and somewhat ahead, as the two officers had lost ground in gaining the opposite side.

After a time they observed their skilful assistant beckoning to them rather frantically, on which they hastened along, and on getting opposite the black to their horror he raised a dead body so as to exhibit the shoulders and bloody head. The officers waded up to their waists through the muddy creek, and found the body to be that of Gofton, who had been shot through the head, the ball entering below the jaw and passing out of the back of the skull. After he was killed he had been dragged by the tails of his coat until it had been stripped from the body by the sleeves turning inside out ; the coat had been thrown into the creek, and the body rolled over the bank to the mangroves. In the pocket of the coat a newspaper was found in which was an account of the charge laid against Stag for horse-stealing. This paper was secured by the Inspector. A piece had been torn from it. On the person of the murdered man was found some money and a strip of a silk pocket handkerchief — trifles as they might be considered by a non-professional, but which with other clues proved sufficient to convict Stag of the murder of his partner.

Mr. Inspector Tolmer immediately detached Constable Lomas to arrest Stag, who was accordingly taken. The body of Gofton was removed to town and an inquest held, at which Stag was produced and as usual cautioned. The evidence given was deemed sufficient to commit Stag as guilty of the murder. Gofton had for some days lived in a wurley, which was discovered not far from where the body was found. He had been placed there by Stag, who had frequently visited him with supplies, and from thence he hoped to escape by being taken off, to a departing ship by a boat.

Money it was ascertained had been collected by Stag from some of the persons who purchased beef from the cattle stealing gang to be used for his passage and for the expenses of getting him off ; and it was supposed when the chances of success vanished his confederates thought it safer to put him out of the way lest he should split on them, as they say, and they could stick to the money, of which information was afterwards gained that there was a good amount, but this never appeared in evidence.

In the next chapter I must give the trial and execution of Stag (which took place on November 18, 1840) with further matter in connection with him ; also, in a future number, the extraordinary career of Trooper Lomas and the romance which was got up about the murder of the man Gofton. The action of Stag in taking the life of his friend forms one of the most humiliating pictures of human nature, showing to what depths of iniquity a career of vice may lead.