# A Dinner for Five explained — An Outback Marriage

> Chapter companion for An Outback Marriage by Banjo Paterson.

## What happens

At the Cassowary Club, the Bo'sun hosts a dinner for Grant, Gordon, Carew, and Pinnock. Gordon explains his upcoming trip to 'No Man's Land' to take over a station for his boss Grant, who advanced money on a dubious cattle muster. Carew reveals he is searching for a man named Patrick Henry Considine, a potential heir to a fortune. Gordon jokingly offers to arrange Considine's death, and the party agrees that Carew will accompany Gordon on his journey.

## Themes in this chapter

### Colonial Identity and the Bush

The chapter contrasts the club's urban setting with Gordon's tales of the harsh outback, illustrating the colonial experience and the bushman's lifestyle.

### Greed and Ambition

Gordon's boss Grant's risky investment and the search for Considine for a fortune reflect themes of greed and ambition.

### Deception and Fraud

The 'book-muster' and the dubious cattle count hint at deception, while Gordon's joking offer to arrange Considine's death suggests moral ambiguity.

## Character check-ins

### Hugh Gordon

Gordon is a bushman from far back, working for Grant. He is talkative and cynical, describing his boss's mismanagement and joking about arranging Considine's death.

### Gavan Blake

Blake is not present in this chapter.

### Mr. Carew

Carew is an Englishman seeking Patrick Henry Considine, a potential heir to a family fortune. He is awkward and hesitant but decides to accompany Gordon.

### Mr. Pinnock

Pinnock is a guest at the dinner, asking about the location of No Man's Land.

### The Bo'sun

The Bo'sun is hosting the dinner at the Cassowary Club, honoring a draft of hospitality from Grant.

### Patrick Henry Considine

Considine is the man Carew is searching for; he may be the son of a deceased great-uncle and entitled to a fortune.

## Key lines

> Book-muster, book-muster? Why, a book-muster is something like dead-reckoning on a ship.

A book-muster is an estimate of cattle numbers based on records, similar to a ship's dead-reckoning.

_Gordon explains the concept to the globetrotter._

> What you want is to find this man, and to find him dead. If we come across him away in the back country, we'll soon arrange his death for you, if you make it worth while.

Gordon jokingly suggests that if they find Considine in the remote outback, they could kill him for a fee.

_Gordon's dark humor about the search for Considine._

> I've been hunting wild geese... That's what I do most of my time now.

Gordon says he spends his time on futile errands for his boss.

_Gordon describes his job as chasing impossible tasks._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/ii-a-dinner-for-five
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/an_outback_marriage_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters