Robbery Under Arms · Chapter
XLVIII explained
After Rainbow's victory at the Turon races, the Marston family celebrates at the Hollow.
What happens
After Rainbow's victory at the Turon races, the Marston family celebrates at the Hollow. Starlight reads aloud the sensational newspaper accounts of his exploits at the races, including his appearance at the ball, his gift of a diamond ring at the wedding, and his betting with the editor. The chapter highlights the public's fascination with Starlight and the media's conflicted tone of admiration and condemnation.
Themes in this chapter
The Bush and Outlaw Life
The gang's hideout at the Hollow and their reliance on bush resources (hay, stabling) underscore their outlaw existence.
Honor and Morality
The newspapers debate the moral outrage of Starlight's actions versus his charm and daring, highlighting society's conflicted sense of justice.
Class and Social Mobility
Starlight's ability to pass as a gentleman and mingle with high society at the races and ball illustrates the fluidity of class boundaries in colonial Australia.
Characters to notice
- Jim Marston
Narrates the chapter; describes bringing Rainbow home and recounting the race events to Dad.
- Captain Starlight
Reads the newspaper articles aloud; reflects grimly on his fate; is the subject of the media's dramatic coverage.
- Dad Marston
Reacts with laughter and disbelief to the stories; struggles to understand the newspaper language.
- Warrigal
Sent out to fetch letters and papers for the gang.
- Old Rainbow
The winning horse; stabled and cared for after the race, later turned out with his mob.
- Crib
Mentioned as looking at Jim with newfound respect after the race victory.
Key passages
“It seemed to me as if he wanted to kill himself for some reason or other. It would have been easy enough with some horses, but you could have ridden Rainbow down the roof of a house and jumped him into the front balcony, I firmly believe.”
Jim thinks Rainbow was recklessly trying to get himself killed, but the horse was so sure-footed he could have ridden anywhere.
Highlights Rainbow's extraordinary courage and agility.
“Was it true that the police had again been hoodwinked, justice derided, and the law set at defiance by a gang of ruffians who would have been run down in a fortnight had the police force been equal to the task entrusted to them?”
The newspaper questions whether the police are incompetent for failing to capture the gang quickly.
Reflects public criticism of the police and sympathy for the outlaws.
“We cannot, for the life of us, take a keen interest in thy capture. We owe thee much, Starlight; many a slashing leader, many a spicy paragraph, many a stately reflection on contemporary morals hast thou furnished us with.”
The editor admits he enjoys Starlight's exploits too much to want him caught.
Shows the media's ambivalent, almost admiring stance toward the bushranger.