Robbery Under Arms · Chapter
XX explained
After escaping from Berrima Gaol, Dick Marston, Jim Marston, and Captain Starlight ride through the night to evade capture.
What happens
After escaping from Berrima Gaol, Dick Marston, Jim Marston, and Captain Starlight ride through the night to evade capture. They stop at a roadside hut to retrieve a horse, then gallop across rough terrain, navigating by the stars. Starlight promises his horse Rainbow to Maddie Barnes and a watch and chain to Bella Barnes. The group plans to hide at the Hollow, with Jim's father providing fresh horses and intelligence on police movements.
Themes in this chapter
The Bush and Outlaw Life
The night ride through the bush, navigating by stars and evading police, epitomizes the freedom and danger of the outlaw existence.
Fate and Free Will
Dick's joy in the ride contrasts with the looming threat of recapture, reflecting the tension between chosen freedom and inevitable fate.
Characters to notice
- Jim Marston
Leads the escape, retrieves a horse from a hut, and navigates by the stars to avoid police.
- Captain Starlight
Charms the Barnes girls with promises of gifts, including Rainbow to Maddie and a watch to Bella; rides with the group.
- Dick Marston
Narrates the escape, feeling joy and freedom after prison, riding his own horse through the night.
- Bella Barnes
Eldest Barnes girl, flirts with Starlight and is promised a watch and chain.
- Maddie Barnes
Youngest Barnes girl, expresses desire for Rainbow and is promised the horse in Starlight's will.
- Dad Marston
Mentioned as providing fresh horses and intelligence to aid the escape.
Key passages
“What a different feel from prison air the fresh night breeze had as we swept along a lonely outside track!”
The fresh night breeze felt completely different from the prison air as we rode along a remote track.
Dick contrasts the oppressive prison atmosphere with the liberating outdoor ride.
“I felt like a king, and as for what might come afterwards I had no more thought than a schoolboy has of his next year’s lessons at the beginning of his holidays.”
I felt like a king, with no more concern for the future than a schoolboy at the start of his holidays.
Dick expresses the overwhelming joy and carefree attitude of his newfound freedom.