Black Snake Read Free Page B

would pretend he was a squatter’s son taking horses to sell at a market. He would stop at another squatter’s property and ask if he could put his animals in a paddock overnight so they didn’t stray. Another gang member would arrive and say he was interested in buying the horses. The two would agree on a price and then ask the squatter to witness the receipt that they wrote out. They would then pretend to go off in opposite directions. This way there was a “genuine” receipt to offer as proof that the animals weren’t stolen when they really tried to sell them.
    Close of Business
    The gang weren’t the only ones involved in horse and cattle theft at the time. There was a complicated network of thieves. Thieves stole from other thieves and it was impossible to tell whether stock offered for sale was genuine or not. Buying stolen stock was considered to be almost as serious a crime as stealing it.
    Eventually, other men were arrested for receiving horses that the gang had stolen, though Ned was suspected of being the main culprit. Knowing that it was only a matter of time until someone informed on him, Ned sold his remaining horses and disappeared into the bush.
    Ned’s brother Dan decided to go home. With no evidence to prove that he was involved in the theft of stock, the police left him alone—for a while. Before long, though, a warrant was issued for Dan’s arrest. He was charged with a theft that had happened more than six months earlier.

    Ned’s prison record listing his “particular marks”, including scars and freckles.

    Ned after beating Wild Wright in a boxing match.

    Area of Kelly Gang activities in Victoria

4. One Stray Bullet
    What if you were there...
    The day had seemed no different to any other. Mother and I had spent it washing the sheets and making quince jam. We had just eaten our dinner. I was rocking the baby, looking down at her innocent sleeping face, thinking here’s another mouth to feed, but also another sister. Funny how a new baby can appear in the family, a stranger, unable to speak or do anything but cry, but within two days you can’t help but love them fiercely. My mother was heaping coals on the fire around the bread she was baking. The yeasty smell was starting to overpower the smell of smoke. My brother Daniel had come in late and was still eating.
    There was a knock at the door. I waited for Daniel to get up and answer it, but he made no move, concentrating on demolishing the plate of stew in front of him. I sighed and gently lowered the baby into her cradle—actually a fruit box on roughly cut rockers. Another more insistent knock and Danny finally hauled himself up and over to the door, still holding his knife and fork and yelling, “Can’t a man eat in peace?”
    Dan opened the door. “I’ve come to arrest you, Dan Kelly, on a charge of horse stealing.” I recognised our visitor’s voice. It was Constable Fitzpatrick from Benalla. I’d met him before at the Sports Day. I’d thought him quite handsome at the time.
    Danny glanced back at mother and me. “Can I at least finish my dinner?” he said. No one invited him in, but Fitzpatrick came in anyway. He didn’t bother to take off his helmet.
    Mother turned to the trooper, her hands on her hips, her face red from the fire. “Where’s the warrant, then?” she demanded. She turned to Dan. “You shouldn’t have let him in if he’s got no warrant.”
    “It’s all right, Mother,” Danny said calmly, sitting down at the table again and scraping up the last of his stew. “Is that bread ready yet?”
    Mother pulled the loaf of bread from the fire and put it on the table. Danny wasn’t in a hurry. He hacked an inch-thick slice from one end and used it to mop up his gravy. He drained his tin mug of tea. Finally he pushed his chair away from the table. “I’ll just get my coat.”
    Danny went into the other room. Mother followed him, still protesting that he didn’t have to go anywhere if there was no