Excursion to Port Arthur . 
281 
was accordingly reported as an absconder. A couple 
of days elapsed, when a man cutting brooms thought 
he heard groans, which as he approached grew more 
distinct, until, at the foot of a gigantic gum tree, 
clotted with gore, and fly-blown, he beheld the hapless 
sufferer. Shouting for aid, and hastening to the creek, 
he washed the vermin from the mouth of the mangled 
creature, who was so disfigured as to be unknown by his 
comrade, the person who sought to relieve him. t£ Don t 
you know me, Tom? I am Sydney.” Assistance having 
arrived, he was forthwith conveyed to the hospital, where 
he sufficiently recovered to identify his assassin. It 
appears that they had no sooner reached the creek than 
Boardman was assaulted by Belfield, who dealt him some 
severe blows on the head: the stick breaking, Belfield 
seized a heavier one, and belaboured the poor fellow 
until he became insensible. Not satisfied, the young 
monster c< jobbed” a liaftless knife between the spinal 
process of the neck, and then fled to concoct the story 
of absconding. Boardman lingered until the 2nd of 
January; and Belfield is now in Hobart Town Gaol. 
When we saw him in the cells at Port Arthur, he looked 
a poor, simple, well-featured boy, with a countenance 
expressive of anything but ferocity. He did not attempt 
to deny his guilt to Sir. Manton, but wept bitterly. He 
assigned no reason for the bloody deed, and, as no pro¬ 
bable cause can be traced, it is one of utter mystery. 
At the dockyard we found most of the people busily 
prepared to heave down the Favourite in order to her 
thorough refit: a launch for the Lady Franklin , a lighter, 
and an exquisitely proportioned 18-ton gun-boat, cal¬ 
culated to carry a long 32 -pounder, were in a very 
forward state, and the timber of a 100-ton cutter in 
process of conversion. We visited the Favourite , a 
cruiser of 430 tons and 18 carronades, with a crew of 
