By: Tyler, Yeseung, Yannick

Thornhills first night in New South Wales in He steps out to take a breath and encounters an Aboriginal man. Thornhill tries to scare him off but realizes that he cant. This sets the scene for the main conflict of the novel. The fight for control over the land in New South Wales. PROLOGUE

William Thornhill grew up in London in the late 18 th century. He had a rough childhood and his parents had to do harsh jobs for money. He then becomes an apprentice for Mr. Middleton. After seven years of rowing up and down the Thames, transporting gentry, he develops a hatred of the gentry. He feels the unjustness of the social system. He works himself to the ground in effort to gain a house and land. PART 1- THORNHILLS ADOLESCENCE

Thornhill falls in love with Mr. Middleton’s daughter, Sal. They get married and Will becomes a free waterman. He continues to build a life for him and Sal. The next winter, the river freezes over and puts Thornhill out of business for the time. Sal’s parents both die short after and Will and Sal are forced out of Swan Lane. PART 1- CONTINUED

Will then works for another master. He does not earn enough. Will and Sal only survive due to Will stealing small amounts off his shipments. He is then caught stealing a shipment of Brazilian wood and gets the death sentence. Due to Sal’s efforts, Will gets transferred to New South Wales, aka Australia. During the voyage, another child Is born. Dick. PART 1- CONTINUED

The Thornhills are shocked at the shabbiness of Sydney. Will works in the Sydney harbor. Sal opens a little bar called The Pickled Herring. Will receives his ticket of leave after 12 months. Mr. King, his master hires a new person to check each shipment so Thornhill quits before he gets caught. He then begins to work for Thomas Blackwood. He then uses the Hawkesbury river for his trade. PART 2- NEW SOUTH WALES

When Thornhill goes up the Hawkesbury, he falls in love with a piece of land. He is determined to make it his, Thornhills Point. He meets Smasher Sullivan, who is a mean mouthed settler who has a vendetta against the natives. Blackwood doesn’t like Smasher because of his cruel ways with the natives. Blackwood is in cahoots with the natives. Blackwood believes in the saying “ Take a little, give a little.” PART 2- CONTINUED

Blackwood then retires to a piece of land up the Hawkesbury. Will borrows money from Mr. King to buy Blackwood's boat. Will and Willie use their own boat now to take up the Hawkesbury trade. They get a good living. Will tells Sal about his dream about getting Thornhills Point. She resists at first but then gives Will 5 years and they all move to Thornhills Point. PART 3- A CLEARING IN THE FOREST

Will has problems with the natives since day 1. A clan lives in the area around Thornhills Point. The don’t accept Thornhill as the owner of the land. Will gets into a physical conflict with the natives over the corn patch. They retaliate by torching it. Sal urges Thornhill to go back to Sydney. During the debate on weather to move back to Sydney, Will notices that Saggity’s place is on fire. As Sal packs the bags, Will goes to help Saggity who has been speared through the gut. PART 3- CONTINUED

Thornhill takes Saggity to Windsor but Saggity dies soon after. Other settlers, lead by Smasher, agree to put an end to the natives in the area. Will is reluctant but realizes it is the only way Sal would stay. The group go to the clan near Blackwoods place and slaughter all of them. Smasher is speared by Whisker Harry and Thornhill shoots Harry. PART 3- CONTINUED

Will becomes a wealthy land owner, builds a stone house and the new settlers consider him a member of Australia's Gentry. Dick leaves to live with Blackwood. He could not accept what his father had done. Long Jack is the only remaining member of the native clan. He is permanently disabled and sits on Thornhills point still challenging ownership. PART 4