The turning point

Prior to his three year imprisonment in Pentridge Gaol, Ned’s association with Harry Powers had gotten Ned in prison several times. After his second imprisonment, he tries to stay away from trouble, even working for the police. However, an attempt to help his friend Wright makes him in trouble with the police again. Constable Hall lies at court, causing Ned to be unjustly imprisoned for three years on the charges of stealing a horse that was not yet legally stolen. After his release, it was interesting to note that Ned’s experience in jail would continue to affect him as he tries to stay away from trouble and Eleven Mile Creek as much as possible. (180) Instead of hating the police and attempting to have revenge, he actually fears the police and only turns his anger towards Wright. For the next two years of his life, Ned lives a peaceful life, always avoiding the police instead of being bitter towards the police force. Despite all the injustice done towards him, Ned never attempted to avenge himself. His whole peaceful life is driven both by a fear of being put to jail and a chance to live a lawful life free from trouble.

However, Dan is threatened by Cons Flood and Ned immediately leaves his peaceful life in response to Cons Flood’s threats. He is willing to steal Whitty’s horses despite the possibility of being put to jail, an action he would never undertake during those two years of peace. It also is ironic how Ned’s mother completely opposes Ned’s desire to steal horses. (200) Before his three-year imprisonment, it was his mother who wanted Ned to steal the horses and it was Ned who had opposed the idea, not wanting to do anything unlawful. This time, it is Ned who plans to steal the horses and it is his mother, who had been much affected by his imprisonment, who begs him not to. She never pleads for her husband, George King, to stop stealing horses and yet she begs Ned not to. The obvious reason for her seemingly contradictory reactions is that she cannot bear to see her son in jail again. This seems to indicate that Ned’s imprisonment had a much more lasting effect on his mother than it had on him. The reason for Ned’s sudden desire to break the law when his brother comes riding to his sawmill though he had been trying to stay away from all possible trouble only minutes before is very simple-to avenge all the sufferings his family had endured. He never really bothered to avenge his own sufferings at the hands of the police but when his family is threatened, he immediately reacts. This sheds much light on Ned’s character. As an individual, he ultimately desires to leave a peaceful life away from trouble and the police. However, he is immediately willing to cast this all aside whenever he feels like his family is threatened.