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Chapter 2

LatergenerationsofArmstrongsinsistedhecameofSomersetgentlefolkwhohadlosttheirfortunefollowingtheAmericanRevolution,andthathiscrimewasnonexistent,butnoneofthemhadevertriedveryhardtotracetheirillustriousancestor’sbackground.Theyjustbaskedinhisreflectedgloryandimprovisedsomewhat.

WhateverhisoriginsandstatusinEnglishlife,theyoungRoderickArmstrongwasatartar.Allthroughtheunspeakableeightmonths’voyagetoNewSouthWalesheprovedastubborn,difficultprisoner,furtherendearinghimselftohisship’sofficersbyrefusingtodie.WhenhearrivedinSydneyin1803hisbehaviorworsened,sohewasshippedtoNorfolkIslandandtheprisonforintractables.Nothingimprovedhisconduct.Theystarvedhim;theyimmuredhiminacellsosmallhecouldneithersit,standnorlie;theyfloggedhimtojelliedpulp;theychainedhimtoarockintheseaandlethimhalf-drown.Andhelaughedatthem,askinnycollectionofbonesinfilthycanvas,notatoothinhismouthoraninchofhisskinunscarred,litfromwithinbyafireofbitternessanddefiancenothingseemedtoquench.Atthebeginningofeachdayhewilledhimselfnottodie,andattheendofeachdayhelaughedintriumphtofindhimselfstillalive.