Book III of  The Australians. Continuing the stories of the Taggarts and the Dawsons. Jenny Taggart, a young widow, is reunited with her old friend and lover Andrew Hawley. Andrew is forced to serve the irascible governor William Bligh during his disputes with Jon Macarthur and the Corps officers as Jenny and Andrew fight to build a new life within the growing colony. Justin, Jenny’s son, longs for adventure.  This volumes also sees the arrival of beautiful newly-arrived Abigail Tempest, her sister Lucy and their sinister guardian Reverend Caleb Boskenna.