Return to Athenry

In this final chapter, Michael Cleary returns home to Athenry, and has a reversal of fortune

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During the long and perilous sea voyage to Botany Bay, Michael proved his worth to the captain William Dobbs. His extraordinary abilities were apparently not limited merely to working with metal but it appeared he could turn his hand to anything that required an agile brain and nimble fingers to make or fix.

These remarkable abilities had resolved a number of problems that had arisen on the good ship Adamant during the long passage to Australia, for which the captain was most grateful.

The ship eventually dropped anchor in a port close to Botany Bay. Stretched out along the quayside were a fleet of horse-drawn carts, commissioned by the authorities to transport the prisoners to the penal colony. As Michael was about to climb into one of the carts, he felt a strong arm on his shoulder.

"This fine coach is not for you my bonny lad," a voice whispered in his ear. Michael turned and was surprised to see it was none other than the ship's captain, William Dobbs.

"You are to come with me instead." Michael hesitated, fearing the worst. William reassured him, saying that all was above board as his release into the captain's care had been authorised by the governor general himself.

"Cease yer worrying Michael. Where I'm taking ye is a hundred times better than the disease-ridden colony, where yer fellow convicts are destined to spend the next seven years..."

The journey took them to the suburbs of Sydney itself. The coach halted at what appeared to be a large factory.