AustLit

Melodramatic romance. Two friends are rivals for the same woman. She accepts Hal's proposal. The rivals go climbing together and are captured by brigands who agree to let one go to bring back a ransom and to shoot his friend if he does not reappear. Hal stays - but his rival decides to let him be shot and tells the girl he is already dead. The chief agrees to let Hal go to discover if his friend is false or dead before he returns. Hal proves him false; the chief lets him off and kills the treacherous rival; the brigand's honour is nobler than the Englishman's. (PB)