Barney and the Secret of the French Spies

CHAPTER 1

Barney’s Farm, Colony of New South Wales June 1798

‘Help!’ I screamed. But no one heard me: there wasn’t anyone to hear my cry echo through the trees and tussocks and along the river. No one except the o’possums and the sheep. Was I really going to die here, alone? Only nineteen, with so much still to live for? ‘Help me! Please!’ I choked again. I tried to prise away the rope that strangled me. The rope twisted tighter and

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