But the day was at hand, on which the violation of public security could no longer be restrained, by the infliction of temporary punishment.

A set of desperate and hardened villains leagued themselves for the purposes of depredation, and, as it generally happens, had art enough to persuade some others, less deeply versed in iniquity, to be the instruments for carrying it on.

Fortunately the progress of these miscreants was not of long duration.

They were detected in stealing a large quantity of provisions at the time of issuing them.

And on being apprehended, one of the tools of the superiors impeached the rest, and disclosed the scheme.