We didn't want him about here." "I dare say not," said the sergeant.

"Now let me go and see the spot where the fight was." So the two policemen, with the two young Brownbies, rode away, leaving Boscobel with the old man.
"He knows every thing about it," said old Brownbie.
"If he do," said Boscobel, "it ain't no odds." "Not a ha'porth of odds," said Jerry, coming out of his hiding-place.
"Who cares what he knows?
A man may do what he pleases on his own run, I suppose." "He mayn't light a fire as 'll spread," said the old man.
"Bother! Who's to prove what's in a man's mind?
If I'd been Nokes, I'd have staid and seen it out.

I'd never be driven about the colony by such a fellow as Heathcote, with all the police in the world to back him." Sergeant Forrest inspected the ground on which the fire had raged, and the spot on which the men had met; but nothing came of his inspection, and he had not expected that any thing would come of it.
He could see exactly where the fire had commenced, and could trace the efforts that had been made to stop it.

He did not in the least doubt the way in which it had been lit.

But he did very much doubt whether a jury could find Nokes guilty, even if he could catch Nokes.
Jacko's evidence was worth nothing, and Mr.Medlicot might be easily mistaken as to what he had seen at a distance in the middle of the night.
All this happened on Christmas-day.