The miscreant probably had remembered this, and had known that he might escape stealthily without the noise of a rapid retreat.
When the work was over, when he had put out the fire he had himself lighted, and had exterminated the lingering remnants of that which had been intended to destroy him, he stood still a while almost in despair.

His condition seemed to be hopeless.

What could he do against such a band of enemies, knowing as he did that, had he been backed even by a score of trusty followers, one foe might still suffice to ruin him?
At the present moment he was very hot with the work he had done, as were also Jacko and the German.

O'Dowd had also come up as they were completing their work.

Their mode of extinguishing the flames had been to beat them down with branches of gum-tree loaded with leaves.