It was midnight, and they had a ride of fourteen miles, which was hard enough upon a man with a broken collarbone.

The whole party also was thoroughly fatigued.

The work they had been doing was about as hard as could fall to a man's lot, and they had now been many hours without food.
Before they started Mickey produced his flask, the contents of which were divided equally among them all, including Jacko.
As they were preparing to start home Medlicot explained that it had struck him by degrees that Heathcote might be right in regard to Nokes, and that he had determined to watch the man himself whenever he should leave the mill.

On that Monday he had given up work somewhat earlier than usual, saying that, as the following day was Christmas, he should not come to the mill.

From that time Medlicot and his foreman had watched him.
"Yes," said he, in answer to a question from Heathcote, "I can swear that I saw him with the lighted torch in his hand, and that he placed it among the grass.