They have frequently taken life from a feeling of private vengeance, but not often while robbing on the king's highway.

The sheriff, now finding that one pistol had missed, was about to draw out the second, when he was knocked insensible off his horse, and on recovering found himself minus the fines which he had that day levied--all the private cash about him--and his case of pistols.

This indeed was a bitter incident to him; because, in addition to the loss of his private purse and firearms--which he valued as nothing--he knew that he was responsible to government for the amount of the fines.
With considerable difficulty he was able to remount his horse, and with a sense of stupor, which was very painful, he recommenced his journey home.

After a ride of about two miles he met three horsemen, who immediately challenged him and demanded his name and residence.
"I am the sheriff of the county," he replied, "and have been robbed of a large sum of money and my pistols; and now," he added, "may I beg to know who you are, and by what authority you demand my name and residence ?" "Excuse us, Mr.Sheriff," they replied; "we belong to the military detachment which government has placed under the control of Sir Robert Whitecraft." "Oh, indeed," exclaimed the sheriff; "I wish to heaven you had been a little more advanced on your journey; you might have saved me from being plundered, as I have been, and probably secured the robber." "Could you observe, sir, what was the villain's appearance ?" "I had a small lantern," replied the functionary, "by which I caught a brief but uncertain glance of him.

I am not quite certain that I could recognize his features, though, if I saw him again--but--perhaps I might, certainly I could his dress." "How was he dressed, sir ?" they inquired.
"Quite beyond the common," said the sheriff; "I think he had on a brown coat, of superior cloth and make, and I think, too, the buckles of his slices were silver." "And his features, Mr.Sheriff ?" "I cannot exactly say," he returned; "I was too much agitated to be able to recollect them; but indeed the dim glimpse I got was too brief to afford me an opportunity of seeing them with any thing like distinctness." "From the description you have given, sir," said one of them, "the man who robbed you must have been Reilly the Outlaw.