'Stir a foot an' you're a dead man.' The rider waited for no more, but threw himself forward on his horse's neck, dug in his spurs, and galloped furiously away in the direction of Cow Flat, hearing the reports of the boys' crackers only when he was far out of range.

The next victim was a small boy on a pony, who, as soon as he heard the terrible command, fell plump on to the road and then jumped up and fled in terror after his bolting horse.

The gang had now spread consternation and dismay along quite two miles of the highway, and were jubilant in consequence and primed for any adventure however desperate.
Dick entertained his men with talk of the glory they had earned by their actions that night, and predicted a reputation for them beside which the reputation of every other gang of bushrangers Australia had known would fade into insignificance.
The boys listened soberly, very elated and perfectly happy.
'But we mustn't let the nex' one go so easy,' said the leader.
'Here is someone,' whispered Fork Lightning.
Sure enough, a pedestrian could be dimly discerned approaching from the direction of the toll-gate.
'To yer horses! commanded Red Hand.
'Why, it's a woman,' said Peterson.
'Who cares ?' 'Thought bushrangers never did nothin' to the women ?' 'Oh,' said Dick, 'that's on'y when they're young an' pretty.

If this one's young an' pretty I'll 'polo gise, an' it'll be all right.

There ain't no reason not to bail 'em up when they're big an' strong an' able to take care o' themselves.' This seemed quite reasonable to the gang, and they saw as the lady approached that her size did not give her any claim upon their gallantry.
She was very tall and stout.