I suppose most of us here have had similar experiences." There was a general chorus of assent among the settlers.
"Many of them are poor-spirited wretches.

Two of them bailed up a waggoner of mine, coming out with a load from the port.

He pretended to give in and, as they were opening some of the boxes, he knocked one over with the butt end of his whip.

The other fired a hasty shot, and then jumped on to his horse and galloped off again; and my man brought in the fellow he had stunned." "Did you hand him over to the police ?" Reuben asked.
"Not I," the settler laughed.

"I thought he had got what he deserved, so I bandaged up his head and let him go.