Therefore it was decided that Dick Shillito and the two Watsons should each ride, at once, to neighbouring stations to bring aid.

At one of the stations two more policemen would be found, and as in the pursuit they should probably pass near other stations, their numbers would swell as they went.

When this was settled, the party sat down to the meal.
"How did you come upon them, Shillito ?" Caister asked.
"I had been spending the day with the Wilkinsons.

I did not start to ride home till it was rather late, and I was riding fast when, about a quarter of a mile before I got to my place, I rode right into the middle of a lot of men on horseback.

They evidently hadn't heard me coming, and were as much surprised as I was.
"There was a general shout of 'Bail up!' and I saw at once what sort of gentry they were.