Whoever the intruder was, he should be run to earth and made to give an account of himself.

They felt perfectly capable of taking him prisoner and binding his hands behind him with a rope.

Indeed, they thought they should hugely enjoy doing so, particularly if he turned out to be a burglar.

Numbers give courage, and a very martial spirit was in the air.
"If he's hiding in one of the tents we'll drag him out by the legs!" proclaimed Marjorie Earnshaw fiercely.
Everybody was sure it must be a "he".

The news spread through the camp like lightning, and it was even rumoured that he wore a coat and top-boots.