"Tom Tallington saw a couple of men coming along the road and creep to the edge of the mere." "True! I had forgotten that," said the squire sharply.
"And that shows us that our enemies belong to a party somewhere at a distance, and that we should be wasting time in searching here.

Hallo! who's this ?" The exclamation was caused by the appearance of a dark figure coming towards them from the direction of the Toft.
"Why, it's Thorpeley, the constable!" said Dick in a whisper to his companion.
"Oh, it's you!" said the squire gruffly.

"Pity you weren't down here sooner." "Has it been an explosion, sir ?" said the constable in a smooth unctuous voice.
"Yes," said the squire abruptly, and he walked on with the engineer.
"Ah, I was going on to see!" said the constable; "but as you're all going back, I'll go back too." No one spoke, but all walked on in silence, for the man's coming seemed to have damped the conversation; but the opportunity for making himself heard and showing his importance was not to be ignored.
"They're very clever," he said in a high voice, so that the squire and Mr Marston, who were in front, could hear; "but I've got my hye upon them." "Why didn't you ketch 'em, then, 'fore they did this here ?" said Dave with a little laugh.
"Ay, why didst thou not stop this ?" growled Hickathrift.
"Because the thing was not quite ripe.

I shall tak' 'em yet red-handed, and then--" He paused and rubbed his hands.
"What then ?" asked Dave.
"Transportation or hanging--one of them," said the constable with a chuckle.
"Ay, but you heven't found 'em yet," said Dave, shaking his head.
"Nay, bud I can put my hand on 'em pretty well when I like." "Wheer are they, then ?" said Hickathrift excitedly.
"Ay, wheer are they ?" said the constable.

"Going about stealthily of a night, creeping behind hedges, and carrying messages one to the other.
I know! They think no one suspects them, and that they're going to be passed over, but I'm set here to find them out, and I've nearly got things ready." "Look here, my man," said the engineer, stopping short; "can you say for certain who's at the bottom of this mischief ?" "Mebbe I can, sir." "Then who was it ?" "Nay," said the constable with a little laugh; "if theer's going to be any credit for takkin of 'em, I mean to hev it, and not give it over to someone else." "Pish!" ejaculated the squire angrily; "come along! The man knows nothing." "Mebbe not," said the constable with a sneer.