"AN ARMED HORSEMAN … SHOUTED 'BAIL UP!'" (p. 170.)
"We are in for it now. That fellow is Jim Kearney, I feel sure, the forger and murderer. I've seen his portrait at the police station at Bateman. We must ride like mad to escape them."
"Why, Kearney is Starlight's right-hand man."
"Yes, and it is Starlight and his band who are looking out for us."
"We ought to have Margaret here."
"How can you joke, Geordie, when in a minute we may have eight or ten of the most bloodthirsty villains in Australia after us."
"Can't help it, I am really as serious as you are, Heaven knows."
They were all close together now, for Murri had overtaken them, and were galloping along at a break-neck rate. As George spoke they could hear behind them shouts, and the sound of many horses galloping at full speed. The bushrangers had heard the cry Kearney had given as he fell, and the sound of the shot Alec had fired at his horse. The pursuit had begun. Above the noise their horses made as they tore over the ground the boys could hear the faint shouts of the men in pursuit.
"Now then, bail up." "If you don't stop we'll shoot every one of you." "You can't get away." And such like cheering sentences, all uttered in the angriest and savagest of tones, and interlarded with oaths and curses. The men were still some way behind them, but the evening was so calm that they could overhear nearly all that was shouted at them.