“The watchman had remained in his hiding-place up to the present time, but now turning half round I beckoned him to show himself.
“He did so.
“‘Take that man into custody,’ I cried, ‘for robbing the post-office.’
“Brown was too much alarmed to make any resistance, and in half a minute the handcuffs were glittering on his wrists.
“Wareham looked on at this with blank amazement; then when it was finished and his friend secure, he burst into a loud laugh and exclaimed—‘Sold, by Heavens!’
“The watchman now came to my assistance, and we advanced to Wareham, who retired until he came to the mouth of the pneumatic tube.
“I made sure of catching him, and was already congratulating myself upon having apprehended the prisoners without any bloodshed, when I was unpleasantly forced to remember that there was such a thing as a slip between the cup and the lip.
“Just as our hands were upon him Wareham courageously gave a spring and entered the tube, taking a recumbent position upon the waggon by the side of the plundered mail-bag.
“Seizing the handle he pulled the door to after him. This, I afterwards found, was the signal for the workmen to put the machinery in motion. The bird escaped from my hand just as I was about to seize it.
“I do not think that Wareham imagined the waggon would be at once propelled through the tube; it is more probable that he wished to gain a temporary asylum; but a loud rumbling soon informed us that something was taking place inside.