They were picked off, slowly, surely, quietly, mysteriously.
And this was the chief reason that they sought to negotiate with the Harkaway party by giving up their enemy Hunston.
But still the work went on.
There was only one man in the whole band who had the courage to lay the facts before them.
"We must move away from this part of the country," he said. "Once let us see how matters turn out with our comrades who have fallen into the hands of these English people, and then we must be gone."
But while they waited more fell.
Several got taken prisoners, and the band presented a very thin appearance.
The day of trial approached for the brigands, of whom Hunston was one.
And the verdict was universally foreseen.
They were condemned to death for the murder of the two boys, Harry Girdwood and young Jack.