“Come in here, Tom,” said Dick eagerly.
Tom obeyed with alacrity and stepped on board, while in short decisive tones the squire spoke:
“We will divide now, and approach on three sides. You, Marston, and you, Tallington, get well over so as to command a view all round, for this man must not escape.”
“Escape! No!” said Farmer Tallington fiercely.
“If he is there, I don’t think he will escape,” said Mr Marston sternly.
“Hah!” ejaculated the squire; “that is one reason why I waited for you both to come up. Now, gentlemen, and you, my good fellows, listen. There must be no violence.”
“No violence, eh!” said Farmer Tallington. “Didn’t he bon my place?”
“And shoot me?” said Mr Marston sternly.
“Yes, and his is evidently the hand which has committed a score of outrages, but all the same we must act as if we were the officers of the law: seize, bind, and hand him over to justice unhurt.”
There was a low murmur from the drain-men in Mr Marston’s boat.