Willie Dennis and Silas Dixon followed the constable, and were horrified at what they saw.
'There has been a desperate scene here,' said Doonan, 'and Sal is gone. They may have taken her away. We must send a messenger at once for your father, my lad.'
'I'll go,' said Willie. 'I am a light weight and can ride fast. You and Silas must search for Sal.'
'That will be the best plan,' said Doonan.
'I'll start now,' said Willie. 'We can clear up here when we return.'
'We must leave everything as it is until I have made my report to Sergeant Machinson,' said the constable. 'He will have to make a move against Dalton's gang this time.'
Willie was soon on his way to Barragong, his blood boiling with rage at the outrage that had been committed at Wanabeen, and he wondered what had become of Sal.
In the meantime, Constable Doonan and Silas Dixon were scouring the country in search of the missing woman.
At the hut where Dalton and his men had been in hiding Doonan examined the place and found the members of the gang had been concealed there.
'They must have seen you and Willie ride away,' he said; 'and in that case they would have a long start of us.'