human
Seen anyone looking round lately, Sam?
gpt
A couple of trappers came over from Indian Head two days ago.
human
Where did they hail from?
gpt
The Wood Hills.
human
What sort did they look?
gpt
One was a dark man, with great black eyes, a large beard, and a nose like a Jew’s; he was about my own height, five foot ten or thereabouts. His companion was rather shorter, looked pale and sickly, as if a meal or two would not be thrown away upon him; and both were under forty years old.
human
Bravo, Sam! you’ll make a good ’tec in time.
gpt
Why, do you know them?
human
Know them? I should think I do! Your description fits the men I want to a T.
gpt
Puffey,
human
Who are they?
gpt
Did you hear about the murder at the Beaver Hills?
human
Yes; my mate was telling me all about it only last night.
gpt
Old Robson and his two sons made a plucky stand, but the band was too strong for them.
human
Were all three of them killed?
gpt
They set fire to the homestead, and when the flames at length compelled them to fly they were shot down like rabbits.
human
What became of the two women?
gpt
They were fortunately away on a visit to a friend at Wolseley, and did not return that night.
human
They succeeded in driving away about forty head of cattle, which have been traced into the neighbourhood of the Touchwood Hills.
gpt
But, said Sam, after a pause,
human
Everything, responded Stone.
gpt
Perhaps you have heard of the Warple Band?
human
To be sure I have.
gpt
Well, the Warple Band are believed to have been for some time located in the ’Touchwood’; and now I feel certain about it, for the description you gave of the two men who were here answers exactly to that which I have obtained of the two leaders, from one of whom it gets its name.
human
Do you think so?
gpt
I don’t think at all about it—I’m certain!
human
Well, what will be your next move then?
gpt
Ah! that remains to be seen,
human
Well, certainly appearances are deceiving, for I should never have taken the two fellows, who, as I told you, looked like trappers, to be the desperate characters you say they are.
gpt
No; and yet they are wanted for some of the foulest and darkest of crimes.
human
What are you going to do to-night?
gpt
I shall return at once to Wolseley and report.