They arrived by two o'clock
in the morning, and, on knocking several times, the door was opened
and they seized another man, the only one who was found in it. They
then went back to the cottage with their prisoner, and by the time
that they had arrived it was daylight. As soon as the party sent by
the intendant had been supplied with a breakfast, Edward bade farewell
to Humphrey and his sisters, that he might return and deliver up his
prisoners. Pablo went with him to bring back the cart which carried
the two dead bodies. This capture cleared the forest of the robbers
which had so long infested it, for they never had any more attempts
made from that time.
Before Edward left, Humphrey and he examined the box which Humphrey
had dug up from under the oak, and which had occasioned such danger to
the inmates of the cottage; for one of the men stated to Edward that
they suspected that the box which they had seen Humphrey dig out
contained treasure, and that without they had seen him in possession
of it, they never should have attacked the cottage, although Corbould
had often persuaded them so to do; but as they knew that he was only
seeking revenge--and they required money to stimulate them--they had
refused, as they considered that there was nothing to be obtained in
the cottage worth the risk, as they knew that the inmates had
firearms, and would defend themselves.
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