The best of the joke was that the passengers started running up full split to warm themselves, and came bump against the coach before they found out what was up. One of them had just opened out for a bit of blowing. “Billy, old man,” he says, “I’ll report you to the Company if you crawl along this way,” when he catches sight of me and Starlight, standing still and silent, with our revolvers pointing his way. By George! I could hardly help laughing. His jaw dropped, and he couldn’t get a word out. His throat seemed quite dry.

“Now, gentlemen,” says Starlight, quite cool and cheerful-like,“you understand her Majesty’s mail is stuck up, to use a vulgar expression, and there’s no use resisting. I must ask you to stand in a row there by the fence, and hand out all the loose cash, watches, or rings you may have about you. Don’t move; don’t, I say, sir, or I must fire.” (This was to a fidgety, nervous man who couldn’t keep quiet.) “Now, Number One, fetch down the mail bags; Number Two, close up here.”

Here Jim walked up. revolver in hand, and Starlight begins at the first man, very stern

“Hand out your cash; keep back nothing, if you value your life.”

You never saw a man in such a funk. He was a storekeeper, we found afterwards. He nearly dropped on his knees. Then he handed Starlight a bundle of notes, a gold watch, and took a handsome diamond ring from his finger. This Starlight put into his pocket. He handed the notes and watch to Jim, who had a leather bag ready for them. The man sank down to the ground; he had fainted.

He was left to pick himself up. No. 2 was told to shell out. They all had something. Some had sovereigns, some had notes and small cheques, which are as good in a country place. The squatters draw too many to know the numbers of half that are out, so there’s no great chance of their being stopped.‘There were eighteen male passengers, besides the chap on the box-seat. We made him come down. By the time we’d got through them all it was best part of an hour.

I pulled the mail bags through the fence and put them under a tree. Then Starlight went to the coach where the two women were. He took off his hat and bowed.

“Unpleasant necessity, madame, most painful to my feelings altogether, I assure you. I must really ask you—ah—is the young lady your daughter, madame?”

“Not at all,” says the oldest, stout, middle-aged woman; “I never set eyes on her before.”

“Indeed, madame,” says Starlight, bowing again; “excuse my curiosity, I am desolated. I assure you, but may I trouble you for your watches and purses?”