"I left Wilkins behind, and rode on to tell you what had happened." "What has happened, Jones ?" "It's a bad business, sir, a shocking bad business; but it might have been worse.

It seems they broke in about half an hour before we got there.

One of the hands was supposed to be on watch in the stockyard; but either he was asleep, or they crept up to him and killed him before he could give the alarm.

Then they got up to the house and burst in the door, before the others were fairly awake.
"They shot the two hands at once; but I suppose, as their blood wasn't up, and no resistance was offered, they thought they had plenty of time for fooling; for they must have reckoned that no force they need be afraid of could be got together, for three or four hours.

So they made Donald and his wife and sister get breakfast for them.