About four o'clock
A native , however , who was employed at the station , searched for their footsteps , and was not long in finding them . `` The trail led to the woods , and the men stationed at the hut expressed an opinion that the convicts were in search of a gang of bushrangers , that had been secreted in the vicinity for many months , but had recently disbanded , and gone to the mines . `` I expected that the murderers would return to the hut for their horses , when they found that the men they wished to join were no longer organized as a gang ; so bidding the men conceal the horses , and retire within the walls of the stock-house , I waited hour after hour for them to come in sight . `` About four o'clock , my wish was gratified . Two stout , black-whiskered , desperate looking men , with rifles in their hands , and revolvers in their belts , came in sight , and advanced towards the hut , conversing in earnest tones , and apparently unsuspicious of the change that had taken place during their absence . `` I can only account for their boldness in returning , by the supposition that they had been so long accustomed to see men tremble when they raised their deadly weapons , that they were regardless whether the prisoners had released themselves or not . `` In fact , when the two convicts were advancing , I looked around on the numerous stockmen , and was surprised to see that they trembled and turned pale ; and yet they were surrounded by twelve policemen , as brave as Melbourne could produce .