about three in the
afternoon
`` Kate , of course , will please herself , '' said Mrs. Heathcote . `` Now do lie down and rest yourself . '' His rest , however , was not of long duration . As he had himself suggested , two policemen reached Gangoil at about three in the afternoon , on their way from Maryborough to Boolabong , in order that they might take Mr. Medlicot 's deposition . After Heathcote 's departure it had occurred to Sergeant Forrest of the police -- and the suggestion , having been transferred from the sergeant to the stipendiary magistrate , was now produced with magisterial sanction -- that , after all , there was no evidence against the Brownbies . They had simply interfered to prevent the burning of the grass on their own run , and who could say that they had committed any crime by doing so ? If Medlicot had seen Nokes with a lighted branch in his hand , the matter might be different with him ; and therefore Medlicot 's deposition was taken .