Now, loit’ring in a wood, they stay’d till night

Now, loit’ring in a wood, they stay’d till night Avail’d them for their unmolested flight, And then sought refuge in a roadside-inn; Where the carousal scarcely did begin Ere some great noise excites the villains’ fear— They’re startled! therefore try to disappear. But there remain’d no shadow of a chance; For six determined officers advance And seize them. But what next ensued?— They aim resistance, and with clubs of wood Assail the constables with awful rage; Who, in return, assiduously engage In direful conflict, and at length subdue The barb’rous and antagonistic crew:— The word “Surrender,” fraught with dreadful threat, With due submission instantly was met. Thus, then, o’erpower’d, dejected, and dismay’d, Like sheep to slaughter they were instant led— With handcuff’d wrists—each to a felon’s cell, Where they awaited their disastrous trial.