Dick had given Butts the taste of a carrot and now fled, dangling the
inviting vegetable, Butts following at his heels.

'Go for it, Ted!' he yelled, and the two rushed over the flat ground, up
the hill, and across the thinly-timbered bush to the road. A good run
brought them up to the main flock, Butts still ambling gaily in the rear,
making hungry bites at the carrot hitched under Dick's belt at the back.

'Rush 'em along!' cried the panting Moonlighter. 'We've waked the blessed
town. Heel 'em, Cop, heel 'em!

Peterson and Jacker went ahead dangling cabbages; the dog entered into
the spirit of the thing with enthusiasm and worked the flock in his very
best style; and so the boys of Waddy, hot, excited, very frightened of
probable pursuers, but wondrously elated, swept the great drove of goats
up the road in the light of the waning moon. The pace was warm for a
mile, but then, the dread of pursuit having evaporated, the marauders
slowed down, and for the rest of the journey they were experienced
drovers bringing down the largest lot of stock that had ever been handled
by man, full of technical phrases and big talk of runs, and plains, and
flooded rivers, and long, waterless spells. It was Jacker Mack who
sounded the first note of dismay.

'Jee-rusalem! How 'bout the toll?'

Nobody had thought of the toll-bar, and there were the big, white gates
already in sight, stretching across the road, threatening to bring dismal
failure upon the expedition when complete success seemed imminent.