THE ROUT OF THE THIMBLE-MEN 121 



under strong escort to the borough gaol. They were 

 brought up two days later before the magistrates, and 

 committed to Wakefield House of Correction for more or 

 less lengthy terms of hard labour. 



Such was the rout of the thimble-men, the story of 

 which I have heard from the lips of those who took part 

 in it, among them that famous huntsman of the Fitzwilliam 

 hounds, Tom Sebright. The thimble-men never held up 

 their heads after that. Their ring was completely broken. 

 Isolated gangs, indeed, continued for some time to prowl 

 about the Southern race-courses, but as a regular organisa- 

 tion of audacious robbers they were crushed out. 



