One look at the swirling water and Gardiner knew that handcuffed he couldn’t reach the other side. Picking up a heavy stick he turned to face his foe.

Hosie took careful aim and slowly squeezed the trigger, the heavy slug exploded out of the barrel and sped towards its target....and missed it completely. Both men stood and looked at each other with mutual disbelief. Gardiner charged at Hosie wielding his stick like a lance.

The policeman swung with his gun butt and they locked in combat, battering each other until they both collapsed. Hosie awoke with Fogg's pigs licking the blood from his face; he had Darkie covered when he came around. 

What happened next is uncertain as there are conflicting versions of the story.

Trooper Hosie stated in his report that he waited for reinforcements that never came. He concluded that the Sergeant must have died before reaching Bigga. 

(He had in fact fallen from his horse in a dead faint. Unable to remount he held on to the horse’s tail while the animal slowly grazed his way back into town). 

Hosie decided to take the prisoner back by himself. They set off with Fogg supporting Darkie in the saddle. Along the way they were waylaid by Piesley and another man in a mask. If not for Fogg’s intervention, the trooper swore that Piesley would have blown him to kingdom come to rescue his mate.

When Hosie’s story became public, Johnny Piesley was stung to reply. In a letter to the “Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal” he claimed that he had been miles away. Several independent witnesses supported the claim. He later denied it again on the gallows. 

Fogg’s version was told many years later. 

As the afternoon wore on Hosie became more nervous. Fogg asked how much he expected as a reward for the bushranger’s capture. “About ten pounds”, was the reply. 

A few minutes later Fogg mentioned that the old man who had been present at the beginning of the fight had disappeared, probably to get Piesley. It was suggested that Fogg offered Hosie £50 to pretend that Gardiner had been rescued by Piesley. It didn’t take long to make up his mind; he took the money and bolted. 

This version of events was backed up by the old man, James Barney, and Mary Fogg’s brother, who had contributed to the bribe. Superintendent Grainger, Hosie’s superior officer, found a cheque in the Constable’s possession that could be traced to Fogg. Hosie resigned soon afterward.

What is fact or fiction about the events that occurred at “Fogg’s Shanty” after Sergeant Middleton left for Bigga will never be known.