The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 162: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

156 “Perhaps they may be in the ‘den.’ ” “Not they ; they have nothing to do with those sort of fellows. They are not far off, anyhow, so let’s look into all the passages; they may be con- cealed on the stairs, or in the cellars.” So speaking, the two policemen overhead moved away. The sound of their retreating footsteps gave great courage to Jonathan and Flint, both of whom, a few moments before, were almost distilled into a jelly with fear. “This is a lucky escape,” one whispered to the other. “Yes, if we could only see our way out of this stinking place,” was the whispered reply. Jonathan began groping about. His hand at Jast found the bolt of a door. He was about to move it, when— The door was opened by a rough, villanous-look- ing man in a hairy cap, candle in hand. This was done so quietly and suddenly, that Jonathan had not even perceived the slightest glimmer of light through the chinks of the door. He started back in terror, and tried to hide his face. Flint rolled himself up like a ball, and crept further into the corner than ever. ‘“Hel-lo! What’s all this here, eh?” said the rough-looking rascal. ‘ Vell! blow me, if I didn’t think as how I heard that trap go, and so it did; but who’d a thought of seeing two such blokes as these ’ere ?”’ So speaking, he whistled slightly, and was soon joined by two other men, as evil-looking as himself. “Vell! I never,” said one, in surprise. * Two real tofts,” the third remarked. “ Why, it’s a regular windfall’!” said the first, “ and no mistake.” “‘ My dear friends,” said Jonathan, rising at last, and speaking boldly to the men. “ My dear friends, it is a mere accident, I can assure you; myself and friend were passing along this lane, and bya mere chance we fell through the trap-door.” “T dare say !” “ How werry innocent !” “A couple o’ Bow-street pups in disguise.” “On my word, gentlemen, you are mistaken,” said Jonathan, “ we have nothing at all to do with the police ; d—n them !” “ Amen !” said the first ; “no more have we, my fine gentleman. But I don’t trust neither on yer, for all that.” ‘Does yer know where yer is ?”’ another asked. ‘Not the remotest idea.” “« T dare say not.” “'That’s all a bit 0’ kid o’ his’n,’”’ the other said. “You would do me a great kindness by showing the way out of this filthy place,’ said Flint, in an assumed tone of disgust and annoyance. “I dare say you would! Come this way, my fine chaps, and let’s have a better look at yer ugly mugs.” So saying, the three rough-looking rascals con- ducted Jonathan and Flint into an inner apartment, which was warm and well lighted. A long deal table and forms were there, and plenty of plates and dishes, as if the place had been used as a kitchen. They locked the door upon their luckless visitors, aod eyed each of them with no very favourable expression of countenance, “This chap is werry like the slop as guv’ me six penn’orth, Bill,” said one, pointing to Flint, and smoking his pipe very savagely. * Perhaps he is,” THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. “And this lonz-legged cove looks for all the world like a genteel smasher,” said another, point- ing to Jonathan. Both gentlemen felt very uncomfortable, and neither knew what to think or say. At last the first of the three rogues Jonathan on the shoulder and said, | «¢ And don’t yer know where yer is ? No kid, now ; all’s on the square, here, my jolly pal! How’s busi- ness in your line ?” Jonathan tried to smile at the jokes of the rough fellows, and, at last, said, “ Well! my men, we may as well tell you all.” “ Jest so.” “ Out with it.” . “ My friend, here, is a distinguished lawyer.” ‘A lawyer, eh ?” “T thought I see his mug afore somewhere—at the Bailey, most iikely.” «“ And I am a clergyman.” “A what ?” “ A clergyman.” “ Gammon !” ¢ Truth.” All three looked at him with staring eyes. “My friend and I are old friends, and have not seen each other for years.” “T listen—go on. Don’t spin it cut too long.” «“ We dined together yesterday, and had, perhaps, too much wine. In fact, we did not rise from the table till after midnight.” “ Jest how I should doif I was well up. Well, go on.” : ‘‘We were rambling along, we scarcely knew where, when we were accosted by two low females. They robbed us of several articles. We resisted them, and knocked one down.” “They hollered, in course ?” “Yes; and two burly fellows rushed up to ill- treat us, and we ran away. ‘To save themselves, they raised a great outcry, and we made the best of our way anywhere we could, “ The police, mistaking the real facts of the case, gave chase. “We stumbled over your trap-door, and fell in where we are.,”’ “°*Zackly—here you is.” “ And here he is likely to stick, without he forks out.” ‘« And handsome, too !” “ We don’t want any queer-looking people around us.” “True, mate—we might hurt ’em.”’ «“ Well, gentlemen, I have told you the truth. We do not wish to pry into your affairs, and if you will accept of our apology—” “Of your what ?—your ’pology ?” “We'll accept of your watches and coin rayther.” So saying, two of the rascals searched both Flint and Jonathan, but did not find much. The packet of notes which Jonathan secured in Flint’s room he had previously thrust into the leg of his boot. “?Taint a great deal, arter all,” said the chief of the rogues. “ Tivo tickers and five quid atween ’em—that’s all. “ Never mind—they ain’t gone yet.” “Gone yet! what do you mean ?” said Jonathan, indignant, ‘ “What I mean is—you’d better speak a little bit softer, in the first place, and, as the judge at the Old Bailey says, in the second place, you must give us something handsome, or here you sticks,” tapped GComichbooksnco