Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

Sins = 100 window, and bounded through it ere the miser could recover from his surprise. See CHAPTER XXXV. THE PURSUII—A STRUGGLE, RESCUE, AND AN UN- PLEASANT POSITION. JAcK, however, had scarcely reached the ground when the miser awoke from the lethargic surprise into which he had been thrown, and the thought occurring to him that he had been made the dupe of a disguised robber and libertine, the fact of his ill-cotten gold tended to arouse the old man to immediate action. ‘* What a cursed old fool I am,” he cried, ‘‘ to suffer myself to be robbed by a clever villain. Robbed, too, of my gold—gold that I have plotted soto gain. But he shan’t get off with it No, no, L will have it back—I will have it back !” Thrusting’ his head and shoulders out of the window, he shouted, loudly— ** Thieves !— help!—stop him !—stop thief! He’s robbed me !—stop him!” 4 ps Jack heard the sound of his voice, and darted quickly along. | ‘“* Contfound the old rascal,” he muttered. ““He’ll certainly raise the whole neighbourhood. And though I am resolved he shall not deprive that wretched woman of her rights, I have no wish to fall into the clutches of the law. Hollo! There he goes again. L would not have given him credit for such lungs.” A hurried footstep came along the street. Jack pulled off his mask, and thrust it into his pocket, at the same time moderating his pace, so as not excite suspicion in the mind of the personage approaching him. In a few moments aman walked close up to our hero, and,looked scrutinizingly into his face. Jack returned his stare indignantly. _* Well, sir?” he said: eC There has been a robbery,” was the reply. “* A robbery ?” tay 3 ‘fy V eg.7? ‘That is no business of. mine,” said Jack. “Do you take me for the thief, that you stare in my face so rudely ?” “No, can’t say Ido. Only you see there’s no one about besides you, and it was only natural that I should look at you,” replied the man. “Truly, there does not appear to be anyone about but you and I, so it is only natural that I should look upon you as the thief,” said, Jack, sarcastically, oe “Me?” cried the fellow. ‘‘ Why, I’m an honest man !” ‘How do I know that?” said Jack. ‘“ Now, look here... You take me for a thief, so I take you for one.~ | heard a cry of stop thief, and as you are the only person about, J am justified, acord- ing to your way of thinking, in detaining you upon suspicion of having been guilty of some act against the law.” ; - Jack made a motion as if to grasp the man’s collar, when he uttered a ery, took to his heels, tearing off along the street at a terrific speed. Our hero stood gazing after him for gome mo- ments, and then with a smile at the fel) ow’s fear he went on his way. But he had not gone far before a chorus of ‘| taken.” ee eT SPRING-HEEL’D JACK : THE TERROR OF LONDON. voices broke on his ear, and the hurried tramp of many feet warned him that the miser’s cries had sent several in pursuit of him. Varad _ He cast a hurried glance behind him. — ” Several persons were coming towardshim, _ Jack thought for a moment what was the best course to pursue. ‘ eae To hurry forward would excite suspicion, and point to him as the person they sought, and to permit them to overtake him might also he fraught with danger to his liberty. n There was no place over which he could manage to spring and avoid those in pursuit behind coming up with him, as the houses were built in close rows, and opened directly on to the street, nor was there any break or turning for some dis- tance. Be While pondering in his mind the best course to pursue, a loud, exultant cry of— boo. ““ That’s him ! that’s him !” broke upon his ear, and the little crowd in the distance appeared ‘to receive afresh impetus from the words. — Jack knew that it had reference to him, and he gathered the folds of his cloak in his hands, and bounded quickly away. bynes i ‘* Stop him ! stop thief!” “4 ‘Jack increased the distance easily between himself and pursuers, and had reached the end of | _ the street, when, turning the corner, he was caught in the arms of a tall, stalwart fellow. ~ The concussion was so violent that it nearly deprived him of breath. he, Ere he could fairly realize his position, Jack was borne back against’ the houses, and pinned close to the wall. - * Hold hard, governor—not so fast !” said the man. ‘‘ Don’t you know you are wanted?’ This last remark had ‘reference to the cries which now sounded nearer. ° MB hk ‘“ Me!” said Jack, making an effort to free himself from his captor’s grasp. - “ You are mis- ‘‘ Perhaps I am, and perhaps J ain’t,” said the man; ‘“but I mean holding you till’they come; aS see whether I’m right or wrong ; that’s ali ) Oe Ihe tones of the man’s voice showed Jack that he was determined to keep his word. |_ ‘ Nearer came the shouts of the mob, which as it came gathered strength ; and Jack summioned up all his streugth to hurl off his eaptor’s hold. He felt that if he could only sueceed in’ getting from his clutches, he was all right; for there were few so fleet of foot as himself.’ So, suddenly twisting one arm from the man’s hold; he struck him a heavy blow in the face. °°) — The suddenness of the blow caused him to re- lax his hold, and Jack, taking advantage of the movement, tripped him up and bounded away, being full six yards from the man as ‘he fell upon the pavement. | i lyk 4 A few more leaps, and then he looked behind im. . The mob had come up with the fallen man, around whom they had gathered. yee ‘‘ Good !” said Jack, ‘that delay will, perhaps, enable me to leave this'confounded locality.” But as he spoke, the crowd passed on again, yelling and hooting with all-the strength of their lunges. ' . - ‘ P | ' 7 | | IOO0k S.com