Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

198 loud cry broke upon his ears,and he knew that someone was wounded. : | “Ah!” he said, “fired trom that window ? One of the rascals has fallen, I should think, by the noise he has made.’’ He hurried on again, well assured that he could be of little service in the grounds, and after about five minutes the sound of a horse’s feet saluted his ears. Jack listened a moment, and again hurried forward. ri In a short time a gentleman on horseback came up, and Jack, tearing off his mask, sprang out into the road. ‘¢ Stop, sir—stop!” he eried, waving his hands above his head to attract the attention of the rider, who was urging his horse along at a gallop. ‘““Who are you?” eried the man, partially relning-in the animal, “ Sir, a rob” Whack came down the riding-whip with such force on Jack’s head that he fairly staggered under the blow. ; ‘‘A robber? Take that, you scoundrel, and don’t try it on with me,” cried the man, digging his spurs into his horse’s flanks, and darting off at a furious gallop. — “Curse the fellow!” cried Jack, recovering from the shock. ‘‘ But no—no; it’s myself who is to blame—not him. For commencing my story as Ldid, he naturally took me for arobber. The fellow hits hard though, and a pretty bump I shall have on my forehead.” And Jack rubbed the sore plice as he spoke. “Koad! but my usual luck seems to have deserted me to-night,’ he coutinued, “ for I get more knocks for performing a good part than I have ever done for a bad one. Well, it’s the way cf freaks of fortunes. One poor devil may struggle all his life to do good, and’ bad luck attends him ; another will do bad, and his path is made as smooth as glass. I’ve half a mind to let things take their course, and’ yet it would be not only unmanly, but unfriendly to do so. Con- found it! how that fellow has made my head ache.” And pressing his hand to his forehead Jack tried to think the best course to pursue. While thus engaged, another report awoke the echoes of the place, and the deep growl of a. dog saluted his ears. “The dogs are loose,’ he said, in a tone of pleasure, and as the burglars have evidently no fire-arms there is a prospect of their nefarious plans being thwarted. Ill go back now, for T may be of some assistance.” He turned and hurried back as quickly as pos- sible towards the gates. As he neared‘ them he could hear the loud ~sereams of help and murder from the house- keeper mingling with the deeper tones of a man’s voice urging the doegs—then came a mingled cry of terror and pain. ‘Take off the dog! take off the dog!” Jack. reached the gates; and as. he looked through’ them he perceived a man attired only in his shirt and trousers, and armed with a le Ce ee ee ee didi eg EEE = SPRING-HEEL’D JAQK : THE: TBRROR OF LONDON. struggled with one of the burglars. - Hae HEL Jack was about to spring over the gate, when he recollected that the dog Seen: berth as f So he called out in a loud tone. han fren “Gilpin! Gilpin!” The man turned. ani teal “Gilpin!” cried Jack again. ‘‘I would aid you, but I fear the dog willseizeme.” |... ‘Who are you?” said the man, springing towards the gate. | poh Ul Jack whispered a name in a low, tone, and the gardener uttered acry of pleasure =. ‘““Oh! sir, are you here?’’ he said. “ Do come in, for there’s three or four of the thieves, and nobody to tackle ’em. but, me and. the dogs,” : ies nade ‘“T know it,” said Jack; ‘‘ but though: you know me, the dogs do not.” ** They won't touch you, sir, if I call ’em of said the man. ‘ But I must go and get the key; unless you could climb over.”’ ‘““T can do that,” said Jack, seizing the rail- ings, and springing up to the top. of the gate. ‘“Mind yourself, and look, out, the dog. don’t leave that fellow and take a fancy to me,” gaid. Jack. | ‘* But you can’t jump that, sir 2.” “Can’t 1?” said: Jack. And before the words had. died away he. had leaped to the ground, beside the gardener. ‘“ Where’s the other dog?” asked Jack, know-. ing that the man had said he. had. let tyo loose, “He's followed the oth-rs,out into the grounds, towards the other road. This chap couldn’t get away quick enough, lis foot caught in his cloak and he stumbled, and Boxer had hold of him. in, amoment. The other one.there-Fve put a shot into, and so he can’t do much.” Te And the man pointed to a dark object on the ground at a; little distance beyond the house, Meantime the mastiff who had been named, Boxer had hold of one of the rascals, by, the hip, and despite the shower of blows reined, upon him by the clenched fists. of. the alarmed and suffering man, he held on, like grim death; ‘* For God’s: sake call.otf the dog!” shouted the man. ‘* He'll tear me to pieces.’ — ‘Serve you right, too,” replied.the gardener, — ‘“You have no business here,” saidjJack, Do call him off—do—do,” pleaded the man. ‘‘Tll see you d d first,’ cried’the gardener: Boxer’s got you, and may keep you. Sir, how that woman does keep a hollering,” he, added, looking up at the frilled. night-cap at one of the windows. : bt prea ‘Ask her to be silent,” said) Jack, “and then. call the dog off. The fellow don’t deserve, much sympathy, but the punishment he: has. received will teach him a lesson for some, time to come,” ‘Hold that row, will ye?” cried the gardener. ‘Don’t you see there’s: nothing to holler for now, and bring us down the double-barrelled, cun in the library, and just mind its, loaded,” — The head disappeared from the: window.. | ‘Call off the dog,” said Jack, ‘! He will lall the man.” 0 “Stop a bit, sir. He can’t do. much harm while Boxer’s got him, and this, old; blunderbuss: >i Cf oe > : ao) ated <S-€O —_ m Eboo (E() ' — ' and turn, and look towards the house ; then a| blunderbuss, whilst. beside him a large mastiff — ~—— ee PP ent Rn my aan mea laa Em - ee ee tinge