Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

218 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK : the blow which Bill had received upon his head, when suffered to fall from the shoulders of his companions, had been so severe that his return- ing consciousness was instantly annihilated, and he lay as if indeed dead—a helpless, inanimate mass. Jack waited till they had got some consider- able distance down the road, when he sprung over the hedge and followed them, but kept suf- ficiently far away not to be seen or heard. After a walk of about a quarter of an hour, a waggon, partially loaded with vegetables, on its way to Covent-Garden market, was overtaken by the bearers of the sack, and a bargain was struck with the waggoner to carry the load of the body-snatchers for a quart of beer, and so Bill was placed on the tailboard of the lumber- ing vehicle, and Tom and Joe walked on beside the driver. : ‘*{ don’t know that I can doany more,” mut- tered Jack, as they neared the doctor’s dwelling. “still, I have done enough to-night in saving _ the body from being torn from the grave, to which it has so lately been consigned by sorrow- ing friends. I should like to see the surpris¢ ot these men aud the doctor when the cheat is ais- covered ; but that of course is impossible, so I must forego that gratification. They have but little further to go, and as daylight will soan rest upon the earth, Pll go home with-the con- have not been wholly-wasted.2 = So saying, he drew his cloak closely around viction that the hours ‘stolen from’ rest’ to-night |- him, for the air was chilly, and turning off from. the road, suffered the body-snatchers to proceed’|*™ on their way without further molestation, ~ had little misgivings. | Having given the promised reward to. the waggoner, ‘l’om left his companion and hurried . to the doctor’s house, where he announced his presence by a lusty pull at the night-bell. The summons was quickly answered by the doctor himself, in his dressing-gown. | “ All right,” said Tom.- ** You have got it ?’’ said Potters. Ly ee the door open, so as we ean comein i 2 | Phe doctor» winked and nodded, and Tom returned to the waggon. _“ Come on ; lend a hand,” he gaid to Joe, who was by the side of the waggoner. | The man obeyed, and lifting the sack from the waggon they bade good-night to the teamster and hurried with their burden to the house, without being observed by anyone. Ihe door was violently closed behind them, and the doctor, bearing a lamp, in his hand, ushered them into his surgery. ork “Place it on, the table,’ he said, as he set the lamp down on a sideboard, “and I will fetch you your reward, But where is your com- panion ?” : : " He promised to meet us here,” said Tom. ‘“ Ain’t you seen him ?”’ NOs ' That's a rum go,” said Joe, St 7. \ THE TERROR OF LONDON. .- ‘ 5) | Indeed, he looked upon them as persons who _|never took it’out of the coffin.”? | a As the waggon would pass’ within twéuty |e <‘f What do you say then 2”? ME abst cok yards of the doctor’s residence, there was little | | tyes chance of the strange bundle exciting suspicion, | consequently, with regard to that Tom and Joe > ’ o 3 > . . ~~ J : » Jf @ _* eee = 4 BOE Dana a a aan f. - ' . P ; Y. The doctor left the room to proceed to his | chamber for the purpose of obtaining the money | wherewith to pay for the subject. | N Although he did not hesitate to employ these | men, he had no very great faith in theirhonesty, | would not hesitate to rob him of anything they could place their hands on; so he took the pre- — caution, when he left the room, to lock the door _ behind him, and so prevent them, during his — absence, from indulging in those little propensities he suspected them guilty of. | bi “Well, that here’s a rum go about Bill, | ain't it ?”’ said Joe, when the doctor had de. — **Can’t tumble to it, nohow,”’ said Tom, BF ‘Think he’s nabbed ?” Cee ee a ae * “Tjon’t know ; but it’s likely.” . > =| 1a “What shall we do with his share,then?” — said Je. ee | “Stick to it,” was the reply. Giese “Hope he is nabbed, then,” said the other, “cos he'll only brag about what he’s doue,” “Sure to.”’ Lae eee ‘* Joe.” ; “Hallo!” . So) eee “What do you say to chissel him out of his whack?” asked Tom. Oe eee “ Shouldn’t mind, if we could.” 4 ‘*Tt’s easy done.” Ce “How ?” ae “Swear we never saw the body. He don’t know we found it through that bloke telling us about where he slummed it,” said Tom, ‘In course not. And then we can swear he | | Pay al : ia “ We'll do it.” “You must keep mum.” “Of course I should.” “Yes, but when you are drunk you bit, you know.” - “T shan’t be such a fool as that.” _ “Then that’s agreed to2”* “Ss “Viereae s Sapa | . ‘““ Wouldn’t he holler if he knowed cvame,’’ said Tom, after a pause. igs A low moan, which seemed to come from the sack, made both men start and turn pale. “What was that ?” gasped Tom. | Joe did not reply, but made a dash at the door, and stood staring, with gaping mouthand | eyes, at his companion when he discovered itwas | _ locked. | | ‘ A prolonged *‘ Oh!” now emanated from the sack, and the two men clung to each other for protection. . ‘It's the corpsé!” gasped Joe. ~ “It’s the dead ’un’s ghost!” cried Tom, “and we are Jockedin. Call the doctor—oh ! eall the doctor !’’ + and ieee Joe was about to adopt this course, when his — very tongue clove to the roof of his mouthin | horror, and he grasped Tom so fiercely that he | positively bruised his flesh. Pe a A The sack was moving on the table with a sort tla of rocking motion, and stifled moans came from Both now turned and made frantic efforts to | open the door of the surgery, and were about to — ! o- blabsa | . ‘ our little — — | 900 Eomic Ss.com