Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

SPRING-HEEL D JACK: corner now, and pick me up on this spot at; behind yonder one. half-past eleven to-night.” The man opened his eyes wide at this. “To take you where, sir?” asked the man. “To Hyde Park-corner.”’ “ But to-night, sir ?” ““T will tell you there,’ said Jack, shortly. “ Now, my good fellow, be sharp, for I’m ina hurry.’ And Jack lounged back against the cushioned sides of the vehicle, and closed his eyes as an intimation that he desired no further conversa- tion upon any subject whatever. The man secured the door of the coach, and gathering up the reins, which he flung across the horse’s back on dismounting, got on to the box, and drove off. “Pick him up here at half-past eleven to- night. What for?” he muttered, as he whipped the horseon. ‘Is it to follow the other chap? Can’t make it all out. There’s something wrong— said there was—know there is. It’s no business of mine, but can’t help thinking things ain’t going right, somehow. ‘There’s some mystery, but, as I said, it ain’t no business of mine. All I want is my fare. Hyde Park now—where to-night, he wouldn’t say. That’srum. Can't tumble, blowed if I can; but I'll be here. Keep up, will you! Do you want to break your knees, you old varmint ? Steady—come up! ”” Jack kept his eyes closed as he lay back in the vehicle, but his thoughts were fully awake. A strange and unaccountable something seemed to whisper to him that he must follow the villain Grasper to wherever he went that night. He could not help feeling that fate had thrown the driver of the coach in which he sat in his way, and that something more than he could at present see would come from what the man had told him, and he felt that he would find the hours pass tediously away till night came. In the course of time, he was set down at Hyde Park-corner, and paying the man over his fare, he exhorted him to be at the spot where he had met him that morning at the hour named in the evening, or rather night ; and drawing his cloak closely around him he strode away, resolved to at once seek rest, and refresh himself for the next night’s adventure, be it of whatever kind it might. The man promised faithfully to be at his post, and resolved not to work his animal further till the hour named. He immediately drove it to its stable. [t was exactly half-past eleven when Jack stood on the roadside, where he had hailed the coach in the morning, gazing at a vehicle stand- ing in front of the house where Grasper resided, and anxiously listening for the roll of the wheels that were to announce the one he himself had engaged. “The fellow is behind time,’ he muttered, “and I am resolved to track that villain. Surely the man will not deceive me, and thus thwart my intentions.” But no sound came indicative of the presence of any other vebicle than that which stood before the villa being in the neighbourhood. “ Confound the rascal!” said Jack, “for not being here. But I will not be baulked, if I ride — SS THE TERROR OF LONDON. 229 I will go where he goes, if it’s to the devil!” And so saying, our hero drew his cloak around him, and walked towards the house of Grasper. He had got within a dozen yards of it when a voice broke upon his ear, which he instantly detected as that of the merchant’s, giving orders to the man to drive quickly, and the next instant the door of the coach was closed with a loud bang. | Keeping within the shadow of the houses till he was opposite the vehicle, Jack waited till the driver had taken his seat, and then sprang up behind, unobserved. Away went the vehicle at a dashing speed, but Jack kept his hold. Away, off the gravelled roads on to the stones of the metropolis, rattling and rumbling and surging through the quiet and deserted streets, and almost drowning in its clatter the boom of the hundred bells that pro- claimed the hour of midnight. CHAPTER LXXIX. ON THE TRAIL—FOUND OUT—THE VILLAIN CON- FRONTED. Away! with a roll and a rattle—away ! with a bump and a swing, jolting and rolling our hero and its occupant from side to side, went the coach over the stones till it arrived at the end of the street, where Mr. Bill Jackson’s tenement was located, where the driver suddenly pulled up, and Jack leaped down, aching in every limb. Our hero gained the deep shadow of the houses ere the driver dismounted from his seat to let out the merchant ; and, standing close up against the wall, he waited, and drew a long breath of relief. His position had certainly been anything but a comfortable one for the last half-hour, and Jack was not at all sorry to be able to vacate his posi- tion behind the vehicle. The jolting of the coach had rendered it neces- sary for him to hold on tightly, to save himself every moment from being hurled on to the stones, consequently his limbs were somewhat cramped and his hands benumbed, through the suppres- sion of the circulation of the blood through his fingers. He clasped them together, however, and a tingling sensation ran along each digit, and his While thus occupied, Ralph Grasper stepped out of the coach on to the pathway, and having paid the desired fare, bade the driver good night, and turned quickly down the street in which Bill fingers, in afew moments, were as pliable as ever. . Jackson lived, and where poor Jane Slater was a prisoner. The vehicle was instantly driven away, and drawing his cloak around his form closely, Jack stepped from his hiding place and followed in the track of the merchant, with a light step but a beating heart. The street was ill lighted, and the footfall of the merchant alone broke its silence. Grasper did not once turn his head, but kept straight on till he reached the door opposite the Pigeon Flyers, which house of entertainment was shrouded now in complete darkness. . When Grasper stopped, Jack, still keeping a eon ———— BOO G SS co