Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

SPRING-HEEL D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. 243 bering vehicle swung round on its heavy wheels, our hero vaulted lightly and unseen again in at the back of the vehicle, and suffered the can- * No, it’s not all. ce More ? ” “Yes.” You did more,” said Jack. =, vas to fall into its place. Roger looked about for the cloaked ficure, “What more ?”’ , “ You insulted and assaulted the poor fellow and seemed as much surprised as gratified to) who wished you to let him ride.” cliscover it had gone, But whither ? . That puzzled him. He looked about and down the road, and on | to retort warmly. either side, and finally drew a long breath of|always keep a civil tongue im your head. relief, and muttered— “Gone! oh, lor’! Gone! ‘* He were cheeky.” “He was weak, and you werestrong. Your insulting words and tones naturaily caused him Roger, take my advice, and If you won’t aid, don’t insult,; for greater pain It was horrible.) is often inflicted by the tongue than by the fist ; And I won’t drive the waggon no more—no,|and always be sure you are right, before you not if measter give I another shilling a-week to| accuse another.” do it. It must have been the devil himself, for Roger, trembling and ashamed, walked on at he knowed my name, and all about I. JI wish [| the head of the centre horse, and Jem said no hadn’t have seen him, for he’s give La shock [|more, but sat astride the shatt-horse, shaking shan’t get over for some time to come, and Jem, | the animal’s mane. too. I wish the boy were here now, for I’m blowed if I don’t feel skeered being all alone.” - In this way they kept along the road for some distance, when Jem sprang from the Jack, who had passed along the waggon and | shadow of a hedge to Roger’s side, exclaiming— out at the front of it, now dropped down on to’ the back of the shaft-horse. “Tm with you, Roger,” he exclaimed. ‘‘ You are not all alone.” Roger turned round, and a cold perspiration broke from every pore. He felt he must say something, so, with an effort, he exclaimed, in tremulous tones — “TJ thought you'd gone, sir.” “Oh, no. I wish to enjoy the cool, night air for a short time.”’ “Tt’s very warm down where. you live, sir, ain't it?” said Roger, feeling that he must speak. “Well, rather,’ said Jack, “seeing that I never allow the fire to be put out for a moment. But you'll know all about it one of these days. You can bear the heat pretty well, I should think, Roger Stokes.” “Oh, lor’! no, sir,’ stammered Roger. “1 can’t bear the heat at all.” “Well, that’s unfortunate, Roger.” “Unfortunate, sir ?” ‘‘ Yes, because you will feel it more than you might do if you could well bear heat at all times,’ said Jack, slyly. “T hope I'll never have to bear it,” said Roger. ‘““T daresay you do.” “T do, indeed. And I mean to be a good and kind-hearted man, so as I shan’t,” said Roger. “ You'll have to alter very much, then, Roger,” said Jack, ‘‘ and not refuse a lift to the footsore and weary.’ : “Tt bean’t my fault.”’ ‘* Whose, then ?” “ Measter’s.”’ “ How’s that ?”’ “He told I never to let anyone get into the waggon and ride,” said Roger. “ He told you not to?” POYIES ABLE “Why 7” “Because it was robbed once,’’ said the man. “And if he knowed I did it he’d give I the sack.” | . x “So you only obeyed his orders { “That be all.” “Oh, Roger! -oh, Roger! Where are you goino? Did you see him? It was the devil. He’s burned a great hole in my hand, and if I hadn’t have run he'd have took me away—l know he would. Oh! what have you come back for ?” “ Hush !” whispered Roger. ‘“ Doant — | doant! ” ‘““T tell you it was the devil that made me jump out of the waggon. Oh, dear! is he in it now ?” And the lad seemed ready to start off again, if his question was answered in the aflirmative. “Don’t talk like that, Isay. You'll offend him,” said Roger, still in a whisper. “Is he inside ?” 6 No.”’ ‘“Wherethen? Has he gone ?” EIN Oss “Where is he? Oh, tell us. I’m so frightened,” cried the boy, quickly. Roger nodded his head backwards. The, boy looked behind him. “T don’t see him,” he said. “ On the shaft horse.” Jem looked again, but saw nothing on the animal indicated that was at all unusual. ‘No he ain’t.” Roger looked over his shoulder at this, and, to his great surprise and relief, discovered Jack had vacated his seat. “ He’s in the waggon, then,’ whispered Roger. The boy was about to dart off, when the waggoner seized his arm. “Stop! stop!’ “T can’t, Let me go.” “Don’t leave me,” said Roger. “‘ Don’t, Jem— don’t, there’s a good boy. If he wants you, he'll have you, wherever you are; and it will only make him vexed. Do stop, there’s a,good boy —do stop, now.’ - The Jad’s teeth chattered as he looked back again at the canvas-covered vehicle. “Where are you going, Roger? What did you tura.back for? -Wouldn’t he let you go to Lunnon ?” “No.”