Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

OO OO OT SK 20080 - -:- --hC“COr- Ce eC... LL ——— = a ‘ ~_— CC A ey a an a ee rm a2 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: “That you may follow and insult that poor | irl, whom, perhaps, want and villainy have a tivel to the streets? No, you get not out of my clutches till I can hand you over to an officer.” ‘“On the word of a man, I seek not to harm her,” cried Jack. “On the word of a man, you shall not !” was the quick reply. “Fool!” said Jack, annoyed now at finding his good intentions were likely to be thwarted, ‘“‘T seek to save that woman from hurrying to self-destruction.” ‘All very fine, but fellows who would save another a pang do not go about in the dead of the night with hideous masks over their faces to prevent discovery and punishment for their villainies. : “Ah!” said Jack, now recollecting his mask, “but, hark you, i wish to protect that girl, and I am determined to endeavour to do so. I admire the sentiments of your heart, and they do you honour, whoever you ney be, but while I sutfer you to hold me thus 1 am, however unwillingly, permitting that poor girl to rush unbidden into the presence of her Maker. Again I ask you to release your hold, for I would not offer violence to one whose words and deeds stamp him as a man.” ‘‘ Spring-heeled Jack, every man, woman, and child in London, have cause to dread your being at liberty. It becomes the bounden duty of every man’to attempt your capture; and now I have you, you do not get away easily. Your excuses ‘will avail you nothing. Here I bold you till I can place you in the hands of an officer, and make you answer to those laws you have for some time outraged with impunity.” ‘You know” ‘“ That mask betrays you.” : “ Beware, I am a stronger man than you,” said Jack. , ‘““ And Ia better one than you, though gold may line your pockets, and my form is attenuated by want and suffering!” ‘¢ What I have said is true ; and now will you take your hands from me, or must I hurl you to ee that I may pursue and save that poor ‘“f I suffer you not to go, while I have strength to detain you,” was the determined reply. ** Then thus do I release myself!” said Jack. And so saying, he grasped the man by either shoulder, and strove to hurl him from him. But the man clutched at Jack’s throat, and thus prevented bis intention. Jack saw in an instant that his victory would not bean easy one, and he summoned up all his strength for a final effort. The distant footfall of an officer, too, he could now hear distinctly on the flags of the pavement, and he felt that he must obtain his liberty quickly, or all chance of saving Ellen Folder would be lost. He shifted his hands from his opponent’s shoulders to his waist, and by a quick and sudden jerk lifted him off his feet. ‘* By heaven, [ would not harm you willingly !” eried Jack. ‘* Will you permit ine to go on my way 1” caught sight of his form. ee ——— ee THE TERROR OF LONDON. ‘‘T will not release you but by force!” said — the man resolutely, and struggling fiercely. ‘Then blame not me!” exclaimed our hero, as by one mighty effort he dashed his adversary to the earth, and turning quickly, hurried away as fast as he could in the direction whence Ellen — had fled. The poor fellow was partially stunned by the fall, but he quickly recovered himself, aud spring- ing to his feet, bounded after Jack, who had by this time placed as great a distance between himself and his pursuer, as Ellen had betweer: herself and Jack. : Jack did not stop to look behind him, although he could hear his pursuer, who finding that he was unable to gain upon our hero, commenced shouting loudly— ‘< Stop him !—stop him!” Pret- “ Confound the fellow!” muttered Jack. “ He’ll wake the whole city!” - Still he kept on his way without meeting with any further obstruction, and at length gaine the bridge, and a sight of the outline of a female ficure, standing on one of the seats. = “Vis her! ’tis her! and I am too late to save her!” he cried aloud, gathering the folds of his cloak still higher up around his body, and bound- ing forward with terrific leaps. “ Curses on the fellow for the delay!” «fe He ran on. > r ‘‘ Hold ! for heaven's sake, hold !”’ he shrieked, as he dashed towards the half-maddened girl. , Ellen- heard his voice, turned her head, and With a cry so wild, yet plaintive, she mounted the stonework of the baJustrade. sh ‘¢ For God’s sake, hold!” shrieked Jack, in a loud, excited voice. woe | wae But Ellen flung her arms wildly above her head, and laughed aloud. Jack was now but half-a-dozen vards from the seat. . His heart beat audibly. oe His eyes were fixed with a fascinated glare upon the figure of that girl standing out in the semi-darkness on that narrow ledge, with the black waters running swiftly on, a long, long way beneath her. : Ve A few steps, and he could seize her frail form in his strong arms. | ht é from destruction. | A few steps more, and he could save a soul | ee | With bated breath he dashed madly forward, oy his eyes starting from their sockets, his arms extended before him. | bes He reached the seat—he uttered a short, sharp But as his hand was within a few inches of her dress, Ellen sprang away from his grasp, out over the balustrade into the space beyond, and disappeared from his sight. | A moment Jack stood like one transfixed to the earth—then on to the seat he sprang, dashed his hat to the ground, and strove to tear his cloak from his shoulders, which in his anxiety and haste, he was unable to do; so, gathering up its folds, he monnted the balustrade, cast one look down into the blac. waters beneath, then sprang far, far out from the narrow ledge, re- sulyed to save or perish in the attempt. 7 GComileEedoeod é % | ’ = »s ‘SCO