The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

299 | MYSTERIES : Angus dragged him toward the window, and raised the sash, when Gruff pointed out the boat containing his daughters. Bob had been delayed for a short time, by wish- ing to assure himself whether his merchandise was - damaged; his boat was not more than forty fathoms - from the window. . Gruff pointed to it with his finger. The laird jumped upon the window-sill, and then plunged into the Thames. Master Gruff raised himself from the ground, shook off the dust with which his clothes were covered, and began to feel whether all his limbs — _ Were unbroken. He leaned his elbows upon the window sill, and - endeavoured, through the darkness of the night, to discover what was about to take place between © the laird aud Bob Lantern. The fog being dispersed by a strong southeast j breeze, which drove swiftly along the heavens the - light clouds by which they were dappled. The - moon appeared every now and then, and almost at regular intervals, as the fleeting clouds passed ’ by it. The river was silent as the grave. Here and there lighters and boats of all descriptions — were confusedly moored. Bob had already got through the tiers of lighters and was rapidly gaining the middle of the stream. The laird on) the contrary, was still threading his dangerous” course among the moored vessels, He was an expert and strong swimmer ; throwing aside the water with powerful and regular strokes, he was | rapidly gaining upon Bob’s boat, who, not con-— ceiving himself in any danger, did not hurry, | Angus Macfarlane continued toswim on witha