The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 338: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM PACKET. 257 *“< No good, I’m afraid,”’ returned the tailor. The three queer-looking gentlemen, finding that their words were not understood, seemed determined that their actions should be by no means so equivocal; for they fell, without much delay, upon our two heroes, plundered them of every thing in the shape of money or jewels which they had about them, and then tied them back to back to the nearest tree to prevent them from giving the alarm, before the thieves should have escaped with their plunder. All this was but the work of five minutes ; and, as soon as the robbers had departed, the unfortu- nate tailor could not help observing, ‘‘ Out of the frying-pan into the fire.”’ “We are indeed—we are indeed,” responded the equally miserable Mr. Pifpaf. ‘‘Did ever any two well-disposed persons encounter such luck in one night? ”’ ' “¢ Never, I should think,” said the tailor. ‘I wonder what o’clock it can be?” **Close upon midnight,” answered the chairman; ‘‘ and here we may remain until to-morrow morning.” ** God forbid !”’ ejaculated the tailor. ‘‘ My limbs are already as stiff as my surname—lI mean as buckram.”’ : ** And Mrs. P.,” murmured the chairman pathetically ; “ what dl she think—what must she suppose ?” ** She “Il write her sentiments upon your face to-morrow morning, old fellow ! ” returned the tailor. | ““Do you know, my lord,” said Mr. Pifpaf, after a long pause, during which the two prisoners vainly endeavoured to catch the wel- come sound of a footstep along the road,—‘“‘ do you know, my lord, that I really and truly begin to be a /eet/e—mind, only a leet/e—tired of this expedition of ours; at all events, that I shan’t beat all sorry to return home and resume the amicable and social meetings at the Musical Bee once more.” ‘¢ And do you know, my dear Pifpaf,’’ answered the tailor, “that I am very much of your way of thinking, and that the sooner we return to England and I can get spliced to my charming Belinda, the better I shall like it.”’ | ‘“‘And would your lordship bring forward in committee to-morrow the motion for returning home ?”’ demanded the chairman. “That will I, right gladly,” exclaimed Mr. Buckram; “and I know that Pentonville will second it. But in the mean time—don’t you hear any body coming ?”” nc, Not a soul, my lord,” returned Mr. Pifpaf, mournfully; “and I begin to tremble for my gout,” S R BR, A-24 ik 6 > (e(oyanyicelo) DOKS GOom