The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

158 es eee THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. “They tumbled into our celler this werry blessed night.” “ Gammon !” “True, Joey; me and my mates were planning a little job or two, and I hears the noise ; hang me if I didn’t think as how it were a couple of slops at fust; but, lor! there’s nothing to fear from them,” As he spoke he re-entered the front cellar, and conducted Jonathan and Flint into the inner one again. “ Does yer see that, my covies ?” said: the chief speaker to Jonathan and Flint, as he pointed to the proclamation over the mantle, Both the lawyer and his companion read it. While they did so the three rascals were intently watching them and comparing notes. “Werry like the descriptions,” whispered Joey ; ‘nothing could be neater. These are them for any money,” “Vell, an] what do yer think on it ?” said the chief man. * Think,” said Jonathan, with well-assumed in- difference and coolness. “I don’t ‘know what to think.” “Nor I either,” said Flint, sinking into a chair. “Tl tell yer what I thinks,” said he of the hairy cap, “that whoever as did that murder desarves to be hung,” “So do I,” said Jonathan; “it was a most horri- ble affair.” “So it» were ; agen.” “What ?” “Why, that you and t’other party there had summot to do with it.” “ Me ?” gasped Flint, “IT? Lor’ bless the man!” said Jonathan, “ you must be dreaming ; I never knew any one of the name of Ford in-all my life,” : “Nor I either,” said the lawyer. “Please let us depart, we have a long way to go.” “No yer ain’t, my fine bloke ; you ain’t got very far to go ; there you is mistaken ; the police station is Close handy.” “ And do you mean to say that you intend hand- ing two respectable gentlemen like we are over to the police on the charge of murder ?” “Yes, nothing shorter. Don’t look so red, you might burst a blood-vessel, and it’s not a bit of use of you cursing and swearing in that way, pertic’lar as you said you were a parson a while ago. A pretty parson you is, and no mistake; you’d beat the best fishwoman in all Billingsgate.” I wonder what college you went to ?” This remark made all the rogues laugh, But Joey said, “ Did you hear that ? ” “ What ?” * Why, the slops are coming,” ‘‘ Impossible |” _I can hear ’em. Put your two coves out of sight, Let ’em come if they like ; the crib is empty —they can’t find anything.” As quick as thought, Jonathan and Flint were thrust down a hole in the flooring, and almost suffocated, In a short time the signal whistle was heard, ‘It’s the Pug,” said Joey, “his note is peculiar.” Sure enough, it was the Pug. The bolts and bars were withdrawn. He entered the Den, and cast his eyes to the right and left. He perceived the placard, and remarked, “Well, old pals, I sees you knows all about it,” but I'll tell you what I thinks “ About what ? ” said Joey, in a surly manner. * Abont that murder.” ‘No, we doesn’t. Wedon’t know half as much as you do.” f " “What do yer mean?” said the Pug, with an oath. ‘Mean ?” growled all four in a breath, like bull- dogs, casting wicked glances which made the Pug wince again. ‘Mean? Why, we means that you had better be off about your business as quick as possible, without you wants a broken head ; and mind you, don’t you ever dare poke your nose into this crib again.” ‘‘ Break my head? Who'll do if?” said Puggy, very valiantly. “Why, I will,” said Joey. “Get home to Bow Street, among the sneaks and spies, Don’t come here any more.” “We don’t want to hurt you, Puggy,” said another, “for we knows you’ve got the slops outside. How much did they give you to turn sneak, éh ?” “Whoever says I left my pals and turned tout is a liar,’ said Puggy. “I never deserted a pal yet.” “Then you are the liar,” said Joey, “for you can’t fool us, Puggy ; we are too old birds to be caught with chaff. Besides, Bill has got touts out at all times as well as you and the police. I watched you to-night.’”’ This evidence was too strong against Puggy. He cursed and swore till almost black in the face, But it was all to no purpose, . No one belicved him. He tried to make friends with his old pals again, and to deceive them as to what he really was doing. But, as they said themselves, “ they were too old birds to be caught with chaff.” Puggy left, vowing vengeance in his heart against Joey, if anything should throw the chatce in his way. “Pil get Master Joey lagged,” said Puggy ; “it won’t be a very difficult job now I’m linked in with Gale. If I does a favour for him, he must do one forme. Yes, Joey, we'll give you a sixer across the briny ocean.” “He must have had the cheek of the devil to come here,” said Joey. “He didn’t know as how we were up to him.” “ Lor bless yer, I never thought Puggy was much; he pretends to be a bit of a fighting man, but he’s a perfect cur in his heart. I wouldn’t mind having a ‘turn up’ with him myself,’ said Joey, with an Oath. “ He’s too heavy for you, Joey.” “Is he? you wouldn’t lay two to one on him, would yer? Ithink not. IfI only catches him ‘up in ‘Young Clipper’s drum’ with the gloves on again, V’ll show him what I can do with him. Ive been in training for Puggy a long time, for I always suspected he had private dealings with Gale and the other slops.” “Well, so do I. It looks werry suspicious when all his pals get ‘nicked’ in every job they has, and he gets off. But, lor bless yer, he didn’t cum here alone ; there’s a detective or two prowling about; . let me go and see.” Joey went, and had scarcely got to the door when he was confronted by a “ plain clothes ” man. “Hullo, Joey, that you? not out to-night— nothicg doing ?” “No, Mr. Radfen, I’ve turned over a new leaf lately, and started in the cabbage and turnip line with my little moke (donkey),” ‘‘ Any one in the Den ?” “Only Bill, Jack, and Alf,” | Coimicbookstco