The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. re Sl Ss les SS 163 “There were two strangers with them in the den, but I don’t know whether they are all pals or not.” * Who told you, Joey ?” “No; I can’t get anything out of him,” said Radfen ; “but I found it out in a curious sort of Way.” “ How was that ?” “ Why, this morning they sent to the public for a quart of gin. Any other morning they only have a pint between them. So I knew that there must be one or two extra people there.” This conversation was carried on in whispers, and yet they watched the robbers at work below with hawk-like eyes. ‘‘ Now’s our time,” said Radfen ; “‘ we can’t wait any longer. If we stop for the other two, we may loose these three. To work, my men, each one to his post.” Jonathan was glad enough to creep out of the way, yet he seemed charmed, and fixed to the spot. He dearly wanted to see how the officers would effect the capture of his late associates ; and these four knelt down, and looked through the hole in the flooring. The officers, in their bare feet, left the room, For five minutes nothing was heard or seen of them. Bill, Jack, and Alf were still very busy with the safe, and were upon the point of forcing it open, when they dropped their tools, and looked around sharply. In the distance Jonathan could see that Radfen and two others had got into the bank by a side door, They were there crouched low down in front of the counter. No noise had been heard. Yet by instinct, the three burglars knew that some one was within pistol shot. They listened. But no sounds were heard. Bill, now upon tiptoe, approached the counter, to look over. A loud oath escaped from Bill. He drew his revolver, and fired at Radfen. The poor detective staggered and fell. “T told yer last time you should have it Radfen, and now you’ve got more nor you want,” The other two deteetives jumped across the counter. By a well-directed blow Bill levelled one to the ground with a small “jemmy.” Jack and Alf now rushed forward, bent on mur- dering the remaining officer. On the instant, the door leading into the entrance hall was forced open by half-a-dozen officers. The fight now was desperate. Pistol shots were fired quickly by the three desperate men, who fought with the desperation of savages, : Radfen, faint from loss of blood, still persisted in attempting to arrest Bill, but was unable. He staggered forward, and grasped the burglar firmly by the throat. The struggle was brief. Bill threw Radfen to the ground, and fell heavily upon him. A knife was at the detective’s throat. “T always said I’d ‘do’ for you, Radfen; and so I will if I ‘ swing’ for it. He raised his dirk knife, prepared to plunge it into the brave detective’s heart— When a truncheon blow laid him speechless upon the floor, As faint and weak as he was, Radfen immediately pulled out a pair of irons, and handcuffed Billere he - was conscious of it. Jack and. Alf fought most desperately to get away. “It is liberty or transportation for life for us,” they thought, and struggled most savagely to get away. Knives, pistols, crowbars, “jemmies,” everything had been used by:the three desperate robbers, who fought like fiends. Many of the officers were fearfully cut and wounded about the head and face, and blood flowed freely on either side, Yet during the entire conflict, the brave detec- tives used no weapons at all, except their stout truncheons, But they laid about them so vigorously and earnestly, that in less than ten minutes, Bill, Jack and Alf were cut and bumped and bruised in a moet terrible manner, and their faces were red with ood. : But it was not until fairly exhausted and unable to stand, that the burglars gave in. And even when they lay prostrate upon the floor, Jack and Alf resisted all attempts to handcuff them, until at last they were forced to submit, and were tightly bound both hand and foot. A cab was called, and the three prisoners driven off to the nearest station house. All this exciting and terrible scene old Jonathan saw through the hole in the ceiling. But when if was over, he began to think of his own safety. The whole house and neighbourhood were of course alarmed. Mr. Carrington and his son, revolvers in. hand, rushed downstairs, but it was all over ere they arrived, Old Jonathan perceived them among the officers and servants, and took the opportunity to go into the chambers of both father and son, and. helped himself to whatever he could find of value, Then mixing with the motley crowd of officers, servants, and others, he greatly condoled with Mr. Carrington, and felt so much interest in the “ bar- barous attempt at burglary,” as he termed it, “that he would go forthwith towards the police station to see if the three rascals were like some thieves who a year before had robbed Bromley Hall.’ It need not be added that Mr. Jonathan never went to the station house aé all, for—— No sooner had the old villain placed his foot in the streets once more, than he called a cab, and was driven to the outskirts of London out of harm’s way. In less than an hour after Jonathan had left the house, the three burglars—knowing there was no hope for themselves—divulged everything. “ And where is this friend of yours, Mr. Carring- ton, the old master of Bromley Hall?” Radfen asked. “Why, officer?” “ Oh, nothing in particular, sir; only there’s £200 reward offered for him and two others, on the charge of wilful murder.” ‘<Tmpossible, officer !” “ The three burglars have confessed all.”’ ‘Indeed !” “Yes ; do you know a person who was a lawyer of the name of Flint ?”’ “ Yes, well,” said young Carrington ; “his son and I were schoolfellows at Bromley Hall.” “‘ Has he any account at your bank ?” “ He had at times a very heavy account, and also other deposits which he managed for his clients. The last sum he drew was £500 to-day, and closed