Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

8 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. This they quickly did, and both sprang to their feet. “‘ Stand!” said Jack, in a loud authoritative ere, | | your brains.’ “ Oh!” gasped one. “ Murder !”’ cried the other. ‘¢ Silence, and listen to me,’ said Jack. “* You seek my capture, or my death?” ‘““ I didn’t,” said one. “ Well, your friend did, that’s all the same,’’ said Jack ; “ and I mean to punish you both for it. No resistance, or Ill make dead meat of youin no time. I want your clothes.” * Our clothes ?”” stammered both together. ‘“¢ Your clothes.” The two men huddled together in terror and surprise. “ Do you hear ?” said Jack. And he sprang close up to them, and laid the cold barrel of the pistol against the forehead of one. | “For God’s sake, don’t!” shouted the man, springing back a pace. « , ““ Obey then.”’ * But, sir ’”?—— © Quick.” SIs ‘** Another word—the least hesitation, and I'll lay you dead on the grass.” This was said in a tone that struck such con- viction of his determination, that he hurriedly took off his coat and handed it to Jack. _ “Throw it down,’’ said that personage. His order was obeyed. ‘* Now, then, yours,” he added. “Are you a robber?”’ said the man. “ What’s that'to you?” said Jack. ‘* Off with it at once.” “TI thought ” | * quick, or it’s all up with you!” ~ “ No—no—no!” cried the man; ‘‘ you—you shall have my coat! yes, you shall have it !”’ And trembling, he drew off his coat, tearing the cuff nearly from the sleeve in his terror. . “ Down with it !” This order was obeyed. ““Glad to see you are sensible men,” said Jack, ironically. ‘‘ Now your waistcoats.” _“ No—no!’’ cried both in a breath. _™ Yes—yes !”’ said Jack, decidedly. ‘‘ Of with them, if you wish ever to return to the bosoms of your families. No trifling !” ~ Off came the waistcoats with a bad grace, and very slowly. ‘These were flung down upon the coats at his feet. ‘“‘ Well done, gentlemen !” said Jack. is yet another favour I have to ask !” *¢ Another ?” “ Exactly ! ” What 7” ‘€Only your trousers,’’ *€ Our trousers ? ” ‘ Just so!” “Take them off!”’ gasped one, “ 'That’s 16!” “Tf I do, lm’’—— Silence, sir!” exclaimed Jack. ing, if you please, in my presence ! ” ee eel Or eT TN SY ES UN TS ANE! NT em oe a omen wee oe Se ee eee - *‘ There -_— — = LL TT voice, “or I'll send a bullet through each of “You'd no right to think,” interrupted Jack ; | ‘But L say I won’t be robbed and insulted in thismanner!” cried the man. “TIl havethe law on you—[’ll” “Close your mouth,” interrupted Jack, or “T’ll open it a little wider for you with the bullet you placed in this pistol forme. Come, no more hesitation—I’m a desperate man, and so you'll find if you attempt to thwart me. Of with them !” SBiteee : “But me, no buts!’’ said Jack. “ Your trousers, quick, or T’ll shoot you first, and have them afterwards !” Again the pistol barrel was thrust against his perspiring brow, and with a cry of terror the | man flung his braces over his shoulders. | “It takes you a long time to undress!” said Jack, becoming impatient at the space occupied’ to pull off their nether garments. | Finding all appeals useless, the two men took off their trousers and laid them on their other garments. , Jack stood gazing upon them, as they stood trembling before him arrayea only in their shirts, for some moments, with difficulty sup- pressing his laughter, then suddenly exclaimed— ‘‘ Halloa ! who’s this coming ?” The two men turned quickly, and as they did so Jack clutched at their clothing, and with a loud shout of laughter, sped away over the field. Recovering themselves in a moment, the men darted after him, imploring him to restore their clothes. But he only laughed the louder, and gainin the hedge, he sprang over it into the hich road, across the road, and over the opposite hedge into another field, shouting out at the top of his voice— “Go home, and tell your friends how you eaptured Spring-heeled Jack.” 23 CHAPTER TV. NETTING THE WRONG BIRD—THE PROFERRED REWARD—OFF AGAIN, RuNNING wildly backwards and forwards, the two men endeavoured to find ont a gap im the hedge through which they might pass, to follow Spring-heeled Jack, but no gap could they dis- cover. The hedge was not hich, but to attempt to sur- mount it was impossibie, when they took into consideration its prickly nature, and their almost perfect nudity, and, in utter despair, they stood still and gazed at each other. | | The more cautious of the two now commenced upbraiding his companion for his obstinacy in /not returning before they encountered Jack ; and vexed at himself, he in turn accused his friend of cowardice, till at length words ran high, and each in his turn cursed and swore at the other, - But to stay in that field in the state they were till morning was impossible, and they once more started off in the hope of discovering a gap or a gate, which would enable them to pass into the ‘* Noswear- | high road. Whilst thus engaged, Jack walked quietly | comic 900KsS.CO