Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

10 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: ‘* That is the step of a policeman,” he mut- tered. ‘‘ There are two of them. 1 heard some- thing about doubling them on the dreary roads, so as to effect my capture if they should meet me. J will seek th>m.” So saying he walked hurriedly in the direction whence he had heard their slow measured step. In a short time he could see them coming slowly down the road, in close conversation. Hurrying towards them, he called out londly— ‘¢ Hi! police!” The men started at his voice, and came on to meet him. “ Oh! dear!” said Jack, assuming a frightened tone. ‘‘I’m so glad I’ve met you—so glad, you don’t believe.” ‘* What’s the matter?” asked one of the men. *« Spring-heeled Jack!” “¢ What of him ?” “Oh! he’s nearly frightened the life out of me,” said Jack. ‘“* Where?” said the officer who had before spoken, ** Down the road.”’ ** The devil he has!” | “Yes; as I was walking along—not being able to get a conveyance at this late hour of the ahs man all in white leaped over the hedge from a field on the left.” ‘© What, that field yonder ?” cc Yes.” “Then that’s where he gave us the slip before,” said the policeman, turning to his companion. | “* Have you seen him, then? ” asked Jack. ** We didn’t see him; but we heard he had robbed a gentleman down the road, and gave pursuit, but the fellow got away. However, we'll see if we can’t have him this time. All in white, ishe? Ah! the gentleman said he was all in white, didn’t he?” “Yes,” said the other. “hank you, sir,” said the officer who had before spoken. ‘“‘ We are looking out for him, and, depend upon it, he won’t frighten anybody again m a hurry if we once get hold of him.”’ f You'll try, won’t you ?” | *T should say we would.” I don’t wish to insult you,” said Jack, ‘but here’s “4 sovereign for you; ea ee you can only lodge him in prison to-night I shall be glad to Bye : ou another when I see you again on your eat.” “hank you, sir ; much obliged, I’m sure. You will not be molested by him again, you may depend upon it. Comeon, Dick. If he’s in that field, we'll have him.” ‘I’m sure he is there, or was there, a few minutes ago. You are sure to know him by his white dress.” “Allright, sir, Good night. Come on, Dick ; _we'll have a shy for him, anyhow.” * ‘Good night,” said Jack, turning away with a smile, as the oflicers quickened their pace to a run. When the policemen had got some distance down the road Jack turned, and, keeping close within the shadow of the hedges, followed. Gaining access to the field by a gate, the officers were not slow in perceiving a white figure walk- THE TERROR OF LONDON, —_-_--— ing close under the hedge which skirted the | read, and standing close to the hedee themselves to prevent being seen, they waited for what they — believed to be Spring-heeled Jack coming up near enough for them to make a sudden spring and efiect his capture. While they stood there, with their staves firmly grasped in their hands, they were more surprised by the appearance of a second figure just behind the first, and similarly attired. This not a little perplexed the functionaries of the law, who began to whisper to each other. ‘Tl tell you what it is, Dick,” said one, “‘ there’s two Spring-heeled Jacks, and that accounts for his appearance in different places so quickly. Keep back till they are close upon us, then make a spring and collar. I'll have the first—you the second. Don’t stand any nonsense. Let him have the staff on his head if he tries to get away. It?s promotion, you know—a sergeant’s stripes and a sergeant’s pay. Now, stand ready.”’ Dispirited and in silenze, shivering, too, with the cold, damp dews, the two men eame along the hedge looking in vain for a gap, and just as they reached the spot where the two officers stood concealed they perceived an opening, eHraNet which they attempted to pass into the road. | , | Baker had just forced his head and shoulders through the gap, when he received a blow on the head from the staff of Dick, which sent mn down as if shot, while a blow aimed by th policeman at the head of Baker's unfo companion, met with a resistance by falliz the hedge. oo he vy With a loud cry, the man leaped back: = “Murder!” he yelled, as loud as he eould bawl. “Thieves! fire! murder !’ bP ea Then, as the officer advanced towards him he made a-quick bolt for the gap in which Baker was lying stunned from the effect of the blow he had received, and in endeavouring to leap over his friend, caught his shirt in the prickly branches, and slit it in a dozen places. = Despite his struggles he was unable to aceom- plish his object, for he was held so tightly yy tho twigs that he could not extricate himself, and the hand of Dick chatched his throat as ina vice. “Hold hard, comrade!” he cried, addressing his brother officer, who had raised his staff again. “T’ve got him tight enough—he can’t ret away.” And so saying, the officer forced hii bask from the hedge, tearmg his shirt to ribbons as he did so. . | ‘For heaven’s sake let me go!” cried the un- lucky man. : “Caught you at last, my fine fellows,” said Dick, shaking his prisoner till the poor fellow’s teeth chattered together, and he experienced a suffocating sensation from the pressure of his captor’s fingers on his windpipe. “Tt’s all over with your springing now. No resistance, or down you go, like your friend there.” ‘* Mer -— mer — mercy!” gasped the half- strangled man, strugeline to free himself from the officer's hold. mm soul [ won't!” — “Don’t try it on,” said Dick. Would you resist ? You would, would you? Fl split your heac open if you try to get away from me,” ©” —— = _ comic | olete) ‘I won't run away, upon my "SCO! a oo - —— od ~ am.