Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

216. } SPRING-HEEL’ D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON.» ! EE sc “Thank’ee,”’ said Tom. ‘‘ lm waiting for him.”’ . “Then you may have to wait a little while,” said Jack. Why ?”’ “Because when. I saw him there he was dragging a large sack full of something through the wicket, which he laid under the hedge. i thought he was going to ask me for a light, as he came up to me, but instead, he said—‘ Governor, if you see two men on the road, just tell ’em I've left the sack for” em to take to market, where T’ll meet ’em.’ But there, he said two men, so perhaps it ain’t the one you are waiting for.”’ “Ves, itis,’ said Tom, quickly. ‘‘Thankee, sir. Good nicht, sir. Did you see anybody else | about, sir qi « ‘“ No one.’ All net sir.’ Jack strolled away, but casting a quick glance behind him, he saw Tom joined “by Joe, and the two men in earnest conversation. A slight bend in the road here shut them out from his view, as Jack paused to see what turn circumstances would take. Listening intently, he heard the footsteps of the two men receding slowly from him; and, springing up, Jack went over to the other side of the hedge, walked along after them, shelter- ing his form closely from observation by assum- ing a stooping posture. The men walked slowly and suspiciously, =A Jack was soon alongside of them without their having the least suspicioneot his presence. + Well, it’s a rum go, Joe,” he heard Tom say. That fellow must have seen ‘Bill, or else how did he know he got a yellow belcher round’ his wizen ?”’ : } “Tt was Bill, safe enough. But I’m blowed if 1 thought he’d ‘got pluck enough to stop and nail the corpse, bring it out for us, and then go back again. Perhaps it’s all a lie.” ~ We'll soon see, if we find the sack,’ said Tom, “‘an’.if we don’t find it, cuss meif I’ it go into the yard arter him.” “T won't.” “T didn’t believe in Brat afore.” “No more did I.” ‘ But there is.”’ | ‘“* Ain’t we seen one?” said Joe. ‘Oh, lor’! I ain’t a very frightened cove, but that awful thing licked me.” | ‘* Look out for the sack.” ‘There it is, shelp me never!”’ cried Joe, pointing to the object under the hedge. *<So itis ;and blowed if the corpse ain’t in it,” eried ‘Tom, touching it with his foot. “True as death!” said J oe, feeling the body through the sack with his hands.“ But where's Bill scarpered to? blowed if he ain’t the pluckiest of us now.” “ Won’t he brag a bit about it 2”’ “Rather! But I can’t make out why he hooked it ?”’ said Joe, puzzled a little to account for the conduet of his mate, “Perhaps he thought some one was arter him?” suggested the other. ‘That's it; and so he’s doubled on’em. He’s a fly cove, an’no mistake, And the best thing we |, can do will be to hoist the sack on our shoulders, and take our hook with it. We shall find Bill waiting for us at the doctor’s. That's what he meant ‘by the market ; just to blind that coveas - give me a light.” In this the other coincided. And after looking up and down the road, the two men proceeded to lift the body on to their shoulders. | “Tt’s a pretty heavy corpse,” said Tom. “Strike me lucky! it is,’ said Joe. “ J ust give another hoist.” | As soon as the two men had got the sack, with fief its contents, into position, and were about. to move off, Jack thrust his arm over the. top of the hedge, and seizing the mouth of the sack, which’ was behind the men, gave it such a © sudden jerk that it rolled from their shoulder and fell with a heavy thud on to the pathway. _ “Why don’t you hold neEE you fool,” cried Tom, furiously. “Tt was your fault, you stupid!” cried. Toe “Why did’t you hold tight hs nahed ‘“T did hold tight.” | i} docu “T say you let go of it.” lt $880 i “ You’re a liar!” “ Why, I had hold of it,” said Soe: ; ‘ sO. ) don 7 call me a liar.” Why not? ”. 1} Wate © Vou'll Ses if youdo.” . ) to ‘ale “* Yes; you Will? 7 egy tvabt « “No cheek! I’m as good a man as you.” lp ‘And so am I.” Taal: “Shut up, then.” ott ‘““Tshan’t, unless I like. i had hold of ait right enough. Fors tals hh “Then what made it roll off 2” “Because you’re a fool, and didn’t hold sight, that’s why. v ; Posie we ‘Oh, go to the. devil, 3 growled Tom, “and don’t be so fast.’ ont pale. The other.said nothing, but proceeded: to. raise one end of the sack. Wie 7) ee | His companion took the other, and, once) more | it was raised to their shoulders. | . vf wink “Have you got hold all. right 7 said J oe, grufily. + vo Sie “Yes.. Have you? a ‘enact 7 ci it ‘“'To be sure I have.’ ie ' “Go on, then.”’ Again Jack put his arm over the hedae = seizing the mouth of the sack as the men moved. along, “pulled it sharply, and with some force. Both the men, however, kept firm hold of the sack, and the consequénce was that they both lost their balance and fell to the eround, bring: ing down the sack on topof them. — | t lo ‘In an instant Tom and-Joe were on: theif feet. Filled with rage at what each considered the other’s trick, and muttering a bitter oath, each rushed upon ‘the other with closed fists. Tom, blinded by passion, struck Joe a blow on the cheek and Joe, no less incensed, returned the compliment with one under the left eye of his companion ; and a fight ensued which finally ended in their closing together end rolling, over the body in the sack. Jack crouched down behind the hedge,’ and | fairly shook with suppressed lauchter. dad When the men rose to sheir feet, smartin, — -— £2 AUG7_ cComicbooks.co | ’ a - - eee ltl a RN rm menace: CL LE LAL as = - ° - ‘ -_- 7 * Py