Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

I SSS SSSSSSSSSSSaQaQS$=$:j {Vis =ée:.:.00°0 SPRING-EEEL’D JACK: woman half-dead in my arms, and the strength of the current will not let me reach the shore ~ with her.” “ Hold on a bit, and I'll be by your side in a jiffey. Hi! you sleepy lubber, come and hold the lantern, and throw a glim over her side,” he added, turning his head, and addressing some one on board. “What are you after now?” cried a sleepy voice. “Come and see,” was the short answer of the man, _ The next moment another bronze-featured man was looking over the stern of the vessel. ‘“‘ A bloke,” he said, taking the lantern from the other’s hand; “chuck him a rope. I sup- pose he’s been after nailing something in the pool and got a ducking for his pains. Don’t let go of it, though, for those fellows would pinch a copper nail out of a keel—the warmints. Haul him up and give him a taste of cable on his back, then chuck him overboard again.” “Thank you,” said Jack, inwardly, “I won’t forget your kind intentions, my friend.” “‘Close your mug,” said the other, clambering over the stern of the vessel and dropping into the boat. “The fellow ain’t a land pirate. Turn the elim round, will you, Jerry, and let’s see how to ease him of the gal.” “A gal!” cried the man above ; ‘‘so there is. Why, what's up ?” *“* Bear a hand, and the girl will be saved,” said the other, as he leaned over the boat and seized Ellen in his strong arms. Then, without paying any heed to Jack, he held her drooping form up till Jerry succeeded in grasping it—having laid the lantern down— and then, with a sudden jerk, lifted her over on to the deck of the little vessel. ‘Pull yourself up, mate,” said the man in the boat, ‘‘ and we'll give you a glassof grog to keep the cold out of you. There's nothing like getting wet inside when you are wet out. Pull yourself up, old fellow, there’s a rope hanging over her stern.” | And catching at a tarred rope that dangled from the stern of the ship, he swung himself up, and stood beside his companion and messmate. “Take her down below, Jerry,” he said, “ and pour about half-a-pint of rum down her throat. She'll soon come to.” 5 ‘That'll put her to rights,” said Jerry, bearing her away from the gaze of Jack. Meantime our hero remained clinging to the side of the boat. No further notice was taken of him. He was left to shift for himself while the two men went down into the cabin to look after Ellen. “Pull myself up by the rope,” muttered Jack, “ that’s what I’m to do, isit ?. Allright ; but now I’m relieved of my burthen and somewhat refreshed, I think Ill take a stroke or two and return to the barge for my cloak. The poor girl will’ be all right, though she has two rough nurses. I’d rather trust her with them than your mealy-mouthed snobs. Let me look around and take my bearings. All right; I shall know the ship again by the colour of her hull.” ibtedd of taking advantage of the rope hang- ing over the stern of the vessel he left go his et REELED De ee Tc OOO) TIE TERROR OF LONDON. ov hold of the boat and struck out at once for the barge. Ihe tide, which was now upon the turn, offered no resistance to his exertions, and be made good speed towards the object ot his labours. A few minutes brought him alongside the barge. Taking advantage of the cable by which she was moored he drew himself up on to the black mass of woodwork, and ran along the side of the halt-filled rooms, till he arrived at the spot where his cloak still lay. Soaking wet as it was, he took it up and flung it round his shoulders, then rolled it up and fastened it round his neck so that it should not impede his movements. Lhis accomplished, he looked around for the poor fellow who had fallen overboard. He was nowhere to be seen. Jack was the only occupant of the barge. ‘‘T hope the poor fellow has not sank,” he said. ‘‘ I gave him a.blow which sent him down, in my indignation at his conduct, but I had no intention of destroying him.” Jack felt some little compunction at what he had done. “Now for the ship,” he said. ‘I must not leave that girl, though I doubt not she will be well cared tor. The tide is on the turn, and I can reach the vessel in a few minutes. I won't forget that fellow, though, who suggested the rope’s end on my back. Oh! no—ol! no.” He was about to leap off the barge into the water, when a boat which he had not before seen pulled up close alongside the barge. * Hallo, you sir, who are you?” asked a voice. Jack looked down from the barge, but replied not. . . “ Who are you ?” ‘What's that to you?’ asked Jack, annoyed at the questioner’s tones. ‘We'll soon show you.” “Come on, then.” Jack dropped his cloak. He put on his mask. | ‘“‘ Here’s a chance for a lark,” he said. The men in the boat, three in number, pulled up close alongside the barge, shipped their oars, and two instantly scrambled up on to the vessel, leaving one man to look after the boat. ‘‘ You must give an account of yourself,” said one of the men, placing his hand on Jack’s shoul- der, our hero having turned his back to them as they got upon the barge. ‘“‘ Indeed !”’ said Jack, turning quickly. The man started back and stood glaring upon him in the faint starlight of the night. Their surprise, if not terror, was very great for a moment, but recovering the sudden shock, one of the men again placed his hand on Jack’s arm. “Who are you?”’ he asked. “Spring-heeled Jack!” answered his com- panion, as the idea struck him. ‘“Spring-heeled Jack!” echoed the other, releasing his hold of Jack’s arm, then added, quickly, “‘you’re wanted.” “ Am I?” said Jack, preparing for a spring. ‘You are, old fellow. What the land police havn’t been able to do the river police will.” tt Se ee