The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

THE KING OF THE SCHOOL, OR, WHO WILL WIN? 121 “Right you are, young guvnor, I ain’t nowise in any partickler hurry to wisit the beak again. We'd get seven year a-piece, make no bloomin’ herror |” . “‘Hold your tongue, and come salons,” replied Baynes, who shuddered when his companion mentioned the punish- ment that would be meted out to them. a Between them they hurried the poor, helpless girl along, till they reached a point about a quarter of a mile up the river. | | A boat was there, moored to a bush upon the bank. ‘In with you.” | This rough command was addressed by Baynes to poor Kate, who was too far overcome by fear to be able either to comprehend or obey. <6 Bob,” “ That’s me, young guvnor.” ‘Come here and lend us a hand.” Bob had taken his seat in the boat, but immediately stepped out, and helped his ruffianly young employer to place his prey in the stern sheets of the craft. ‘‘ Now pull as hard as you can.” Bob did so, and the boat silently shot up stream. “Did you get those padlocks and keys?” asked Baynes, when they had journeyed about two miles in. silence. “Yes, guvnor.” “ Because it will be necessary to keep this young lady quiet for a time, till she has got over her excitement.” ‘¢ Axing yer parding, young guvnor, but where are you going to take her ?” “ Up to the old ruined mill.” Poor Kate, though a good, and generally speaking a very sensible girl, was not altogether free from superstition. She had often heard the character borne by the place to which her captor was taking her. No Rather than be imprisoned in that weird, spectral building, the outlines of which were now becoming dimly visible in the moonlight, she would end all her troubles in the glistening water, _ She jumped up from her seat sud- aenly, and would certainly have carried out her rash resolution had not Bob, the boatman, dropped his oars and seized her. ‘“ You must take better care en her, young guvnor,’ observed the man. [ vos honly hingaged for abduction, and don’t know nothink about suicide or murder,” “Hold your tongue, you fool,” growled Baynes, and passing his arm round the girl’s waist, he held her close to him by main force. Then, for the first time, Kate spoke, “You will repent this vile outrage when Frank comes,” said she. ‘“Hrank will never know what has become of you, unless 7 ‘Unless what?” “T will tell you presently; but don’t think Egerton will ever find your hiding-place. Water doesn’t leave any track, you know, and that is why I brought you by boat.” “Let me go. I will promise to tell no one.” ‘ . ‘Perhaps Pll let you go, presently, if you are good.” “Help! help! help! Frank!” she screamed. +‘ Silence!” said Baynes. And to enforce his command he thrust a thick handkerchief into her mouth, thus effectually gagging the poor girl. The boatman pulled away stolidly, and in a short space of time landed his living cargo at a spot about fifty yards below the old mill. This structure was situated on a little island in the midst of the stream. There was just room enough for the mill itself and a little plot of garden, ‘now, however, overgrown with weeds | and sedges. A rude bridge, composed of twe EO DOC CO mn