"Listen to me, Thames. You"re in a more serious sc.r.a.pe than you imagine.
I overheard Jonathan Wild"s instructions to Quilt Arnold, and though he spoke in slang, and in an under tone, my quick ears, and acquaintance with the thieves" lingo, enabled me to make out every word he uttered.
Jonathan is in league with Sir Rowland to make away with you. You are brought here that their designs may be carried into effect with greater security. Before morning, unless, we can effect an escape, you"ll be kidnapped, or murdered, and your disappearance attributed to the negligence of the constable."
"Are you sure of this?" asked Thames, who, though as brave a lad as need be, could not repress a shudder at the intelligence.
"Certain. The moment I entered the room, and found you a prisoner in the hands of Jonathan Wild, I guessed how matters stood, and acted accordingly. Things haven"t gone quite as smoothly as I antic.i.p.ated; but they might have been worse. I _can_ save you, and _will_. But, say we"re friends."
"You"re not deceiving me!" said Thames, doubtfully.
"I am not, by Heaven!" replied Sheppard, firmly.
"Don"t swear, Jack, or I shall distrust you. I can"t give you my hand; but you may take it."
"Thank you! thank you!" faltered Jack, in a voice full of emotion. "I"ll soon free you from these bracelets."
"You needn"t trouble yourself," replied Thames. "Mr. Wood will be here presently."
"Mr. Wood!" exclaimed Jack, in surprise. "How have you managed to communicate with him?"
Abraham, who had listened attentively to the foregoing conversation,--not a word of which escaped him,--now drew in his breath, and brought his ear closer to the boards.
"By means of the watchman who had the charge of me," replied Thames.
"Curse him!" muttered Abraham.
"Hist!" exclaimed Jack. "I thought I heard a noise. Speak lower.
Somebody may be on the watch--perhaps, that old ginger-hackled Jew."
"I don"t care if he is," rejoined Thames, boldly. "He"ll learn that his plans will be defeated."
"He may learn how to defeat yours," replied Jack.
"So he may," rejoined Abraham, aloud, "so he may."
"Death and fiends!" exclaimed Jack; "the old thief _is_ there. I knew it. You"ve betrayed yourself, Thames."
"Vot o" that?" chuckled Abraham. "_You_ can shave him, you know."
"I _can_," rejoined Jack; "and you, too, old Aaron, if I"d a razor."
"How soon do you expect Mishter Vudd?" inquired the janizary, tauntingly.
"What"s that to you?" retorted Jack, surlily.
"Because I shouldn"t like to be out o" the vay ven he arrives," returned Abraham, in a jeering tone; "it vouldn"t be vell bred."
"Vouldn"t it!" replied Jack, mimicking his snuffling voice; "then shtay vere you are, and be cursed to you."
"It"s all up," muttered Thames. "Mr. Wood will be intercepted. I"ve destroyed my only chance."
"Not your _only_ chance, Thames," returned Jack, in the same undertone; "but your best. Never mind. We"ll turn the tables upon "em yet. Do you think we could manage that old clothesman between us, if we got out of this box?"
"I"d manage him myself, if my arms were free," replied Thames, boldly.
"Shpeak up, vill you?" cried Abraham, rapping his knuckles against the hatch. "I likes to hear vot you says. You _can_ have no shecrets from me."
"Vy don"t you talk to your partner, or Saint Giles, if you vant conversation, Aaron?" asked Jack, slyly.
"Because they"re in the next room, and the door"s shut; that"s vy, my jack-a-dandy!" replied Abraham, unsuspiciously.
"Oh! they are--are they?" muttered Jack, triumphantly; "that"ll do. Now for it, Thames! Make as great a row as you can to divert his attention."
With this, he drew the spike from his pocket; and, drowning the sound of the operation by whistling, singing, shuffling, and other noises, contrived, in a few minutes, to liberate his companion from the handcuffs.
"Now, Jack," cried Thames, warmly grasping Sheppard"s hand, "you are my friend again. I freely forgive you."
Sheppard cordially returned the pressure; and, cautioning Thames, "not to let the ruffles drop, or they might tell a tale," began to warble the following fragment of a robber melody:--
"Oh! give me a chisel, a knife, or a file, And the dubsmen shall find that I"ll do it in style!
_Tol-de-rol!_"
"Vot the devil are you about, noisy?" inquired Abraham.
"Practising singing, Aaron," replied Jack. "Vot are you?"
"Practising patience," growled Abraham.
"Not before it"s needed," returned Jack, aloud; adding in a whisper, "get upon my shoulders, Thames. Now you"re up, take this spike. Feel for the lock, and prize it open,--you don"t need to be told _how_. When it"s done, I"ll push you through. Take care of the old clothesman, and leave the rest to me.
When the turnkey, next morning, stepp"d into his room, The sight of the hole in the wall struck him dumb; The sheriff"s black bracelets lay strewn on the ground, But the lad that had worn "em could nowhere be found.
_Tol-de-rol!_"
As Jack concluded his ditty, the door flew open with a crash, and Thames sprang through the aperture.
This manoeuvre was so suddenly executed that it took Abraham completely by surprise. He was standing at the moment close to the hatch, with his ear at the keyhole, and received a severe blow in the face. He staggered back a few paces; and, before he could recover himself, Thames tripped up his heels, and, placing the point of the spike at his throat, threatened to stab him if he attempted to stir, or cry out. Nor had Jack been idle all this time. Clearing the recess the instant after his companion, he flew to the door of the inner room, and, locking it, took out the key. The policy of this step was immediately apparent. Alarmed by the noise of the scuffle, Quilt and Sharples rushed to the a.s.sistance of their comrade. But they were too late. The entrance was barred against them; and they had the additional mortification of hearing Sheppard"s loud laughter at their discomfiture.
"I told you the prison wasn"t built that could hold me," cried Jack.
"You"re not out yet, you young hound," rejoined Quilt, striving ineffectually to burst open the door.
"But I soon shall be," returned Jack; "take these," he added, flinging the handcuffs against the wooden part.i.tion, "and wear "em yourself."
"Halloo, Nab!" vociferated Quilt. "What the devil are you about! Will you allow yourself to be beaten by a couple of kids?"
"Not if I can help it," returned Abraham, making a desperate effort to regain his feet. "By my shalvation, boy," he added, fiercely, "if you don"t take your hande off my peard, I"ll sthrangle you."
"Help me, Jack!" shouted Thames, "or I shan"t be able to keep the villain down."