Jumping out of the coach, sword in hand, he kept his assailants at bay, manfully and bravely.
Phillip Redgill, however, slipped out of the coach by the opposite door, and soon made his escape unharmed.
As he was fleeing, Captain Jack overtook him.
“A thousand gold guineas if you slay the alderman,” said Redgill, in a confidential whisper.
“Done!” said Captain Jack.
Redgill gave the robber chief a large purse, and promised the rest at a certain time and place in London.
In a few moments Redgill mounted one of the robbers’ horses, and galloped away unperceived by old Sir Richard, who thought Phillip had been killed or desperately wounded.
“No quarter, lads; no quarter,” said Captain Jack; “the old baronet fights like a fiend. He has wounded several already. No quarter, lads; no quarter.”
It was at this moment, when surrounded by Captain Jack’s desperate men, and each moment in expectation of being killed, that Wildfire Ned darted upon the spot full speed.
Bang! bang! went his pistols right and left as he approached.