And with a sudden bound he sprang around the corner and darted away.
Seeing this, Yates tried to follow suit; but Ford’s grip was a good one, and he held fast.
“Hang on to him, Dan!” I exclaimed. “Don’t let him go. I am going after Mr. Norton!”
And not waiting to say more, I, too, dashed away.
Rounding the corner I saw my guardian fully a block up the street, and running as fast as his long legs would permit. I gave chase, and soon began to close the distance between us.
The street was a narrow one, and but few people were upon it. Had there been a crowd, I would have had no trouble in getting some one to hold him.
Mr. Norton was a good runner, and he made the best possible use of his time. He darted here and there over a box and around a wagon, and it was no mean job to keep him in sight.
The streets of Chester were comparatively strange to me; but I believe they were also to him, so on that score we were equal.
In a few moments he had crossed a river that ran through the town. There was a drawbridge over it; and no sooner had he passed than the keeper began to open the draw for the purpose of allowing a vessel to go through.