“Look at that, now,” cried the big ruffian. “Now he shall have it.”
“Serves him right!” said the woman passionately.
“Let the boy go, Ned, or you’ll get into trouble.”
“I’ll get into trouble for something then,” cried the fellow savagely, as he hurt me terribly by jerking the rope out of my hand and catching me by the collar, when I saw the two men at the open door look round, and I heard a familiar growl on the stairs that made my heart leap with joy.
“Ike!—Here!—Ike!” I shouted with all my might.
“Hold yer row,” hissed the great ruffian in a hoarse whisper, and clapping one hand behind my head he placed the other upon my mouth.
He dragged me round, half-choked and helpless, and then he said something over his shoulder to the woman, while I fought and struggled, and tried hard to shout again to Ike, whose heavy feet I could hear in the midst of a good deal of altercation on the stairs.
As I struggled to get free I saw that the window was opened and the rope thrown out. Then the window was quickly shut, and I was dragged towards the door.
“Here, you be off outer this,” whispered the great ruffian, with his lips close to my ear. “You cut; and don’t you—”
He stopped short, holding me tightly, and seemed to hesitate, his eyes glaring round as if in search of some place where he could hide me, not knowing what to do for the best.