"Penned up in the building with a prisoner."
During this short conversation the crowd had grown more unruly, and were now clustered around Joe so closely as to impede his progress.
The officer who had been speaking to Jet motioned to his companion, and the two sprang in front of the prisoner, as the former shouted:
"Make way, or I shall do more than the boy promised," and he drew a revolver.
"Who are you?"
"Officers from Albany who have come to assist in the arrest of this man. The first who interferes shall be taken in custody, and I warn you that it is a serious matter to try to rescue a prisoner."
This short speech had a decidedly good effect upon the majority of the crowd, who fell back at once; but Joe's friends had not yet despaired of success.
They faced the officers boldly, trying to force their way between the prisoner and Jet, and in a twinkling two of them were seized by the strangers, who clasped bracelets on their wrists without delay.
"If there are any more who want to try the same, we've got plenty of time to attend to them, for all we ask is a chance to pick out this fellow's pals."
The street was now cleared, each member of the throng endeavoring to be the first to escape suspicion, and the officers called to Jet: