And that reminds me. In the morning paper the day afterwards, I found a most exciting paragraph. I whistled Dan, took Tibbie and Rikki under each arm, and asked Mole to carry Poll’s cage to the stable.
Bob and Prince John looked round in their stalls to see what was the matter, and Bob said:
“What is it now? Has a North American Indian arrived in Dale End, or what?”
“You listen,” I said. “I came across this in the paper just now: ‘An extraordinary outrage was committed in the precincts of Waterloo Station on Thursday evening—’”
“Thursday evening!” cried Tib. “Why, that’s the evening Schwartz—”
“Don’t interrupt,” I said, and went on reading: “‘Mr. Montague Schwartz, the well-known West African millionaire, was leaving the station in a four-wheeled cab when two gigantic negroes rushed to the near side of the vehicle as it was descending the steep slope into Waterloo Road, and threw it bodily over.’”
“Ha! ha!” roared Dan, but I silenced him with a look.
“‘The cabman was, of course, flung headlong from his seat; Mr. Schwartz was imprisoned inside, and ran grave risk of serious injury owing to the plunging of the frightened horse.’”
“Silly creatures, some horses,” observed Poll, and Bob didn’t like it, but I continued:
“‘In the darkness and confusion no one seems to have noticed the negroes, who made off with Mr. Schwartz’s luggage, even appropriating a leather dressing-case which was on the front seat inside, and had fallen on top of the alarmed occupant. Mr. Schwartz, when extricated from his dangerous position, behaved with admirable coolness. He felt in his pockets, and declared that the rascals who had adopted this novel and exceedingly daring method of highway robbery had only secured some clothing and other articles which could be easily replaced. He was naturally somewhat shaken, however. After liberally compensating the cab-driver, Mr. Schwartz sought the escort of two policemen, when he entered another vehicle to proceed to his house in Brook-street. During the course of yesterday the police arrested several negroes, but neither the cabman nor Mr. Schwartz could identify any of them, and they were set at liberty.’ I think that’s rather fine; don’t you? Please don’t all speak at once.”