The policeman was close behind Nick, more than anxious to help undo the evil results of his mistake.
He was athletic enough, and he grabbed at the carriage as it started, rested one foot on the turning hub, and gained the box.
“We’ll get him,” he said. “Let me use the whip and you do the driving.”
The horses tore away at a mad gallop, the officer slapping them right and left.
Pedestrians scampered in every direction, but, owing to Nick’s skillful handling of the lines, no one was injured.
Nick did not think he could overtake the fugitive, but he knew that something would happen to the fellow, and he wanted to be near enough to see that he did not escape, in case of accident or other misadventure.
Suddenly a mounted officer appeared in the roadway directly ahead of Ramsay.
Taking in the situation, the officer turned his horse across the road and drew a gun.
“Halt!” he cried.
Ramsay halted, but he did not surrender.