Benham saw him as a shortish, thick-set man with a great round head, and a slouching walk. It was just a glimpse, for Jasper made his leap, springing out from the black shadow into the moonlight. The man swung round with a quick snarl of surprise.
"Tonnerre!"
The holly-stick swung just before a pistol flashed, and the bullet thudded against the wall of the quarry. Jasper knocked the pistol out of the man's hand, gave him a tap on the skull, and then closed. So far as the tussle went, it was not a very serious affair. Youth was well served in handling this little round cask of a man. He was rolled over, and pinned flat on his back, while Jasper wrenched a second pistol and a knife out of his belt and threw them away into the undergrowth.
"Tom, bring your lantern. Quick, man, quick!"
[XXIII]
Tom Stook came running out with the lantern.
"Have ye got him, Master Jasper?"
"It looks rather like it, Tom—eh!"
The light fell upon a fat, swarthy, and sullen face that blinked its eyes at the lantern.
"Mounseer Jerome—sure!"