HOW JACK TOOK TO HIS HEELS.
IN a moment all was still in the kitchen; then, after a brief silence,
Peternot began to pray, in a low, solemn tone of voice. Jack, waiting
and listening in his corner, was dismayed at this, remembering what Hank
had just said of the old man’s prayers.
“That’s no praying!” thought he. “I shall never dare stir, unless he
puts in, and makes more noise. Is that the best he can do, I wonder?”
Peternot soon showed that he could do better, his voice rising as he
proceeded in a manner that greatly encouraged Jack, who now slipped from
his corner, in order to make an observation.
Venturing to peep in at the open door, he saw the squire and his wife
and nephew all kneeling before their chairs in the kitchen, with their
backs toward him. That he considered a fortunate circumstance: they
would not see him if he closed the door.
“But if I shut it,” he reflected, “I shall be in the dark, and I may
stumble over a chair! I’ll take the money to the window, and get
everything ready first,—see just what I must do, and how to do it; then
I’ll shut it.”
He drew the bag from the corner, lifted it by its long, loose end, and
carried it across the room, casting one more glance at the kneeling
group as he passed the door. Then, having set the bag down under the
window, he carefully felt for the fastenings, and found the usual spring
in one side of the sash. This he pressed with his thumb, and ascertained
that the window would easily come open. All being ready, he stepped
back, closed the door softly, without daring to latch it, however, and
returned to put his plan into execution.
Pressing the window-spring, he raised the sash, and found himself at
once in communication with Hank and Cub on the outside.
“Now, hand it out!” said Hank.
“Wait! a little higher,” replied Jack, still pushing up the sash.
Unfortunately, it stuck in the frame, and as he still kept his thumb on
the spring to prevent its snapping with a noise when it reached a notch,
he could not tell when it was fast. “Now, hold it,” he said, and stooped
to take up the bag.
Both Cub and Hank had hold of the sash; but as it appeared to be firm in
its place, both let go of it in order to seize the treasure; and so it
chanced that, between them and Jack, down came the window with a loud
clatter and a rattling of glass, broken by Cub’s unlucky fingers in a
fruitless attempt to prevent the accident.
Frightened by the noise, which he knew would alarm the household, Jack
instantly threw up the sash again, tumbled out the bag, and was tumbling
himself out, when the squire rushed into the room. The fugitive
scrambled head foremost through the narrow opening, and had nearly
escaped, when Peternot with a firm grip seized him by the legs.
“Byron! Wife!” roared the squire within the room. “Light!”
“Boys! help!” screamed Jack, hanging head downwards on the outside, and
kicking violently with the captured members.
[Illustration: AN ABRUPT LEAVE-TAKING.]
With one hand he laid hold of the lilac-bush. Hank, returning to his
assistance, caught him by the shoulder; while at the same time Byron
Dinks relieved his uncle by grasping one of the unlucky legs. Hank
pulled on the outside; uncle and nephew pulled on the inside; and for a
moment it seemed to Jack that he must certainly break in two, if the
struggle continued. It lasted but three or four seconds, and was over by
the time Mrs. Peternot came with the candle. Jack succeeded first in
freeing the foot held by the nephew, and then made such vigorous use of
it that he quickly brought off the other. He fell to the ground, and
scrambled away behind the bushes; while Peternot, shouting, “Thieves!
robbers!” turned to the door, and rushed out of the house in pursuit.
Jack heard the shout, and the opening of the door, and presently the
ominous sound of heavy feet coming after him! He had lost sight of Hank
when he fell; and now he had not the faintest idea which way his
companions had fled. Had he paused to observe and listen, he might
perhaps have heard their retreating footsteps, or caught sight of their
gliding forms in the darkness; but the tall form treading close at his
heels left him no time for consideration. He went plunging blindly over
the wall, and heard the stones rattle again as his pursuer came plunging
after him.
The moon had not yet risen, and objects below the horizon were scarcely
visible,—an unfortunate circumstance for Jack, whose bare feet suffered
in this mad race over the rough ground. Heedless of his hurts, however,
he sped on, not in the direction of his own home, but of Aunt Patsy’s
house; while _thud_, _thud!_ came the footsteps behind him, nearer and
nearer, he fancied. Two or three times he turned his head, and there was
the dim shape striding upon his heels, with a hand outstretched to grasp
him, he more than once imagined. Never before would he have believed
that the old man could run so!
This strange race was brought to a ludicrous close by a rock which lay
in Jack’s way, as he was making for Aunt Patsy’s woods. He tripped over
it, and fell headlong; and over him fell his pursuer,—a sprawling heap.
“Hang it!” said the latter, “you come pooty nigh breakin’ my neck!” And
he lay on the ground laughing, while Jack sprang to his feet.
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