Part 14 (2/2)

”Scratched, that's all,” was the reply. ”Here, come and tie this wild beast's hands. I think I can hold him now.”

It almost sounded like a rash a.s.sertion, as the light played upon the desperate struggle that was going on. I could see Uncle Jack and the man, now down, now up, and at last, after wrestling here and there, the man, in spite of Uncle Jack's great strength, seeming to have the mastery. There was a loud panting and a crus.h.i.+ng fall, both going down, and Uncle Jack rising up to kneel upon his adversary's chest.

”Like fighting a bull,” panted Uncle Jack. ”What arms the fellow has!

Got the rope?”

”Yes,” said Uncle d.i.c.k, rattling the things in the bag. ”Can you turn him over?”

No sooner said than done. The man heard the order, and prepared to resist being turned on one side. Uncle Jack noted this and attacked the other side so quickly that the man was over upon his face before he could change his tactics.

”Keep that dog back, Cob, or he'll eat him,” said Uncle Bob, making the lantern play on the prostrate man, whose arms were dexterously dragged behind him and tightly tied.

”There,” said Uncle Jack. ”Now you can get up and go. Ah, would you, coward!”

This was in answer to a furious kick the fellow tried to deliver as soon as he had regained his feet.

”If he attempts to kick again, loose the dog at him, Cob,” cried Uncle d.i.c.k sharply.

Then in an undertone to me:

”No: don't! But let him think you will.”

”You'll hev it for this,” cried the man furiously.

”Right,” said Uncle Jack. ”Now, then, have you anything here belonging to you? No! Down you come then.”

He collared his prisoner, who turned to kick at him; but a savage snarl from Piter, as I half let him go, checked the fellow, and he suffered himself to be marched to the door, where he stopped.

”Ma beer,” he growled, looking back at the stone bottle.

”Beer! No, you've had enough of that,” said Uncle d.i.c.k. ”Go on down.”

The man walked quietly down the stairs; but when he found that he was to be thrust out into the lane he began to struggle again, and shout, but a fierce hand at his throat stopped that and he was led down to the gate in the wall, where it became my task now to hold the lantern while Uncles d.i.c.k and Bob grasped our prisoner's arms and left Uncle Jack free to untie the cord.

”Be ready to unlock the gate, Cob,” whispered Uncle Jack, as he held his prisoner by one twist of the rope round his arms like a leash. ”Now, then, ready! Back, dog, back!”

Piter shrank away, and then at a concerted moment the gate was thrown open, the three brothers loosed their hold of the prisoner at the same moment, and just as he was turning to try and re-enter, a sharp thrust of the foot sent him flying forward, the gate was banged to, and locked, and we were congratulating ourselves upon having ridded ourselves of an ugly customer, when the gate shook from the effect of a tremendous blow that sounded as if it had been dealt with a paving-stone.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

A USEFUL ALLY.

”Take no notice,” said Uncle d.i.c.k.

We listened, and I laughed as I heard the rattling noise made by a key as if our friend was trying to get in, after which he seemed to realise what had been done, and went away grumbling fiercely.

”Now for a quiet look round upstairs,” said Uncle d.i.c.k; and all being quiet and we in possession we turned in at the dark door to inspect our fort.

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