Part 24 (2/2)
He glanced at the four sleepingDon a nod of the head, but, as he neared the door he paused
”Not very nice for a lad like you,” he said, not unkindly ”Here, bring these two out, my lads; we'll stow them in the warehouse Rather hard on the lad to shut hi”
A couple of the press-gang seized Don by the arms, and a couple more paid Jem Wiht of steps, the door was banged to and bolted, and directly after they were all standing on the floor of what had evidently been used as a tobacco warehouse, where the lanthorn light showed a rough step ladder leading up to another floor
”Where shall we put 'em, sir?” said a sailor
”Top floor and make fast,” said the bluff an Don
”I shall send you back into that lock-up place below, and perhaps put you in irons,” said thefor you Now then, up with you, quick!--”
There was nothing for it but to obey, and with a heavy heart Don followed the man with the lanthorn as he led the way to the next floor, Jeuard of tell-ar up the rear
The floor they reached was exactly like the one they had left, and they ascended another step ladder to the next, and then to the next
”There's a heap of bags and wrappers over yonder to lie down on, et your troubles You shall have so Now, my men, sharp's the word”
They had ascended froh trap-doors, and as Don looked anxiously at his captors, the man who carried the lanthorn stooped and raised a heavy door froht as his co down the heavy trap over his head
The door closed with a loud clap, a rusty bolt was shot, and then, as the two prisoners stood in the darkness listening, there was a rasping noise, and then a crash, which Don interpreted to ed away and half laid, half thrown upon the floor below Then the sounds died away
”This is a happy sort o' life, Mas' Don,” said Je the silence ”What's to be done next? Oh! My head, my head!”
”I don't know, Jeh to make one wish one was dead”
”Dead! Wish one was dead, sir? Oh, coh to be knocked down and have the headache Dead! No, no Where did he say thes was?”
”I don't know, Jem”
”Well, let's look I want to lie down and have a sleep”
”Sleep? At a time like this!”
”Why not, sir? I' better as I see”
”Je punished for all our discontent and folly, and it seems more than I can bear”
”But we ot to do when you're punished Don't take on, sir P'r'aps, it won't sees he talked about”
Don was too deep in thought, for the face of his ony she suffered on his account