Part 101 (1/2)
”And did not you?”
”I'll tell you. At first we certainly gained on him a few yards, but after that I could not near him. But Hazy put on a tremendous spurt, and left me behind for all I could do. 'Here is a go,' thought I, 'and I have backed myself for a hundred pounds in a half-mile race against this beggar.' Well, I was behind, but Hazy and the fox seemed to me to be joined together running, when all of a sudden--pouff! Hazy's wind and his pluck blew out together. He tailed off. Wasn't I pleased! 'Good-by, Hazy,' says I, as I shot by him and took up the running. Well, I tried all I knew; but this confounded fellow ran me within half a mile of Sydney (N. B., within two miles of it). My throat and all my inside was like an oven, and I was thinking of tailing off, too, when I heard the beggar puff and blow, so then I knew I must come up with him before long.”
”And did you, sir?” asked Jenny in great excitement.
”Yes,” said the other, ”I pa.s.sed him even.”
”But did you catch him?”
”Well! why--yes--I caught him--as the Chinese caught the Tartar. This was one of your downy coves that are up to every move. When he found he hadn't legs to run from me he slips back to meet me. Down he goes under my leg--I go blundering over him twenty miles an hour. He lifts me clear over his head and I come flying down from the clouds heel over tip. I'd give twenty pounds to know how it was done, and fifty to see it done--to a friend, All I know is that I should have knocked my own brains out if it had not been for my hat and my hand--they bore the brunt between them, as you see.”
”And what became of the poor man?” asked Jane.
”Well, when the poor man had flung me over his head he ran on faster than ever, and by the time I had shaken my knowledge-box and found out north from south, I heard the poor man's nailed shoes clattering down the road. To start again a hundred yards behind a poor man who could run like that would have been making a toil of a trouble, so I trotted back to meet Hazy.
”Well, I am glad he got off clear--ain't you, Tom?”
”Yes--no. A scoundrel that hashed the master like this--why, Jane, you must be mad!”
”Spare your virtuous indignation,” said the other coolly. ”Remember I had been hunting him like a wild beast till his heart was nearly broke, and, when I was down, he could easily have revenged himself by giving me a kick with his heavy shoes on the head or the loins that would have spoiled my running for a month of Sundays. What do you say to that?”
Robinson colored. ”I say you are very good to make excuses for an unfortunate man--for a rascal--that is to say, a burglar; a--”
”And how do you know he was all that?” asked Jenny very sharply.
”Why did he run if he was not guilty?” inquired Robinson cunningly.
”Guilty--what of?” asked Jenny.
”That is more than I can tell you,” replied Robinson.
”I dare say,” said Jenny, ”it was some peaceable man that took fright at seeing two wild young gentlemen come out like mad bulls after him.”
”When I have told you my story you will be better able to judge.”
”What, isn't the story ended?”
”Ended? The cream of it is coming.”
”Oh, sir,” cried Jenny, ”please don't go on till I come back. I am going for the cold lotion now; I have fomented it enough.”
”Well, look sharp, then--here is the other all in a twitter with excitement.”
”Me, sir? No--yes. I am naturally interested.”
”Well, you haven't been long. I don't think I want any lotion, the hot water has done it a good deal of good.”
”This will do it more.”
”But do you know it is rather a bore to have only one hand to cut bread and b.u.t.ter with?”
”I'll cut it, sir,” said Robinson, laying down his irons for a moment.