Part 3 (1/2)
”Why not try this house, then?” answered Mr Jackson ”I have been here for five years now, and have found it comfortable and reasonable The people who run the place are entlefolks who have been co to reduced circumstances I have two rooms, and so have Clarke and another man I know there are two enerally breakfast and dine with the Eltons (the people who let the rooms), and we usually lunch outside”
”What do you say, Jack?” asked the doctor ”You are the one chiefly concerned”
”It see, Doctor,” Jack answered ”It is close to the address of the crammer, and therefore suitable in that way
Could we look at the rooly the vacant accoed
A week later Jack had quite settled down, the doctor had returned houn
Jack enjoyed the life The allowance which he was entitled to draas a comfortable one, which enabled hi in his pocket hich to pay for aed froht except Saturday and Sunday he did a couple of hours' reading
Between tea-ti walk, as to a boy of his habits constant exercise was essential So the Embankment and on past Chelsea, for the river always had an attraction for hio in the opposite direction
One Saturday evening, just after dark, he was slowly returning towards Victoria, when a shrill whistle suddenly sounded in front of hi down at the time, so that the streets were practically deserted, while on the Eain the shrill whistle sounded, followed by a shout, this time less loud and decidedly muffled
Jack's suspicions were at once aroused, and, dropping his u the pave and the sound of heavy blows reached his ears, while, alas la the base of Cleopatra's Needle, close to which was a group of struggling figures
A hs had set upon tell-dressed gentleer was no older than hi half-stunned against the stonework, where he had been knocked by a staggering blohile at his feet rolled a police whistle hich he had entleman stood with his back to the lamppost, and as Jack reached his side knocked one of the ruffians flat on his back on the paveht to do Without stopping he dashed up to the feet of the younger man, picked up the whistle, and next moment was at the side of the older man Then he placed the whistle to his lips and bleith all histhere for?” exclai fiercely on his companions, who had draay as Jack arrived upon the scene ”He ain't a peeler! He's only some clerk as don't knohen to keep himself to hi!”
A second later Jack was forced to drop his whistle and defend hientle back with a treed with the second; while the leader of the gang, a burly, brutal-looking fellow, singled Jack out and struck at his head with both fists in quick succession
To atteer young fellow than Jack to break the blows But he escaped by ducking rapidly, rising the next moment to strike fiercely at the round
They fell heavily, the jar shaking the breath out of their bodies, and causing a sudden pain to shoot through Jack's thigh But though his left leg was now useless to hi pain it caused hirasp for a onist and pinned hiround
A few seconds passed, and just as his strength was giving way, and the ruffian was on the point of wrenching himself free, a policerasped his opponent's neck, and the ed away
What happened afterwards was a complete blank to Jack
CHAPTER THREE
OFF TO AFRICA
When Jack caain he was astonished to find himself tucked up in a cosy bed, with clean white sheets and a red counterpane