Part 6 (2/2)

”Some one coming,” whispered Esau.

For there were heavy footsteps, and the bolts were drawn. Then the door opened, to show the inspector and the big policeman.

”Here, boy,” said the former roughly, ”let me look at your ear.”

I was holding my handkerchief to the place, which was bleeding a good deal.

”Better have the doctor,” he said.

”What, for that! Only wants bathing and some sticking-plaster.”

He smiled.

”Well, we shall see,” he said, looking at me curiously. ”What did you do with the money?”

”What money?”

”That Mr Dempster said you took.”

”He didn't take any!” cried Esau indignantly. ”He knocked us about, and we hit him again, and he got the worst of it.”

”Oh, that's it, is it? Come, my lad, that's not true.”

”It is, sir, indeed,” I said earnestly.

”But look at your handkerchief. Seems to me you got the worst of it.”

”Oh, that's nothing,” I said.

”You had a regular scrimmage, then?”

”Yes, sir,” I said; and I told him exactly how it happened.

”Humph!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the inspector, when I had finished, ”I dare say you will not get more than seven years.”

”Seven years, sir!” cried Esau. ”What for? Old Demp ought to get it, not us.”

”You must tell the Lord Mayor that, or the alderman, to-morrow.”

”But are we going to be kept in prison, sir?” I asked, with my courage sinking.

”You are going to be locked up here till tomorrow, of course. Like to have a good wash?”

Of course we said ”Yes,” and before long we looked fairly respectable again, with the exception of scratches, bruises, and the ugly cut I had on my ear.

The thing that encouraged me most was the way in which I saw the inspector and constable exchange a smile, while later on they and the other constables about gave us a good tea with bread and b.u.t.ter and meat, and we had to tell all our adventures again before we were locked up for the night, after refusing an offer that was made.

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