Part 29 (1/2)

”So do I now,” I said hotly. ”You did buy it to learn to smoke, and we've lost our pa.s.sage through you.”

Esau was silent for a few moments, and then he came towards me and whispered--

”Don't say that, sir. I saw what a shabby old clay pipe Mr Gunson had got, and I thought a good noo clean briar-root one would be a nice present for him, and I ran off to get it, and bought a big strong one as wouldn't break. And then, as I was out, I thought I'd look in at some of the stores, and see if there wasn't something that would do for you.”

”And you went off to buy me a pipe, my lad?” said Gunson, who had heard every word.

”Didn't know you was listening,” said Esau, awkwardly.

”I could not help hearing. You were excited and spoke louder than you thought. Thank you, my lad, though I haven't got the pipe. Well, how did you get on then?”

”That's what I hardly know, sir. I s'pose those chaps we had the tussle with had seen me, and I was going stoopidly along after I'd bought your pipe--and it was such a good one--staring in at the windows thinking of what I could buy for him, for there don't seem to be anything you can buy for a boy or a young fellow but a knife, and he'd got two already, when in one of the narrow streets, Shove! bang!”

”What?” I said.

”Shove! bang! Some one seemed to jump right on me, and drove me up against a door--bang, and I was knocked into a pa.s.sage. 'Course I turned sharply to hit out, but five or six fellows had rushed in after me, and they shoved me along that pa.s.sage and out into a yard, and then through another door, and before I knew where I was they'd got me down and were sitting on me.”

”But didn't you holler out, or cry for help?”

”He says didn't I holler out, or shout for help! I should just think I did; but before I'd opened my mouth more than twice they'd stuffed some dirty old rag in,--I believe it was some one's pocket-hankychy,--and then they tied another over it and behind my head to keep it in, right over my nose too, and there I was.”

”But you saw the men,” said Gunson, who was deeply interested.

”Oh yes, I saw 'em. One of 'em was that long-haired chap; and it was him whose hands run so easy into my pockets, and who got off my coat and weskit, and slit up my s.h.i.+rt like this so as to get at the belt I had on with my money in it. He had that in a moment, the beggar! and then if he didn't say my braces were good 'uns and he'd change. They were good 'uns too, real leather, as a saddler--”

”Well?” said Gunson. ”What took place then?”

”Nothing; only that long-haired chap grinned at me and kicked me twice.

'Member that policeman as took us up, Mr Gordon?”

”Yes.”

”I only wish I could hand that long-haired chap over to him. Strikes me they'd cut his hair very short for him before they let him go.”

”But what happened next?”

”Nothing, sir; only they tied my hands behind me, and then put a rope round my ankles, and then one took hold of my head and another of my feet, and they give me a swing, and pitched me on to a heap of them dry leaves like we used to see put round the oranges down in Thames Street.”

”Indian corn,” said Gunson, shortly.

”Yes; and then they went out, and I heard 'em lock the door, leaving me in the half dark place nearly choked with that hankychy in my mouth.”

”Yes; go on, Esau,” I said eagerly. And just then the master of the boat spoke--

”Say, youngster, you was in for it. They meant to hit you over the head to-night, and chuck you into the harbour after dark.”

”Yes,” said Gunson.

”Well, I saved 'em the trouble,” said Esau. ”Oh, I just was mad about that pipe; and I seemed to think more about them braces than I did about the money, because, you see, being sewed up like in a belt I never saw the money, and I used to see the braces, and think what good ones they was, every day.”