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Lookee here, Jack! said Hugh, striding up to him: We are going to tie you, hand and foot, but otherwise you wont be hurt. Dye hear? John Willet looked at another man, as if he didnt know which was the speaker, and muttered something about an ordinary every Sunday at two oclock. You wont be hurt I tell you, Jackdo you hear me? roared Hugh, impressing the assurance upon him by means of a heavy blow on the back. Hes so dead scared, hes woolgathering, I think. Give him a drop of something to drink here. Hand over, one of you. A glass of liquor being passed forward, Hugh poured the contents down old Johns throat. Mr Willet feebly smacked his lips, thrust his hand into his pocket, and inquired what was to pay; adding, as he looked vacantly round, that he believed there was a trifle of broken glass Hes out of his senses for the time, its my belief, said Hugh, after shaking him, without any visible effect upon his system, until his keys rattled in his pocket. Wheres that Dennis? The word was again passed, and presently Mr Dennis, with a long cord bound about his middle, something after the manner of a friar, came hurrying in, attended by a body-guard of half-a-dozen of his men. Come! Be alive here! cried Hugh, stamping his foot upon the ground. Make haste! Dennis, with a wink and a nod, unwound the cord from about his person, and raising his eyes to the ceiling, looked all over it, and round the walls and cornice, with a curious eye; then shook his head. Move, man, cant you! cried Hugh, with another impatient stamp of his foot. Are we to wait here, till the cry has gone for ten miles round, and our works interrupted? Its all very fine talking, brother, answered Dennis, stepping towards him; but unless and here he whispered in his ear unless we do it over the door, it cant be done at all in this here room. What cant? Hugh demanded. What cant! retorted Dennis. Why, the old man cant. Why, you werent going to hang him! cried Hugh. No, brother? returned the hangman with a stare. What else? Hugh made no answer, but snatching the rope from his companions hand, proceeded to bind old John himself; but his very first move was so bungling and unskilful, that Mr Dennis entreated, almost with tears in his eyes, that he might be permitted to perform the duty. Hugh consenting, be achieved it in a twinkling. There, he said, looking mournfully at John Willet, who displayed no more emotion in his bonds than he had shown out of them. Thats what I call pretty and workmanlike. Hes quite a picter now. But, brother, just a word with younow that hes ready trussed, as one may say, wouldnt it be better for all parties if we was to work him off? It would read uncommon well in the newspapers, it would indeed. The public would think a great deal more on us! Hugh, inferring what his companion meant, rather from his gestures than his technical mode of expressing himself (to which, as he was ignorant of his calling, he wanted the clue), rejected this proposition for the second time, and gave the word Forward! which was echoed by a hundred voices from without. To the Warren! shouted Dennis as he ran out, followed by the rest. A witnesss house, my lads! |
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