But not without shouting to Shock, whom I suddenly remembered.
"Shock--Shock!" I cried; "look out for the cart." Not that I supposed
that the boys I left behind would run off with it and the old horse; but
there were more coils of rope swinging from the ladder, and there were
the sacks and Ike's old coat and whip.
I thought of all this in an instant as I ran, followed by the yells of
the young plunderer's companions.
I was not far behind, but he was barefoot, used to the place, knew every
inch of the ground, and while I slipped and nearly went down twice over,
he ran easily and well, pad--pad--pad--pad over the stones. He doubled
here and went in and out of the carts and wagons, dodged round a stack
of baskets there, threaded his way easily among the people, while I
tried to imitate him, and only blundered against them and got thrust
aside. Then I nearly knocked over a basket of peas built up on the top
of other baskets like a pillar, and at last nearly lost my quarry, for
he darted in at the door of a herbalist's shop; and as I went panting
up, sure now of catching him, I suddenly awakened to the fact that there
was a door on the other side out by which he had passed.
As luck had it, when I darted round I just caught sight of him
disappearing behind a cabbage wagon.
This time, as he disappeared, I tried to bring a little strategy to
bear, and running round another way by which I felt sure he would go, I
was able to make up all my lost ground, for I came plump upon him.
"Stop, you young thief!" I panted as I made a snatch at the rope and
his arm.
It was like catching at an eel. Just as I thought I had him he dodged
aside, dived under a horse, and as I ran round the back of the cart, not
caring to imitate his example, he was a dozen yards away, going in and
out of stalls and piles of vegetables.
I lost sight of him then, and the next minute saw him watching me round
a corner, when I again gave chase, hot, panting, and with a curious
aching pain in my legs; but when I reached the corner he had gone, and I
felt that I had lost him, and, thoroughly disheartened, did not know
which way to turn. I was about to go despondently back to the cart,
when, giving a final glance round, I saw him stealing away beyond some
columns.
He had not seen me, and he was walking; so, keeping as much out of sight
as I could, and rejoicing in the fact that I had recovered my breath, I
hurried on.