"It's mine," I cried, tugging at it angrily.
"Let go, will yer--d'yer hear; let go."
He tugged and snatched at it savagely, and just then the boy leaped upon
me, butting at me, and striking with all his might, infuriating me so by
his cowardly attack, that, holding on to the rope with one hand, I swung
round my doubled fist with the other and struck him with all my might.
It must have been a heavy blow right in the face, for he staggered back,
caught against a chair, and then fell with a crash, howling dismally.
"Look at that, now," cried the big ruffian. "Now he shall have it."
"Serves him right!" said the woman passionately.
"Let the boy go, Ned, or you'll get into trouble."
"I'll get into trouble for something then," cried the fellow savagely,
as he hurt me terribly by jerking the rope out of my hand and catching
me by the collar, when I saw the two men at the open door look round,
and I heard a familiar growl on the stairs that made my heart leap with
joy.
"Ike!--Here!--Ike!" I shouted with all my might.
"Hold yer row," hissed the great ruffian in a hoarse whisper, and
clapping one hand behind my head he placed the other upon my mouth.
He dragged me round, half-choked and helpless, and then he said
something over his shoulder to the woman, while I fought and struggled,
and tried hard to shout again to Ike, whose heavy feet I could hear in
the midst of a good deal of altercation on the stairs.
As I struggled to get free I saw that the window was opened and the rope
thrown out. Then the window was quickly shut, and I was dragged towards
the door.
"Here, you be off outer this," whispered the great ruffian, with his
lips close to my ear. "You cut; and don't you--"
He stopped short, holding me tightly, and seemed to hesitate, his eyes
glaring round as if in search of some place where he could hide me, not
knowing what to do for the best.
"Shut the door, mates," he said quickly; and the two men dragged the
door to after them as they stood outside.
"Just you make half a sound, and--"
He put his lips close to my ear as he said this, and closed the great
clasp-knife with a sharp click which made me start; while his eyes
seemed to fascinate me as he bent down and glared at me.
It was only for a moment, though, and then I managed to slip my face
aside and shouted aloud: "Ike!"
There was a rush and a scuffle outside, and the woman said in an
ill-used tone: "I told yer how it would be."