CHAPTER FOUR.
MIKE BANNOCK HAS A RIDE.
"You wretch!"
Those two words were a long time coming, but when they did escape fromLindon's lips, they made up in emphasis and force for their brevity.
"Steady, Master Don, steady," said Jem, throwing his arms round theboy's waist, and holding him back. "You arn't strong enough to fighthim."
"Wretch? Oh! Well, I like that. Why, some men would ha' gone straightto your uncle here, and told him all about it; but I didn't, and I'dmade up my mind to send him the money back, only I met two or threemates, and I had to change one of 'em to give the poor lads a drink o'ale."
"You own, then, that you had my money, sir?" cried the old merchant.
"Well--some on it, master. He give it me. S'pose I oughtn't to havetook it, but I didn't like to come and tell you, and get the poor ladinto trouble. He's so young, you see."
"Uncle, it is not true!" cried Lindon, excitedly.
"But you had one of the guineas in your pocket, sir."
"Yes, uncle, but--"
"Course he had," interrupted Mike sharply. "I told you it wouldn't do,Master Don. I begged you not to."
"You villain!" cried Don, grinding his teeth, while his uncle watchedhim with a sidelong look.
"Calling names won't mend it, my lad. I knowed it was wrong. I telledhim not to, sir, but he would."
This was to the constable in a confidential tone, and that functionaryresponded with a solemn wink.
"It is not true, uncle!" cried Don again.
"Oh, come now," said Mike, shaking his head with half tipsy reproach, "Iwouldn't make worse on it, my lad, by telling a lot o' lies. You didwrong, as I says to you at the time; but you was so orbst'nate youwould. Says as you'd got such lots of money, master, as you'd nevermiss it."
Uncle Josiah gave vent to a sound resembling a disgusted grunt, andturned from the speaker, who continued reproachfully to Don,--
"What you've got to do, my lad, is to go down on your bended knees toyour uncle, as is a good master as ever lived--and I will say that, comewhat may--and ask him to let you off this time, and you won't do so anymore."
"Uncle, you won't believe what he says?" cried Don wildly.
Uncle Josiah did not reply, only looked at him searchingly.
"He can't help believing it, my lad," said Mike sadly. "It's werryshocking in one so young."
Don made a desperate struggle to free himself from Jem's encirclingarms, but the man held fast.
"No, no, my lad; keep quiet," growled Jem. "I'm going to spoil theshape of his nose for him before he goes."
"Then you don't believe it, Jem?" cried Don, passionately.
"Believe it, my lad? Why, I couldn't believe it if he swore it 'fore ahundred million magistrits."
"No, that's allus the way with higgerant chaps like you, Jem Wimble,"said Mike; "but it's all true, genelmen, and I'm sorry I didn't speakout afore like a man, for he don't deserve what I did for him."
"Hah!" ejaculated Uncle Josiah, and Don's face was full of despair.
"You charge Mike Bannock, then, with stealing this money, sir," said theconstable.
"Yes, certainly."
"What?" roared Mike, savagely, "charge me?"
"That will do," said the constable, taking a little staff with a brasscrown on the end from his pocket. "No nonsense, or I shall call inhelp. In the King's name, my lad. Do you give in?"
"Give in? What for? I arn't done nothing. Charge him; he's thethief."
Don started as if the word _thief_ were a stinging lash.
Jem loosed his hold, and with double fists dashed at the scoundrel.
"You say Master Don's a thief!"
"Silence, Wimble! Stand back, sir," cried Uncle Josiah, sternly.
"But, sir--"
"Silence, man! Am I master here?"
Jem drew back muttering.
"Charge him, I say," continued Mike, boisterously; "and if you won't, Iwill. Look here, Mr Smithers, I charge this 'ere boy with going to hisuncle's desk and taking all the gold, and leaving all the silver in alittle hogamee bowl."
"You seem to know all about it, Mike," said the constable, grimly.
"Course I do, my lad. I seed him. Caught him in the werry act, and hedropped one o' the guineas, and it run away under the desk, and hecouldn't find it."
"You saw all that, eh?" said the constable.
"Every bit of it. I swears to it, sir."
"And how came you to be in the office to see it?"
"How come I in the office to see it?" said Mike, staring; "how come I inthe office to see it?"
"Yes. Your work's in the yard, isn't it?"
"Course it is," said Mike, with plenty of effrontery; "but I heerd themoney jingling like, and I went in to see."
"And very kind of you too, Mike," said the constable, jocularly. "Don'tyou forget to tell that to the magistrates."
"Magistrits? What magistrits? Master arn't going to give me incustody, I know."
"Indeed, but I am, you scoundrel," cried Uncle Josiah, wrathfully. "Youare one of the worst kind of thieves--"
"Here, take that back, master."
"Worst kind of scoundrels--dogs who bite the hand that has fed them."
"I tell yer it was him," said Mike, with a ferocious glare at Don.
"All right, Mike, you tell the magistrates that," said the constable,"and don't forget."
"I arn't going 'fore no magistrits," grumbled Mike.
"Yes, you are," said the constable, taking a pair of handcuffs from hispocket. "Now then, is it to be quietly?"
Mike made a furious gesture.
"Just as you like," said the constable. "Jem Wimble, I call you in theKing's name to help."
"Which I just will," cried Jem, with alacrity; and he made at Mike,while Don felt a strange desire tingling in his veins as he longed tohelp as well.
"I gives in," growled Mike. "I could chuck the whole lot on you outerwinder, but I won't. It would only make it seem as if I was guilty, andit's not guilty, and so I tell you. Master says I took the money, and Isays it was that young Don Lavington as is the thief. Come on,youngster. I'll talk to you when we're in the lock-up."
Don looked wildly from Mike to his uncle, whose eyes were fixed on theconstable.
"Do you charge the boy too, sir?"
Uncle Josiah was silent for some moments.
"No! Not now!"
Lindon's heart leapt at that word "_no_!" But it sank again at the"_not now_."
"But the case is awkward, sir," said the constable. "After what thisman has said we shall be obliged to take some notice of the matter."
"'Bliged to? Course you will. Here, bring 'im along. Come on, mate.I can tell you stories all night now about my bygones. Keep up yersperrits, and I daresay the magistrits 'll let you off pretty easy."
"If there is any charge made against my young clerk,"--Don winced, forhis uncle did not say, "against my nephew,"--"I will be answerable forhis appearance before the magistrates. That will be sufficient, Ipresume."
"Yes, sir, I suppose that will do," said the constable.
"But I s'pose it won't," said Mike. "He's the monkey and I'm only thecat. You've got to take him if you does your dooty, and master 'll beanswerable for me."
"Exactly," said the constable; "come along."
"Nay, but this arn't fair, master. Take one, take all. You bring usboth."
"Come along."
"If you don't bring that there young un too, I won't go," exclaimed thescoundrel, fiercely.
_Click_!
A short struggle, and then _click_ again, and Mike Bannock's hands wereuseless, but he threw himself down.
"Fair play, fair play," he cried, savagely; "take one, take all. Areyou going to charge him, master?"
"Take the scoundrel away, Smithers, and once more I will be bail--beforethe magistrates, if necessary--for my clerk's appearance," cried UncleJosiah, who was now out of patience. "Can I help?"
"No man sha'n't carry me off," roared Mike, as Jem ran out of the officewith great alacrity, and returned in a very short time with three menand a stout ladder, about nine feet long.
"That's the sort, Wimble," said the constable. "Didn't think of a rope,did you?"
"Did I think of two ropes?" said Jem, grinning.
"Ah!" ejaculated the constable. "Now, Mike Bannock, I just warn youthat any violence will make your case worse. Take my advice, get up andcome quietly."
"Take young Don Lavington too, then, and I will."
"Get up, and walk quietly."
"Not 'less you takes him."
"Sorry to make a rumpus, sir," said the constable, apologetically; "butI must have him out."
"The sooner the better," said Uncle Josiah, grimly.
"I am ready to go, uncle," said Don, quietly. "I am not afraid."
"Hold your tongue, sir!" said the merchant, sternly; "and stand out ofthe way."
"Now, Mike," said the constable, "this is the third time of asking.Will you come quiet?"
"Take him too," cried Mike.
"Ready with those ropes, Wimble. You two, ready with that there. Now,Mike Bannock, you've been asked three times, and now you've got to mountthat ladder."
"Any man comes a-nigh me," roared Mike, "I'll--"
He did not say what, for the constable dashed at him, and by aningenious twist avoided a savage kick, threw the scoundrel over on hisface, as he lay on the floor, and sat upon him, retaining his seat inspite of his struggles.
"Step the first," said the constable, coolly. "Now, Wimble, I want thatladder passed under me, so as to lie right along on his back. Do yousee?"
"Yes, sir," cried Jem, eagerly; and taking the ladder as the constablesat astride the prostrate scoundrel, holding down his shoulders, andeasing himself up, the ladder was passed between the officer's legs,and, in spite of a good deal of heaving, savage kicking, and one or twofierce attempts to bite, right along till it was upon Mike's back,projecting nearly two feet beyond his head and feet.
"Murder!" yelled Mike, hoarsely.
"What? Does it hurt, my lad? Never mind; you'll soon get used to it."
The constable seated himself upon the ladder, whose sides and roundsthoroughly imprisoned the scoundrel in spite of his yells and strugglesto get free.
"Now then, Wimble, I've got him. You tie his ankles, one each side,tightly to the ladder, and one of you bind his arms same way to theladder sides. Cut the rope. Mr Christmas will not mind."
The men grinned, and set to work so handily that in a few moments Mikewas securely bound.
"Now then," said the constable, "I'll have one round his middle; give mea piece of rope; I'll soon do that."
He seized the rope, and, without rising, rapidly secured it to one sideof the ladder.
"Now," he said, "raise that end."
This was done, the rope passed under Mike, drawn up on the other side,hauled upon till Mike yelled for mercy, and then knotted twice.
"There, my lads," said the constable, rising; "now turn him over."
The ladder was seized, turned, and there lay Mike on his back, safelysecured.
"Here, undo these," he said, sullenly. "I'll walk."
"Too late, Mike, my boy. Now then, a couple of men head and tail. Letthe ladder hang at arm's length. Best have given in quietly, and nothave made yourself a show, Mike."
"Don't I tell you I'll walk?" growled the prisoner. "And let us haveall our trouble for nothing? No, my lad, it's too late. Ready there!Up with him. Good morning, sir. March!"
The men lent themselves eagerly to the task, for Mike was thoroughlydisliked; and a few minutes later there was a crowd gathering andfollowing Mike Bannock as he was borne off, spread-eagled and halftipsy, to ponder on the theft and his chances in the cold damp placeknown in Bristol as the lock-up.
Don Lavington stood in the office, waiting for his uncle to speak.
Adventures of Don Lavington: Nolens Volens Page 4