The Broad Highway

For a moment he lay still, then, with a groan, he rolled over,

and propping himself on his arm, thrust a hand into his bosom;

but I hurled myself upon him, and, after a brief struggle,

twisted the pistol from his grasp, whereupon he groaned again.

"Hurt?" I panted.

"Arm broke, I think," he growled, and forthwith burst out into a

torrent of curses.

"Does it--hurt--so much?" I panted.

"Ah! but it--ain't that," he panted back; "it's me--a-lettin' of

you--work off--a mouldy--old trick on me--like--that there--"

"It was my only chance," said I, sitting down beside him to

regain my wind.

"To think," he growled, "o' me bein' took in by a--"

"But you are a great runner!" said I.

"A great fool, you mean, to be took in by a--"

"You have a long walk back, and your arm will be painful--"

"And serve me right for bein' took in by--"

"If you will lend me your neckerchief, I think I can make your

arm more comfortable," said I. He ceased cursing to stare at me,

slowly and awkwardly unwound the article in question, and passed

it to me. Thereupon, having located the fracture, I contrived a

rough splint with a piece of wood lying near; which done, he

thanked me, in a burst of profanity, and rose.

"I've see worse coves nor you!" said he, "and one good turn

desarvin' another--lie snug all day, and travel by night, and

keep to the byroads--this ain't no common case, there'll be a

thousand pound on your 'ead afore the week's out--so look spry,

my cove!" saying which, he nodded, turned upon his heel, and

strode away, cursing to himself.

Now, presently, as I went, I heard the merry ring and clink of

hammer and anvil, and, guided by the sound, came to a tumbledown

smithy where was a man busily at work, with a shock-headed boy at

the bellows. At sight of me, the smith set down his hammer and

stared openmouthed, as did also the shock-headed boy.

"How long would it take you to file off these shackles?" I

inquired, holding out my hands.

"To--to file 'em off?"

"Yes."

"Why, that--that depends--"

"Then do it--as soon as you can." Upon this, the man turned his

back to me and began rummaging among his tools, with his head

very near that of the shock-headed boy, until, having found a

file suitable to the purpose, he set to work upon my handcuffs.

But he progressed so slowly, for one reason and another, that I

began to grow impatient; moreover, noticing that the shock-headed

boy had disappeared, I bade him desist.