FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112  
113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   >>   >|  
e." The two men resumed their hammers at this point in the conversation, and became silent as long as the anvil sounded. The boat had reached the rock when they ceased, and its occupants were seen to be in earnest conversation with Peter Logan. There were only two men in the boat besides its owners, Swankie and Spink. "What can they want?" said Dove, looking down on them as he turned to thrust the iron on which he was engaged into the fire. As he spoke the foreman looked up. "Ho! Ruby Brand," he shouted, "come down here; you're wanted." "Hallo! Ruby," exclaimed the smith, "_more_ friends o' yours! Your acquaintance is extensive, lad, but there's no girl in the case this time." Ruby made no reply, for an indefinable feeling of anxiety filled his breast as he threw down the fore-hammer and prepared to descend. On reaching the rock he advanced towards the strangers, both of whom were stout, thickset men, with grave, stern countenances. One of them stepped forward and said, "Your name is----" "Ruby Brand," said the youth promptly, at the same time somewhat proudly, for he knew that he was in the hands of the Philistines. The man who first spoke hereupon drew a small instrument from his pocket, and tapping Ruby on the shoulder, said-- "I arrest you, Ruby Brand, in the name of the King." The other man immediately stepped forward and produced a pair of handcuffs. At sight of these Ruby sprang backward, and the blood rushed violently to his forehead, while his blue eyes glared with the ferocity of those of a tiger. "Come, lad, it's of no use, you know," said the man, pausing; "if you won't come quietly we must find ways and means to compel you." "Compel me!" cried Ruby, drawing himself up with a look of defiance and a laugh of contempt, that caused the two men to shrink back in spite of themselves. "Ruby," said the foreman, gently, stepping forward and laying his hand on the youth's shoulder, "you had better go quietly, for there's no chance of escape from these fellows. I have no doubt it's a mistake, and that you'll come off with flyin' colours, but it's best to go quietly whatever turns up." While Logan was speaking, Ruby dropped his head on his breast, the officer with the handcuffs advanced, and the youth held out his hands, while the flush of anger deepened into the crimson blush of shame. It was at this point that Jamie Dove, wondering at the prolonged absence of his friend an
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112  
113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

forward

 

quietly

 
advanced
 

foreman

 

breast

 

handcuffs

 

conversation

 

shoulder

 

stepped

 

produced


friend
 

forehead

 

violently

 

glared

 

immediately

 

backward

 

sprang

 

rushed

 

ferocity

 

pausing


caused

 

speaking

 

dropped

 

officer

 

colours

 

absence

 

prolonged

 

wondering

 

crimson

 
deepened

mistake

 
defiance
 

contempt

 

shrink

 

Compel

 

drawing

 

escape

 

chance

 

fellows

 

gently


stepping

 

laying

 

compel

 

thrust

 

engaged

 

turned

 

wanted

 
exclaimed
 

looked

 

shouted