The String of Pearls (1850), p. 685

"We will, if we can," said the young one; "but don't depend upon us. We don't know, as yet, what the police may say to us. For all we know, they know more than we would wish them, of your being in our boat; and all we can say, then, is, that we put you ashore; but they may keep a watch upon us after that, and if they do, it will be only to give you up to them that we could push off to you."
"Yes—yes, I understand," said Todd. "I thank you, and will take my chance of all that may happen."
"You must."
"There's something a-head," said the old man. "What is it?"
"It's the pile-driving barge. They are mending up the bank of the river. I know that the men leave that all flight, as there is nothing to take from it that any one can lift. Will you go on board that, sir ?"
"Yes, yes," said Todd, "That will do."
"Be quick, then, about it," said the old man, "for they gain upon us."
"Boat a-hoi!" cried a voice over the river.

CHAPTER CLXI.

TODD REACHES GRAVESEND, AND DULY EMBARKS FOR HOLLAND.

Todd, when he heard that voice, quite sank down into the bottom of the boat, and felt as though his last hour were come.
"Don't answer," said the old man. "Pull away for the pile-driving barge as hard as you can."
"Oh, yes, pull—pull!" cried Todd. "Save me!"
"If you make that noise," added the old man, "we may as well be off at once, for the river, when it is as smooth as it is now, carries voices well."
"Boat a-hoi!" cried the voice again.
"We must answer them now," said the old waterman. "Ay, ay! Is it here? Boat a-hoi!"
"Ay, ay!" came the voice from the police-galley.
At that moment the two watermen succeeded in reaching the broad stern of the barge, in which was centred the pile-drivng machinery, and the, young man said to Todd—,
"Now clamber in, and good luck attend you. If we don t come to you in the course of an hour, don't expect us, that's all."
Todd was not very young and supple in his joints, but the sense of present and serious danger has an effect upon every one, and in a moment he seized the side of the pile-driving barge, and drew himself in.
"All right," said the old man.
"Oh, yes—yes," said Todd, as he crouched down with his chin touching the side of the barge.
"Good-night, then."
"Good-night! You will come for me if you can?"
"Yes, but don't expect us. Pull, now, as hard as you can, and get out into the stream. Pull! pull!"
By the strenuons united exertions of the two men, the boat shot along at good speed, and soon got to a considerable distance from the barge in which Todd had taken refuge. It was then that the police-galley hoisted a strong light that shed a bright glare through the rain, and over the surface of the river.
"Am I saved?" said Todd. "Am I saved, or am I not ?
He sank quite down into the body of the barge. There was a sort of platform over one-half of it, and upon that platform he felt the mass of iron, weighing about a couple of hundredweight, or more, which was used for driving piles

" We will, if we can/' said the young one ; " but don't depend upon us. We
don't know, as yet, what the police may say to us. For all we know, they
know more than we would wish them, of your being in our boat ; and all we
can say , then, is, that we put you ashore ; but they may keep a watch upon us
after that, and if they do, it will be only to give you up to them that we could
push off to you.'*

"Yes — yes, I understand/' said Todd. <f I thank you, and will take my
chance of all that may happen."
'* You must."

"There's something a-head/' said the old man. €t What is it?"

u It's the pile- driving barge. They are mending up the bank of the river. I
know that the men leave that all flight, as there is nothing to take from it
that any one can lift. Will vou go on board that, sir ?"

« Yes, yes," said Todd, " That will do."

u Be quick, then, about it/' said the old man, u for they gain upon us." \
" Boat a-hoi !" cried a voice over the river.

CHAPTER CLXI. '

TODD REACHES GRAVESEND, AND DULY EMBARKS FOR HOLLAND.

Todd, when he heard that voice, quite sank down into the bottom of the
boat, and felt as though his last hour were come.

* Don't answer/' said the old man. " Pull away for the pile-driving barge
as hard as vou can."

« Oh, yes, pull— pull !" cried Todd. " Save me !"

"If you make that noise," added the old man, " we may as well be off at
once, for the river, when it is as smooth as it is now, carries voices well."
" Boat a-hoi !" cried the voice again.

" We must answer them now," said the old waterman. "Ay, ay! Is it

here ? Boat a-hoi !"
" Ay, ay!" came the voice from the police-galley.

At that moment the two watermen succeeded in reaching the broad stern of
the barge, in which was centred the pile-drivng machinery, and the, young

man said to Todd— _ / ,

«« Now clamber in, and good luck attend you. If we don t come to you in
the course of an hour, don't expect us, that's all/'

Todd was not very young and supple in his joints, but the sense of present
and serious danger has an effect upon every one, and in a moment he seized the
side of the pile-driving barge, and drew himself in.

" All right," said the old man. . , .

° Ob, yes— yes/" said Todd, as he crouched down with his chin touching the

side of the barge.

" Good-night, then."

" Good-night ! You will come for me if you can I

« Yes, but don't expect us. Pull, now, as hard as you can, and get out into

the stream. Pull! pull !" . ,

By the strenuons united exertions of the two men, the boat shot along at

good speed, and soon got to a considerable distance from the barge m whch
Todd had taken refuge. It was then that the police-galley hoisted a strong light
that shed a bright glare through the rain, and over the surface of the river.

" Am I saved V> said Todd. " Am I saved, or am i not ?

He sank quite down into the body of the barge. Ihere ^as a sort of ^plat-
form over oLhfilf of it, and upon that platform he felt the mass of iron wee-
ing about a couple of hundred we ight^jorm^