Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-26


he assessed the probable injury,
estimated the advantage to be derived per
contra, and with his usual business-lik ceier-
ity decided that it was In another minute
cabby was spreading Thompson's great coat
under the feet of his PROSTATE stsed, and both
together were holding it tightly down to the
ground like bedside carpet
With this luxurious assistance, which gave
the fore feet secure bearing, plunge and a
struggle brought the poor beast on his legs
again; but he was so irritated by his previous
failures and so startled by his sudden success.
that before cabby could seize the reins he was
off, sliding and scrambling over the sIippery
ROAD Ike an awkward lad cOnteDdiDg with his
first pair of skates, but yet at speed that
soon left both driver and fare far behind
Cabby darted after his horse; and in an instant
nothing could be heard or seen of cab or driver
but dull rumble of wheels and a voice. as if
wrapt up in blanket, shouting, ''Wo-ho, wo-
no - which grew fainter and fainter every
moment
Thompson's first impulse was to follow at
once, as fast as the fog and his thirteen stone
of solid flesh would allow; but he could not, in
the darkness, lay his hand upon his great coat.
lie had started back to some little distance
when the horse struggled up and plunged for
ward, and he could not for the life of him find
the place again; nothing but the cold frozen
snow met and benumbed his fingers Quick
decision of purpose was becoming necessary;
II he pursued his seemingly hopeless hunt after
the coat, it was clear that he could never over
take the cab. His decision was instantly made:
1t would not pay to continue the search, and
buttOning up his body coat, he started in pur-
suit at good round pace, but putting and
blowing as though he had not trained sufi-
cIently for a pedestrian feat of that nature.
He could still hear family the rumbing of
the wheels and cabby'S useless 'Wo-ho, wo-
IN ~ ha hoA l.
so often, and not found such difficulty in extri
eating himself from the thorns and brambles,
he must soon have overtsken the object Of his
pursuit But one provoking impediment or
other always prevented his concentrating his
hopes just as he deemed himself upon the point
of doing so. Yet on and on he went: and on
and on again, after cOnquering each fresh OBJ
stacle 1t seemed to him that he had thus
struggled along for miles in the thick darkness,
with the Will-o'- -the-wisp "Wo-ho, wo-hon'
only just ahead of him.
In vain he shouted; he could hear no answer
but the distant "Wo-ho, wo-ho" He got irri
tated, and, as natural consequence, was Tex
actly IN the ratio of his increasing irritation
just so much the Oftener in the hedge or the
ditch, and each time just so much the longer
getting out again. He actually began to dis
believe in many of his most strongly-rooted
convictions connected with half crowns and
other matters, and his good solid common sense
was beginning TO waver and wander Could il
be really himself-Thompson the eminent in
digo merchant of Blue Lane-who was thus
allowing himself to be lured after a strange
dull sound of "WO-hO, wO-ho," in a thick fog.
for miles and miles along a dark slippery road
TIL he was ready to drop with fatigue? He
was beginning to doubt his own identity. and
might have decided againt it, but that Just then
ne thought he perceived the glimmer of a
light. He was not mistaken, and immediately
scrambled towards it. but evidently not bv the
proper road, rs he passed through deem ditch
and up steep bank, breaking his way through
some rotten garden paiings A last he arrival
at lighted candle, apparently held close to a
wOman's face, in which he recognized indis-
unctly the features Of the Kenton carriers
wife, who lived at the roadside not more than
five miles from his own residence. That was
encouraging; and whatever became of the cab
he should at all events soon meet his own sye-.
hicle" But that hope was speedily dispeIled.
for Mrs. Parcels informed him that his coach.
man had been there about two hours. and as
the fog was so thick he thought it dangerous
to go on. and so. feeling sure that his master
would not attempt to como through it, he had
turned back again.
And the cab
Mrs Parcels had heard something rumble
by about ten minutes before, and heard some
BODY crying " Wo-ho," but had seen nothing
Il
had identified himself again; the conversation
with Mrs: Parcels had brought his wandering
imagination back from the dreams of that seS
OF fog which had seemed peopled with hoarse-
voiced syrens singing "WO-hO o-hon' to lure
him on to destruction. He felt again that he
was ThOmpsOn-the Thompson of Blu. Court;
and being guided by Mr. Parcels into the road
by way OF the garden gate instead of through
the fearful gap he had just made in the old
paliDgs, he resumed the chase He had got his
second wind, and was getting up to his work:
so away he went at pace worthy Of the Bar
clay match"-for he had no end of pluck-and
after long run, he was evidently gaining
upon cabby. He heard ''Wo-ho, wo-hoh' more
distinctly, and could even catch the rumbling
of wheels once more.
At that moment, however, a dull grating
sound seemed suddenly to extinguish the rum.
bling; and then all was perfectly STILL and he
experienced the oppressive, sufocatiug sensa-
ton produced by total darkness undisturbed
by the slightest sound. He stepped more
slowly and cautiously, and, in spite of himself
and his strong common sense, felt vague and
of breathing seemed close to him, though un-
seen, and in another instant something like an
arm flung itself across Thompson's throat.
"Garotte, garOtte," cried the strong minded
man of business. for a moment taken off his
guard.
What, SIR"
What, cabman?"
"Well, I'm glad you've come up, sir; was
beginning to be frightened like"
"And where's your cab?''
80, it's all right now; it's in the ditch-one
wheel locked in the ice and mud; heard it
grind in"
(Which ditch?"
"Ah, that's what want to come at. I've
been cropping about on t'other side, and now
L m going to try this
(which side is this side?" asked Thomson
and as he spoke he heard by the breathing that
cabby was moving of. He endeavored to catch
hold Of him, but he was gone, and there was a
silence and stiffness for some seconds, when the
voice of cabby was again calling out triumph
antly:
An right-all right, sir! Here you are
all right"
"NOt quite" cried Thompson, struggling TO
get out Of the ditch, into which he had walked
in his hasty sndeavors to follow up the track of
cabby. mot quite" he said. "But where
are your -
Here, sir"
Where's that?'
Here
/" 1 can't tell where here is.''
Well, sir, I'll drive towards you, and You
follow the sound of the wheels -,