Year: 1859

/ :,
; as has been robbed of pocket book con
tanning valuable papers; and we're going
to catch Tom Rocket, as has got it-that's
our game, sir. All right, sir, and now to
business.


But where are your men?' my father
asked, when Frazer had explained the rea
son for his disguise.


'Al right, again, sir said the same
runner they will join US. We have not
much time to lose, SO please to lead the
way.


So my father led the way, followed by
Frazer, and, by the time that they came
in sight of the bridge, they had been join
ed by four London officers, in different dis
guises, and from different directions. One
appeared as tramp. one as pedlar, an
other as gentleman's servant leading a
horse, and the fourth as soldier. No one
could have guessed that they had met be-
fore, much less that they were engaged
together in preconcerted scheme. My
father gave Frazer great credit for the dex-
ferrous way in which he had collected his
forces.


The bridge upon which the money was
to be placed consisted Of two arches across
the river, and was joined on either side by
a long sort of causeway, built upon piles
over meadows that in the winter time were
generally covered with water. 1t SO hap.
penei that, the very next morning after
the robbery, heavy rain set in, and soon
the floods were out so that there was no
way of getting on the bridge but by going
along the causeway, which extended dis
tance of hundred yards, sloping down
gradually to the road, on each side of the
river. This causeway was built of wood.
At some places the timbers were covered
with earth and stones, but at others the
roadway had worn out and they were bare
so that any one looking up from under
meath could see who was passing overhead.
Mr.. Frazer's sharp eye took in the position
in moment. lie got two hurdles out of
a field close by, and, with some rope that
he had brought for another purpose, fast
ened them to the pullies, SO that they hung
like shelves to the roadway and the flood,
one at each side of the bridge and about 20
yards from it. This was his plan; Two
of his men were to be hidden on each hur-
die, whilst he and my father, in boat
that was concealed beneath the main arch
Of the bridge, unseen themselves, could
watch the heap of stones where the money
was to be placed and the stolen pocket
book left in exchange for it. AS soon as
Tom Rocket, or any Of his friends, re-
moved the bag in which the gold was pla-
ced, Frazer was to whistle, and his men
were to climb from their hiding places
and secure whoever it might be. If he
leaped over the railing of the causeway,
and took to the water, there was the boat
in which to follow and capture him.


Mr. Frazer was verv particular to prac-
tice his allies in springing quickly from
their place of concealment, and impress
upon them and my father the necessity of
all acting together, keeping careful watch
and strict silence. 'And now, sir Mr..
Frazer said to my father, as distant
clock chmed quarter of twelve, it is time
to get our places and to bait the trap, so
please hand me the bag that | may mark
it, and some of the coins, so as to be able
to identify them at the trial lie had
made up his mind to nail Master Tom
this time.


My father gave him the bag, saw him





about dozen of the guineas, and then my
father let himself down into the boat, in
which he was Immediately joined by tie
runner.


It's all right said Frazer in low tone.


DO you think he will come? whispered
my father.


Certain replied Frazer, but, hush! we
| must not talk sir-time's up'


For three mortal hours did my father
sit in that boat, and the runners lay
stretched out on the broad Of their backs
upon those hurdles, watching for Tom
Rocket to come for his money; and for
three mortal hours not soul approached
the bridge, not a sound but the wash of
the swollen river was heard. BY the time
that the clock struck three my father, who
had been noddng for the last twenty min
utes, fell fast asleep as he sat covered up
in his cloak for it was bitter cold night;
but was very speedily aroused by hearing
Frazer cry out that they were adrift.


Adrift they were sure enough. The
rope that held them had been chafed
against the sharp corner of pile(so Mr..
Frazer explained) till it broke, and away
went lHe DOdI, HulililiS IouHu anu louhu
in the eddies of the river, fit to make any
one giddy. So strong was the stream that
they were carried mile and a half down
it before they could get ashore. Ny faith
er was for returning directly to the bridge,
and so was Frazer; but, somehow or 9TH
er, they lost each other in the dark, and
when my father arrived there, having run
nearly all the way, he found, to his great
surprise, that the officers had left. He
rushed to the heap of stones, and there the
first thing that caught his eye was his
pocket -book-the money aoas gone!


Lord, how lie did swear!


Determining to have it out with the
runners for deserting their posts, he hur-
ried on to the inn where they had met,
and were to pass the night. lie knocked
at the door. No answer. He knocked
again louder. No answer. lie was not
in the very best Of temper, as you may
guess; so he gave the door a big kick. In
It flew, and sight met his view that fair
Iy took away his breath. Tied into five
chairs, hand and foot, trussed up like SO
many Christmas turkeys, with five gags IN