two
of whom carried large hammers and two the fetters. There was only one
prisoner in the ward. He was chained to the ground, but started up at
their approach. It was Blueskin. When he beheld Jack he uttered a deep
groan.

"Captain," he cried, in a voice of the bitterest anguish, "have these
dogs again hunted you down? If you hadn't been so unlucky, I should have
been with you before to-morrow night."

Jack made no answer, nor did he even cast his eyes upon his follower.
But Jonathan, fixing a terrible look upon him, cried.

"Ha! say you so? You must be looked to. My lads," he continued,
addressing the partners; "when you've finished this job give that
fellow a fresh set of darbies. I suspect he has been at work upon those
he has on."

"The link of the chain next the staple is sawn through," said Ireton,
stooping to examine Blueskin's fetters.

"Search him and iron him afresh;" commanded Jonathan. "But first let us
secure Sheppard. We'll then remove them both to the Middle Stone Hold,
where a watch shall be kept over them night and day till they're taken
to Tyburn. As they're so fond of each other's society they shan't part
company even on that occasion, but shall swing from the same tree."

"You'll never live to see that day," cried Blueskin, fixing a menacing
look upon him.

"What weight are these irons?" asked Jonathan, coolly addressing one of
the partners.

"More than three hundred weight, Sir," replied the man. "They're the
heaviest set we have,--and were forged expressly for Captain Sheppard."

"They're not half heavy enough," replied Wild. "Let him be handcuffed,
and doubly ironed on both legs; and when we get him into the Stone Ward,
he shall not only be chained down to the ground, but shall have two
additional fetters running through the main links, fastened on each side
of him. We'll see whether he'll get rid of his new bonds?" he added with
a brutal laugh, which was echoed by the bystanders.

"Mark me," said Jack, sternly; "I have twice broken out of this prison
in spite of all your precautions. And were you to load me with thrice
the weight of iron you have ordered you should not prevent my escaping a
third time."

"That's right, Captain," cried Blueskin. "We'll give them the slip yet,
and hang that butcherly thief-taker upon his own gibbet."

"Be silent dog," cried Jonathan. And with his clenched hand he struck
him a violent blow in the face.

For the first time, perhaps, in his life, he r