“Damnation!” vociferated Jonathan, savagely.  “We’ve no time for any Bedlam scenes now.  Come along, you mad jade.  I’ll teach you submission in time.”

With this, he endeavoured to force her off; but, before he could accomplish his purpose, he was arrested, and his throat seized by Jack.  In the struggle, Mrs. Sheppard broke from him, and filled the room with her shrieks.

“I’ll now pay the debt I owe you,” cried Jack, tightening his grip till the thief-taker blackened in the face.

“Dog!” cried Wild, freeing himself by a powerful effort, and dealing Jack a violent blow with the heavy bludgeon, which knocked him backwards, “you are not yet a match for Jonathan Wild.  Neither you nor your mother shall escape me.  But I must summon my janizaries.”  So saying, he raised a whistle to his lips, and blew a loud call; and, as this was unanswered, another still louder.  “Confusion!” he cried; “something has happened.  But I won’t be cheated of my prize.”

“Help! help!” shrieked Mrs. Sheppard, fleeing from him to the farthest corner of the room.

But it was of no avail.  Jonathan again seized her, when the door was thrown open, and Thames Darrell, followed by Mr. Wood and several serving-men, all well armed, rushed into the room.  A glance sufficed to show the young man how matters stood.  He flew to the window, and would have passed his sword through the thief-taker’s body, if the latter had not quickly interposed the person of Mrs. Sheppard, so that if the blow had been stricken she must have received it.

“Quilt!—­Mendez!—­Where are you?” vociferated Wild, sounding his whistle for the third time.

“You call in vain,” rejoined Thames.  “Your assistants are in my power.  Yield, villain!”

“Never!” replied Jonathan.

“Put down your burthen, monster!” shouted Wood, pointing an immense blunderbuss at him.

“Take her,” cried Jonathan; and, flinging the now inanimate body of the poor widow, who had fainted in the struggle, into the arms of Thames, he leapt through the window, and by the time the latter could consign her to Wood, and dart after him, he had disappeared.

“Pursue him,” cried Thames to the attendants, “and see that he does not escape.”

The order was promptly obeyed.

“Jack,” continued Thames, addressing Sheppard, who had only just recovered from the blow, and regained his feet, “I don’t ask how you came here, nor do I blame your rashness in doing so.  Fortunately, ever since Wild’s late murderous attack, the household has all been well armed.  A post-chaise seen in the road first alarmed us.  On searching the grounds, we found two suspicious-looking fellows in the garden, and had scarcely secured them, when your mother’s cries summoned us hither, just in time to preserve her.”

“Your arrival was most providential,” said Jack.

“You must not remain here another instant,” replied Thames.  “My horse is at the door, saddled, with pistols in the holsters,—­mount him and fly.”