There was a brief, breathless pause.  Even Blueskin looked on with anxiety.

“It is past,” said Jack, placing his finger on the trigger.

“Hold!” cried Kneebone, flinging down the packets; “they are nothing to me.”

“But they are everything to me,” cried Jack, stooping to pick them up.  “These packets will establish Thames Darrell’s birth, win him his inheritance, and procure him the hand of Winifred Wood.”

“Don’t be too sure of that,” rejoined Kneebone, snatching up the staff, and aiming a blow at his head, which was fortunately warded off by Mrs. Maggot, who promptly interposed her cudgel.

“Defend yourself!” cried Jack, drawing his sword.

“Leave his punishment to me, Jack,” said Mrs. Maggot.  “I’ve the Bridewell account to settle.”

“Be it so,” replied Jack, putting up his blade.  “I’ve a good deal to do.  Show him no quarter, Poll.  He deserves none.”

“And shall find none,” replied the Amazon.  “Now, Mr. Kneebone,” she added, drawing up her magnificent figure to its full height, and making the heavy cudgel whistle through the air, “look to yourself.”

“Stand off, Poll,” rejoined the woollen-draper; “I don’t want to hurt you.  It shall never be said that I raised my arm willingly against a woman.”

“I’ll forgive you all the harm you do me,” rejoined the Amazon.  “What! you still hesitate!  Will that rouse you, coward?” And she gave him a smart rap on the head.

“Coward!” cried Kneebone.  “Neither man nor woman shall apply that term to me.  If you forget your sex, jade, I must forget mine.”

With this, he attacked her vigorously in his turn.

It was a curious sight to see how this extraordinary woman, who, it has been said, was not less remarkable for the extreme delicacy of her features, and the faultless symmetry of her figure, than for her wonderful strength and agility, conducted herself in the present encounter; with what dexterity she parried every blow aimed against her by her adversary, whose head and face, already marked by various ruddy streams, showed how successfully her own hits had been made;—­how she drew him hither and thither, now leading him on, now driving him suddenly back; harassing and exhausting him in every possible way, and making it apparent that she could at any moment put an end to the fight, and only delayed the finishing stroke to make his punishment the more severe.

Jack, meanwhile, with Blueskin’s assistance, had set the table once more upon its legs, and placing writing materials, which he took from a shelf, upon it, made Shotbolt, who was still gagged, but whose arms were for the moment unbound, sit down before them.

“Write as I dictate,” he cried, placing a pen in the jailer’s hand and a pistol to his ear.

Shotbolt nodded in token of acquiescence, and emitted an odd guttural sound.

“Write as follows,” continued Jack. “’I have succeeded in capturing Jack Sheppard.  The reward is mine.  Get all ready for his reception.  In a few minutes after the delivery of this note he will be in Newgate.’  Sign it,” he added, as, after some further threats, the letter was indited according to his dictation, “and direct it to Mr. Austin.  That’s well.  And, now, to find a messenger.”