Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/176

 Conceiving that robbery was contemplated, and knowing that promotion sprang not from prevention but cure, he was silent, and moved cautiously into the shade of a doorway to watch the proceedings above.

He had not, however, been long in this position when his serjeant approached.

"Hist!" said Ninety-nine, as the serjeant was passing.

"Who are you?"

"Ninety-nine."

"What are you up to?"

"Here!"

The serjeant joined him in the shade.

"Do you see that fellow there?" continued Ninety-nine.

"Good God!" exclaimed the serjeant. "Is it possible! Why, the slightest slip—a single moment's dizziness—would bring him to the ground, and dash his brains out."

"A robbery, safe," said Ninety-nine.

"A robbery: nonsense," returned the serjeant, who panted with apprehension. "He'll fall!—he'll fall presently—certain to fall!"

"Not a bit of it," coolly observed Ninety-nine. "He's as safe as the bank. He's been running about in that way for a long time."

"I never saw a man in so perilous a position. What can he be up to?"

"He appears to me to be moving goods from one house to another."

"But I can see nothing in his hands."

"Nor can I," said Ninety-nine; "but he keeps on running backwards and forwards, stooping here and stooping there, as if he had. But there's more than him in it. He beckoned just now to his pals."

"Did you see them?"

"No, I couldn't see 'em. They keep in the background, but I know they're somewhere there."

"There he goes again!" cried the serjeant. "My life! what a devil. He's surely not after the cats?"

"Cat's!" said Ninety-nine. "What man on the top of a house can catch cats?"

"He may snare them!"

"Snare 'em, he may. But I see no cats! he's after no cats.

"Did you see where he came from?"

"Not exactly; but I think, from one of those houses down there."

"Here he comes," said the serjeant; "now watch him. He appears to have done his work. See how cool he is!—see how deliberately—how firmly he walks.—Now! He has stopped! Do you see him looking in at that window? It's opened for him. He enters. He's in. Now my boy, if plunder be your object, you're booked."

"That's safe to be his object," said Ninety-nine.

"I don't know," said the serjeant. "I think he's after one of the