The Highwayman's Footsteps by Nicola Morgan

Author:Nicola Morgan
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Classics
ISBN: 0763634727
Publisher: Candlewick
Published: 2007-10-08T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Four

“Stop!” I continued to shout. “He stole from a lady!” I added. “He hit a lady!” I lied.

I was fast. I was sturdy and strong. And I was furious. The crowds parted for me and, even though I lost sight of him every now and then, his yellow hair kept reappearing. Closer and closer. Blood was pounding in my head now. My whole body jarred with the shock of my feet hitting the cobbled ground.

Now he darted across the road. He leapt to one side to avoid a passing carriage, stumbling as he slipped in the slime of the gutter. As the carriage passed, he dashed down a narrow street. I sped after him, not caring where this led, caring for nothing more than catching him.

Swerving left, he ran up an alley narrower than the first. The buildings loomed over our heads, almost cutting out the wintry light. The ground was slimy and uneven here, but he was sure-footed. Agile, too, and thin. And very fast. But no faster than I. Fear may have lent him strength but I was spurred on by fury. And I was better than he – I would not be beaten by a common thief!

No people walked here in these darker streets. If I caught him, what would I do? Or was he perchance leading me to his gang, if he had one? Footpads often did, I had heard. And once there, I would find no mercy, I knew that too. But I tried not to think on it.

Left again. Surely now we were near the street where we had started? I could hear the crowds, the market, the whinnying of horses, even see spreading light at the end of this alleyway. But the boy had turned again.

I was gaining on him now, slowly but surely. I could hear his panting, the guttering breaths choking him. With a burst of extra strength, of desperation, I surged forward.

It was then that I heard the noise behind me. Clattering hoofs. Approaching fast. I could not turn round – there was no time. I cannot describe my fear, how it hit me with a force that almost took the breath from my lungs. But I pushed the thought away. I would not be beaten by terror this time. I was on the side of right. This boy had stolen and I was going to retrieve what he had stolen. God would watch over me because I had not done wrong.

I had nearly reached the boy now. The noise of hoofs grew louder. I shut my ears to it. When I reached out with my hand, I could almost touch him, almost, so nearly. And then, with one huge effort, I had grasped his jacket. But he was spurred on by fear and he ducked away, slipping from my clutches.

I dived at him, wrapping my arms around his legs, and we fell together. A sharp pain shot through my neck as it was forced backwards, my jaw against his thighs.

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