whether he would have escaped so cheaply, had it not been for
Gladding, who, after he thought Basset had suffered sufficiently, came
to his assistance.

"I always stand by the law," said Tom, helping him to his feet, "but
I admire your imprudence, Basset, in trying to take up a man without a
warrant."

Basset's faculties were too confused to enter into a discussion of
the subject then, and with many threats of taking the law against his
tormentors, and, attended by Tom, he limped off the ice.

Loud and boisterous were the congratulations with which the crowd had
greeted Holden on his escape from the clutches of the constable, but
he waved them off with a dignity which repressed their advances, and
gave some offence.

"If I'd known the old fellow was so proud," said one, "I guess Basset
might have taken him for all I cared."

"I sort o' sprained my wrist in that last jam agin the constable,"
said another, laughing, "and it's een about as good as thrown away."

"Perhaps," cried a third, "when he's took agin, I'll be there to help,
and perhaps I won't."

While these various speeches were being made, the young men with
the ladies, had gathered around Holden, and were expressing their
mortification at the annoyance he had experienced, and their pleasure
at his escape.