CHAPTER XXV.
How Jack Sheppard got rid of his Irons.
About an hour after this, Jack ventured to emerge from his place of concealment.

It was still raining heavily, and profoundly dark.

Drenched to the skin,--in fact, he had been lying in a bed of muddy water,--and chilled to the very bone, he felt so stiff, that he could scarcely move.
Listening attentively, he fancied he heard the breathing of some one near him, and moved cautiously in the opposite direction.

In spite of his care, he came in contact with a man, who, endeavouring to grasp him, cried, in the voice of Mendez, "Who goes dere?
Shpeak! or I fire!" No answer being returned, the Jew instantly discharged his pistol, and though the shot did no damage, the flash discovered Sheppard.

But as the next moment all was profound darkness, Jack easily managed to break away from them.
Without an idea where he was going, Jack pursued his way through the fields; and, as he proceeded, the numbness of his limbs in some degree wore off, and his confidence returned.