'Who was that?' said the former suspiciously. 'I half believe it was
Jeck Bartley. If Jeck is up to any of his larks, I'll make him
remember it. You wait here a minute!'

He walked at a sharp pace towards the suspected quarter. Scarcely
had he gone half a dozen yards, when there came running from the
other end of the Passage a girl whom Pennyloaf at once recognised.
It was Clem Peckover; with some friend's assistance she had
evidently tracked the couple and was now springing out of ambush.
She rushed upon Pennyloaf, who for very alarm could not flee, and
attacked her with clenched fists. A scream of terror and pain caused
Bob to turn and run back. Pennyloaf could not even ward off the
blows that descended upon her head; she was pinned against the wall,
her hat was torn away, her hair began to fly in disorder. But Bob
effected a speedy rescue. He gripped Clem's muscular arms, and
forced them behind her back as if he meant to dismember her. Even
then it was with no slight effort that he restrained the girl's
fury.

'You run off 'ome!' he shouted to Pennyloaf. 'If she tries this on
again, I'll murder her!'

Pennyloaf's hysterical cries and the frantic invectives of her
assailant made the Passage ring. Again Bob roared to the former to
be off, and was at length obeyed. When Pennyloaf was out of sight he
released Clem. Her twisted arms caused her such pain that she threw
herself against the wall, mingling maledictions with groans. Bob
burst into scornful laughter.