Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 106: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

126 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. ev ee ‘She must be concealed,” ée Yes.” ‘Here ‘“‘ Where else?” “ But, can I trust you?” ‘You needn’t unless you please.” “ What midsummer madness is this? While we sre bandying words the bloodbounds are getting nearer.” * Exactly so.” “Well, what do you say, Bess? you in this fellow’s charge ?” ‘‘Oh, yes,” returned the girl. ‘Save yourself ; you are in worse danger thaniam. If this man will hide me away till night I will give him all the mouey and trinkets I have about me.” ‘No, no; he is alreidy well paid,” returned Tom King. He sprang off the horse. He assisted Bess to dismount. She seemed faint and exhausted. The highwayman gallantly imprinted a kiss upon her panting lips. = ‘“‘ Never fear, my dimber deJl; you will be safe with Barney. But where is the cover in which we must hide away the pretty bird ?” Barney.replied to this question by pointing to a hay-loft at the end of the stable-yard. ‘Lead on; we’ll follow,” said the highwayman. He conducted them to the end of the yard. The hay-loft stood on one side, The entrance was im the wall that faced the orchard at the back of the premises. The door was reached by a ladder. Tom King gallantly handed the lady up the steps. He followed. The place was a spacious loft, containing horse- harness, bundles of hay and straw, and stacks of corn. ‘“Now,’’ said Barney, dragging along several trusses, “I will make you a snug nest in this corner, where you must lie close till I come to let you out.” He arranged the bundles of hay as a sort of screen, behind which Bess crouched down, ‘Old Wild himself will searcely ferret her out now,” chuckled Barney. “But I must take away the ladder, ‘Courage, Bess,” said Tom King, smiling at her over the heap of hay and straw. “® You must not be scared if you hear the tramp of the runners in the yard ; the setters will not come here, my pretty Shall I leave . partridge,” F ‘No, captain, leave me alone to put them in the wrong track,” ‘* And now we must leave you. Good-bye, dimber Bessie.” ‘Good-bye, brave Captain King,’ The men laughed, and waved their hands to the fair fugitive, They then descended the ladder, Barney removed it, He stowed it away in the coach-house, They returned to the door of the inn. Upon seeing her master the beautiful white mare pawed the ground, and whinnied affection- ately. | Tom King patted her sleek neck, ‘Quick, Barney,” said the highwayman. “A handful of oats for Lightfoot, and a tankard of ale for myself,” The ostler soon furnished both, Tom King took a deep pull, “ Hurrah for the road!” laughed Tom, times I fee! defiant, and care not for the world’s scorn and hate.” “Why, captain, I should think so,” chuckled the ostler. ‘I often think of taking to the high pad myself. Who would not be such a spruce highwayman as you are?” ‘‘He who would exchange conditions with me or with any robber in the world must be a fool indeed,” sighed Tom. ‘But avaunt, the blue- devils! I must think of nothing now but how to save my neck.” : The ostler fed the mare with a handful of corn, patting her glossy sides, and murmuring his ad- miration of her beauty. The highwayman sprang into the saddle, ‘Ta—ta, Barney, my buck, I shall not forget this good turn,” he said, laughing. “ When I makea good purchase you shall go share’s in the swag,” “ Thanks, captain,” returned the fellow. He finished off the ale, and then turned witha — startled air. ‘Hark |’? he cried, holding up his finger, sound of horses’ hoofs !”’ ‘“ Aye, captain, ’tis Wild and his posse.” “They are close behind.” “They haye just turned into the lane ; they will sight you in a moment.” ‘‘T must be off, then, though, dam’me, I should like to have a pop at them.” ‘Wor heaven’s sake don’t let ’em see you, captain ; not here, at least,” cried the ostler, in great dismay. ‘They would kill me for this. Off !” ‘Good-bye, lad,” returned Tom, merrily. He shook the rein, and galloped off, waving his hat. “ Harkaway, captain,” cried Barney, turning his head from side to side, to see if the*runners were in sight ; he frantically waved his hands, urging the robber to make all speed. Tom King disappeared round a turning in the road, Barney drew a deep s‘gh of relief. For a moment he stood bewildered. “Yes: I have it.” With this exclamation, he ran off as hard as he could to meet the oflicers. Upon turning a lane he perceived them galloping towards him in a cloud of dust, ‘The CHAPTER LYII. HOW BARNEY MET WITH HIS MATCH IN JONA: THAN WILD—THE FARMER—THE PURSE IDEN- TIFIED—BARNEY ARRESTED—THE BLOW—THE PURSUIT, : BARNEY’S cap flew off, Without stopping to pick it up he dashed on. He stopped in the middle of the road, ‘Halt ! halt!’ he shouted, Then he leaned against a milestone, as if spent | with running, Japhg next instant Wild and his men surrounded im. The party consisted of a dozen Bow Street | runners, accompanied by a fine, hale, old gentle- man, apparently a farmer, who rode a handsome nag with pistols in his holsters. ‘“‘T have seen him, gentlemen,” ‘he has just passed,” “Who has passed, fellow?” cried Wild fixing a searching glance on the man’s face, panted Barney ; Le et tt oO —_——— "comicboo <SiiGO