Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

| | | ———- — ——— ——-— 127 a Sl ee ee “Why, Tom King, sir,’ returned the ostler, quailing beneath Wild’s stern glances. “Hurrah !” shouted the farmer. ‘‘ Which road did he take, friend ?” “He went that way, sir,” replied Barney, point- ing to a road that crossed the lane, ‘“Then we have missed him,” cried the farmer, ‘Let us turn our horses, gentlemen, and give him chase.” But Wild remained silent. He kept his fierce, gray eyes steadily fixed upon Barney. “ He took that road, eh ?’’ he asked, in a ferocious tone. ‘“‘ A—ves, sir,” gasped the ostler. “And yet you were at your master’s house attending to his customers, how could you tell which road he took ?”’ “ Why, sir, if—if you won’t frighten me, and - browbeat me, I'll explain,’ mumbled Barney. * Speak, sirrah !” growled Wild. ‘‘If I find that you have played any foul tricks, you shall suffer for it, if there’s not another rogue left unhung in England.’’ ‘IT don’t want to deceive ye, mumbled Barney. ‘Tl explain all, the house.” “ And why did ycu not arrest him? Remember, I know well enough that you are acquainted with the villain,” ‘Yes, sir,’ returned the ostler, quickly ; ‘Ido know him by sight.” “ Then why did you not seize him ?”’ ‘Seize him? ’Fore heaven, Mr. Wild, how could Idothat? The rascal was armed to the teeth, and there was no one at hand to assist me.’’ ‘“‘ The fellow’s story seems probable enough, Mr, Wild,” rejoined the farmer. “Surely he can have no motive to wish to screen the scoundrel,” “ We will see,” said Wild, grimly. He got off his horse. “ Seize him and search his pockets,” said the thief-taker, sternly. Barney turned pale as death. He slipped his hands into his pockets, and drew out something, which he attempted to throw away. He was detected, however. The officers caught his hands, They found a purse in each. Barney trembled violently, uttered a cry of fright, and dropped on his knees. Wild, with a satanic leer, took one of the purses, and handed it to the farmer. ‘Do you identify that article, Mr. Oakley?” asked the_thief-taker. “ By George! you were right after all, Mr, Wild,” returned the farmer, in surprise ; “the scamp must, indeed, be in league with the highwayman, for this is my property. I was stopped last night by a villain on a white horse, masked, and close wrapped in a riding cloak.” “Tom King.” “Yes, I believe so; for, as I hear, he does ride a white horse, and infests this neighbourhood.”’ * And what else did he take from you ?” ‘‘ My watch and seals, a silver snuff-box, a brooch and a pocket book containing bank notes to the amount of fifty pounds.”’ “ Hold the dog fast,’’ chuckled Wild, addressing his attendants, “ What else have you found upon him?” ‘Nothing, Mr. Wild, but this key, a pipe, some beans and a ballad.” “Let me look at the ballad.” The man handed it to his superior, Mr. Wild,” He came to It was vilely printed, and was entitled, ‘“The Good Man over the Water.” Wild leered. “A Jacobite dogerel,” he said. ‘' Here’s a pretty rascal; not content with being in league with robbers, and sharing the gains of felony, he must dabble in high treason.” ‘‘T bought the song of an old pedlar, sir, that rested at the tavern,” pleaded Barney, ‘I haye not even read it,”’ ““No one can doubt the veracity of such a trust- worthy person as yourself, Mr. Barney,” returned Wild, sarcastically, as he put the paper into his pocket. ‘‘ There was one odd circumstance I forgot to mention in connection with this robbery,” conti- nued the farmer; ‘“‘ my sister-in-law and her maid were on the road when I was stopped by this high- wayman, they were riding in a chaise about half a mile in advance of me; I afterwards iearned that a man, mounted on a white horse, passed them, that he raised his hat, but made no attempt to molest them,” ‘““That confirms the suspicion that attaches to Tom King,” said Wild, ‘‘ for he never robs women ; and hence he is known on the road as ‘the gentle- man’s highwayman.’ ”’ 3 “ Ha, ha!” laughed the farmer; “ well, ’twas a dashing knave, and since I have recovered my pro- perty I'll leave it to others to bring him to the gallows—I bear him no further malice.” “ Nonsense,” returned Wild, sternly ; “ you have a duty to perform which you owe to society, and I tell you, sir, you must not shirk it ; besides, you are subpcenaed, and bound to prosecute.” ‘“In that case, for heaven’s sake let us lose no time in apprehending the villain,’’ said the farmer, “for I am unwilling to lose more time than is needful in the case,” “Be patient, sir,” returned Wild, ‘‘the villain shall be lodged in gaol before morning.” “ Let us push on then,” said the farmer, “As for this fellow,” continued the thief-taker, grinning maliciously, ‘he is, upon evidence, an accomplice of the thief, and must take the conse- quence.” “No, no, Mr, Wild,” cried Barney, in great tre- pidation, ‘I can swear ——” “‘ Anything to save your own neck from the halter, sirrah.” “Hear me, Mr, Wild,” cried Barney, clutching his arm, frantic with terror, ‘‘I will lead you to a spot where you can take the robber,”’ “ We do not require your assistance,” returned the thief-taker ; ‘‘my plans are so well laid that I have no doubt he is already in custody.” “Do but hearken, sir; don’t be too hard upon a poor lad,” urged Barney; “ he offered me the money just to bait his horse and supply him with a glass of ale. I had no hand in the robbery, knew nothing of it—it was a sore temptation. I assure you I had no intention to defeat the ends of justice,” “ Liar |’? savagely growled the thief-taker, With the loaded butt of his heavy riding-whip he stretched Barney senseless at his feet. “ Mr. Wild, this is needless violence,” exclaimed the farmer, with great indignation. “ Violence be——,” growled Wild, brutally ; “you don’t know these fellows, sir.” He remounted his horse. ‘‘Here, Barnesdale,” he cried, to one of the men. “ Yes, sir.” “Clap the darbies on this rascal, and, with Thrapstone there, carry him to the tavern and hold I -; S ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. ee ES or CONN IOOKSEO