Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

— a - . - ? ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 131 80 intermingled with brush and furze, that progress would be rendered impossible. Still the gallant and enduring animal, though hard-breathed, and lathered with foam, bears on her course. At some distance ahead, two rugged lanes branch out of the road, Tom King spurs hard to reach one of them, Which shall he take, the right or the left ? There is not much time allowed him for delibe- ration. He plunges up the narrow pathway on his eit. He turns and leaps his horse over a high thicket. _ * Down, lass, down,” he murmurs. The sagacious animal crouches on her knees, Tom King takes off his hat, He flings his black, scarlet-lined riding cloak over his gaudy dress, completely concealing himself, and bends low down in the saddle, He peers through the bushes, Nearer come the shouts and the loud rattle of hoofs. At last a voice shouts, “ Halt |” It was the stern voice of the thief-taker which uttered this mandate, The fugitive can hear the hard breathing of the half-exhausted riders, and the panting of their horses. “ We are at fault,” said the farmer. ‘He must have taken one of these roads,’’ re- joined a constable, * Aye, but. which ?” said the farmer. This one to the left,’’ returned the man, “ Here are fresh hoof-prints in the mire,”’ ‘Well, friend; but I should think the rogue knows the country too well for that,” returned the farmer. “This lane leads only to the premises of a farm-house.” “Ts that so?” asked Wild. “Yes. Don’t you see the smoke from the chimneys, Mr. Wild?” ** Yes, but we lose time,” ‘What do you propose, then ?” “We will divide into three parties,” rejoined the thief-taker. ‘‘ You, Mr, Oakley, shall take the lane to the right, accompanied by six men; I, with three others, will ride up this bridle-path ; Barnesdale, and the remaining two, shall sentinel the road, in case the rogue should emerge from any opening in the woods,” “ A capital arrangement,” said the farmer, ‘‘ But we may lose each other.” “To prevent that,’ said Wild, “it. must be arranged that whichever of the three party shall first sight the vagabond, shall fire one shot as a signal for the others to join them; if they secure him let two shots be fired.” ‘© A good plan.” « And now, gentlemen, let us separate. Barnesdale, keep a sharp watch along the road in each direction, Now, Mr. Oakley, you that way, me this.” “Bravo!” laughed the farmer, “ And I'll lay ten guineas to one that I shall be the first to | capture the dog. Is it a wager?” “Tone!” said Wild, “ Ride hard, gentlemen,” They parted, Tom King kept well concealed by the bushes, His inclination to try one shot at his ancient enemy was 80 great that he had much ado to eurb his impatience. Grasping their long, heavy pistols in their hands, Jonathan Wild and his two satellites rode up the lane, They carefully scanned the bushes on either side. They passed, A turning in the lane concealed them from view. Tom King spoke to his horse, and patted her neck, She rose on her legs, The highwayman was about to leap her over the hedge. He changed his thoucht instantly. The road was watched by sentinels ! Again he caused the sagacious animal to crouch down. He listened eagerly. He could hear the watchers in the road shouting to each other, “Zounds! look yonder, Barnesdale,” cried one of them, laughing, ‘“‘that farmer is a rare old buck, See, he is riding a race with the others, and has gained a couple of lengths of them,” ‘Ha ! ha! the old cove rides well,” rejoined the other. ‘‘ Now they’re on his flanks—nowhe’s away | Egad ! sir, he’s well mounted.” _ © See | they reach the other road.” ‘¢ Perhaps they sight the chase.” “ No; or they would fire a shot.” “ Look! look!’ cried his companion, excitedly. “The farmer has well nigh knocked down that old clodhopper.” ‘Hal ha! ha!” ‘Silence ! while we are watching that old fool we are not keeping a proper look-out in the road.”” | “Tf Jonathan Wild misses his man, he’ll raise the devil with his storming.”’ The men separated, : . At this moment from the far end of the lane in which he was hiding, Tom King heard the baying of dogs, and the clanking of a gate closing to, Then came the rapid patter of hoofs. ae Jonathan Wild and his party growled their dis- appointment at having failed in their purpose. They stopped their horses just by the spot where the highwayman lay concealed. An old countryman came limping into the lane. “Ho! there! you fellow!” shouted Jonathan Wild. ‘At yer honour’s sarvice, zur,” returned the countryman, a little taken aback at this rough salute, He took off his hat, and stared stupidly at the thief-taker, ‘‘ Have you met a party of horsemen riding at full speed ?” asked Wild. “Ave, zure I has, yer honour,” returned the countryman, ‘They be purzuin’ of a gemman as were ridin’ like mad,” “The scoundrels |”? roared Jonathan. ‘! Have they dared to disobey me? I commanded them to fire a shot when they sighted the thief.” “ Tt’s Mr, Oakley’s doings, sir,’? rejoined one of the men. ‘ He is bound to win his wager.” “Curse his impudence and _ interference!’ growled the thief-taker, Then again he addressed the countryman, “Was the man they were pursuing much in advance of them,” ‘Gad zo, zur; he were indeed, and ridin’ az the devil were behind him, as by token he nearly knocked I into the ditch.” “ Which way have they gone?” - fl