Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

eee ee nd ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 154 funds are so low, we must look out for another purchase.” ‘‘ Aye, my noble,” laughed Dick ; the road.’ “Where are our comrades ?” “Wielder sent me word that he and the rest would start to-night on an expedition to St, Albans.” ‘‘Ha! what was the gist of it?” “To stop some carriers on their way to London with a load of valuable silks and stuffs, and some bags of money.” * “But there will be an armed escort with such a cavalcade,” “‘T suppose so.” ‘Then there’ll be a battle royal ?” “ Most likely.” “Then why are we not there ??’ “T should have joined the adyenturous party,” returned Dick Turpin, “but the messenger that brought me the tidings arrived too late for my purpose,’ ‘‘Humpbh! their force will be too small ; will fail,” said Tom King. “Let's hope for better luck.” “Meanwhile, what must we do to refill our empty coffers ?” “Tl tell you, Tom,” “Hist ! we may be observed.” ‘“‘T’ll see to that,” Dick Turpin rose. He walked to the decor. Having assured himself that they were safe from intrusion and eavesdropping, he returned to the side of his confederate, — ‘“ All’s well,” he said, reseating himself. “ And now, "Tom, do you mark me?” ‘“‘ Most attentively.” “You know Sir Maurice Lacy ?” “Aye, one of the ploada: Ranulph Gayton, with whom 4 had crossing swords?” « ‘The same.” “Well, and what of him ?” “He will be here goon,” ‘What follows 2” “ A train of lackeys, with his coach, in which his mother rides alone in her way to the family man-— sion at Hertford,” ‘¢ And you propose that we should stop her lady- ship’s coach, and relieve her of her valuables ?” “T think it might be done.” “Yes, by the whole band ; but it would be mad- ness in us to try such a venture alone,” ‘Well, Tom, if you are primed for it, so am I,” beled risk all chances.” “ So will not I.” “ ¢ A soldier, and afraid !’”’ ‘Neither one nor t ‘other,” laughed Tom ; ‘ but you know my principles,’’ * Principles |—fiddlesticks !”’ “May be; but they are fiddlesticks that [ll use as I please. You must dance to my tunes, or I’ll not play to you.” “,What the devil is the matter now? Principles! What principles, comrade, can interfere with such a good purchase ?” ‘Hark ye, Dick—you know what they call me on the road ?”’ “Roaring Tom, the toby gloak—ch ?” “T am s0 called by the base vulgar; but to the ‘elite,’ the ‘upper ten,’ the ‘beau monde,’ the ‘haute ton,’ 1am designated ‘The Gentleman High- wayman,’ ” Dick Turpin laughed heartily, “ we must take they ene of Sir honour of . What then, my noble? What has that to do with your fine principles ?” “ Why, simply this—that I will not rob the ladies of anything but their hearts, or their kisses,” re- plied Tom. “Then you refuse to join me in this adventure?” “Most decidedly,” ‘‘Then curse you for afool! You are as full of crotchets and caprices as a boarding-shool miss,’ ” growled Dick Turpin, “Don’t be angry, captain,” laughed his confede- rate, ‘Necessity’s a hard master, and we are all his slaves ; and though I won’t rob the mother, the son is fair came, If you will tackle the old lady, that’s your own affair; leave me to manage Sir Maurice.”’ “Done !” laughed Dick Turpin. ‘ Though I go alone, and have to outface half a score of well- armed fellows, I’ll do the trick by stratagem, if not by force.”’ . “And I will manage the young rake-hell,” laughed Tom. Then he frowned blackly. “There will be one thing to reconcile me to this business,” he said, ‘ His father ruined me. It was he who led me to the gambling-house, like a lamb to the slaughter; but I will have my vengeance upon the son, I’ll warrant ye.” “Hark ye, then, Pll go at once,” said Dick Turpin, rising and advancing towards the door. “ Where shall we meet in the morning, Tom ?” “Tf all’s bob, I’ll see you at Brantford.” ‘Right, my hero,” returned the highwayman, “‘ Black Bess is stabled here ; I will mount, and ride on towards Ware, and so ben darkmans.” He tightened his belt, examined the priming of his pistols, and, waving his whip, stalked out of the apartment, ee CHAPTER LXXII, THE HIGHWAYMEN TAKE THE ROAD — THE OSTLER— THE CREDULOUS FARMER — GHOST STORIES—DICK PLAYS A TRICK ON THE RUS- TIC — FAIRY MUSIC — BORROWING FIFTEEN GUINEAS—THE FARMER'S RAGE, e Dick TURPIN called for his horse. The ostlers brought her out of the stable. They loudly expressed their admiration of the noble creature’s beauty and breed. Dick vaulted into the saddle. The men looked at his manly form, as he sat erect and firm in his saddle, and almost for got the ugli- ness of his freckled, red- whiskered face, as their experienced eyes approved of his gallant bearing, for the rascal was certainly a splendid rider. He just jtouched the horse’s side with the whip, and she set off at a graceful canter, 4t the corner of the high road Dick Turpin stopped. He looked behind him, A large and stylish cavalcade, consisting of a huge, cumbrous coach and a party of horsemen, some of them apparently gentlemen of rank, the others servants, appeared riding towards the ‘* Peacock,” They were laughing and conversing gaily. “T wonder how Tom will succeed with this pur- chase,” muttered the highwayman, thoughtfully. “But I may well leave him to it, ‘he’s a dashing dog, and more at home with the gentry than I am, I hate palavering; give me the high road or a> plant, as a mill-ken—a house-breaking job,” i ee i Ct COMICDOOKS