Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

ee ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 156 a rT ae a rE ST CIT PO a CE LO LTE I IA EE a ee stamping his foot emphatically. ‘No, not on the affidavit of an archbishop.” ‘““ What wouldn’t you believe ?” “This, sir,” ‘returned Dick, shrugging his shoul- ders. Again he stooped down and listened. “This! This what?” cried the farmer, whose impatience and curiosity were excited to the highest “ pitch.: “And yet, how can one doubt the evidence of one’s own senses ?’”’ murmured Dick, thoughtfully. “Are you drunk or mad?” cried the farmer, in amazement, “Drunk I am not—mad I may be,” returned Dick ; “but tell me, sir, and tell me truly, do you not hear it yourself ?” . ‘* Hear what ?” “Do you really not hear it ?” ‘““Gads my life! fellow ! you make me as mad as yourself !” cried the farmer, in a towering rage. “But hark !|—hark !” ‘‘ Powder and blazes! I hear nothing.” “ Nothing at all, sir?” “The hooting of the owls—the babbling of yonder brook,” ** Nothing else ?” “Ugh! what else should I hear ?” “Oh! the heavenly music! ‘The crash of a thonu- sand aerial harps !”’ sighed Dick Turpin, ‘‘ When did you escape from Bedlam ?” “And yet,” continued Dick, thoughtfully, and withont noticing this rude interruption, “ I have often heard of them. One sensible man, the clerk of this parish, has vouched for the truth of such stories, and he is a shrewd, trustworthy man, a person whose veracity it would bea sin to doubt.” ‘“‘T know the man, sir,” cried the farmer, eagerly. ‘Mr. Stretcher, you mean? I quite concur in your opinion of him, What stories do you mead, sir ?” ‘* About the fairies.” ‘‘ Watries—pish !” “T have often ‘pished’ such tales myself, sir,” rejoined Dick ; ‘but I hear such melodious har- mony of fairy music, that it is enough to charm me to sit here for ever and a day.” “Fudge !’’ “Well, sir, I don’t blame you for doubting a statement so extraordinary ; but if you care to be convinced, you have but to dismount and hear for yourself,” Now the worthy farmer was one of the most cre- dulous beings in the world, and found it impossible to resist his impulse of curiosity. Accordingly he hurriedly scrambled from the saddle, Dick still sat on the bank, and waved his hands with a languishing air of insane ecstasy. The rascal acted his part so well that the poor farmer was completely taken in. ‘‘ Here, here, hold my horse, friend—she’s such a bolter,”’ Nothing loth, Dick seized the rein. “Now, now—where is it ?” “There, sir, there—t’other side o’ the milestone,” Here 2” ' “Yes.” ‘“T don’t hear it.” “Not the right place, sir, I'll show you.” ‘“No, no—keep at the horse’s head, man!” cried the farmer, hastily, ‘or she’ll be off like a shot. Now, where is this music ?”’ ‘Just where you are, sir?” ° The farmer took off his hat. He laid his car against the bank. eee E enn ———— ee ona ge ~ -- —— EQMIChea “ Why, you rascal, I hear nothing !” he cried, in- dignantly. . ‘“‘ Try the left ear, sir.” The farmer moved to the other side. His face was now turned away from the-robber. No sooner did Dick Turpin perceive this than he vaulted into the saddle. With a loud laugh, he dashed away. The farmer, instantly comprehending the trick that had been played him, sprang to his feet. Uttering a roar of indignation, he started in pursuit. Dick turned in the saddle. ‘‘Do you hear the fairy music now ?” he laughed, derisively. He took the bag of gold from the saddlebow, and chinked it in his hands. “The deyil’s in it if that is not magic music, and from the earth, too,” he chuckled. Then away he darted. Panting and foaming with passion, the old farmer kept up the chase. He had not run far, however, before he began to experience the effects of the unwonted exertion. He was fain tc fling himself down upon the bank and dry the perspiration from his heated brow. Meanwhile Dick Turpin urged on the steed. He was now within sight of the town. He got off the horse. Anotber scheme occurring to him, he let the animal trot on as before, The innkeeper came rushing from the house. ‘“Why, bless my heart!” he cried, in utter asto- nishment, “ here’s farmer Gosling’s horse returned without a rider!” But Dick was ready for the occasion. - He stepped quickly up to the innkeeper. ‘Your pardon, sir,’ he said, lifting his hat ; ‘“‘ Are you the landlord of this tavern?” “‘ Aye, friend, what is your will? ” ‘‘You are surprised, no doubt, to see the horse return without his master ?”’ ‘Well, it’s an odd thing, certainly.” “Well, sir, I must explain to you that I am a friend of Mr. Gosling’s, who has met with some friends on the road, with whom he is going to the next village to engage in play. Not wishing to open his bag of money, which contains a certain sum, the amount he will require for marketing to- morrow, he has sent me to request you to lend him the small matter of fifteen guineas to make his game, and to keep ois horse in pledge in the mean time until he returns in the evening.” ‘““Ay, ay,” returned the innkeeper, ‘a hundred guineas if he wants them,” With this he entered the house, and brought forth the money. His liberality did not stop here. He made Dick drink a glass of punch on the threshold, for the highwayman: excused himself from entering the house, saying that he was bound to return on the instant, . Dick took a hasty leave, I'he landlord once more went indoors. The ostler stood at Dick’s side. His eyes glistened. The robber put five guineas into his called for his horse. Luke led him to the stable. Dick Turpin mounted. The ostler let him out by a back way. Exulting at his success, the robber took the road to Islington, An hour elapsed. -> iat hand, and |