Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. i The landlord sat in the parlour, surrounded by his guests, smoking and drinking, An ‘hour or so passed. At length the parlour door was burst open. Puffing and blowing, farmer Gosling rushed in. All rose in surprise. ““Why, my dear Mr. Gosling, what has hap- pened?” he cried, ‘‘ Hath a fellow passed with my horse ? ” ‘* She's safe in the stable, sir.” “Where?” “Why, here! ” “The devil ! ” “Yes ; but what need you have troubled yourself to send the horse as a pledye for such a trifle as fifteen guineas and so put yourself to the trouble of coming this cold night on foot?” “Pledge!” gasped the farmer, “ fifteen guineas!” “Yes; Igavethem tothe man, He told me you had sent him.” “The villain !” “Hey ! what?” stammered the landlord. not all richt ?” “No!” roared the farmer, a highwayman.” “A highwayman !” “Yes, and has robbed me of a bag containing three hundred guineas !”” The consternation caused by this announcement may well be conceived. ‘Hang the dog! but it’s some comfort he brought back the nag,’ growled the farmer, ‘“ but the rogue has made me pay three hundred guineas for hearing one tune of the fairies,” “Was ‘‘'The scoundrel was CHAPTER LXXITI, DICK TURPIN’S FURTHER ADVENTURES — THE JEWELLER— A CUNNING TRICK—THE SNUFIF- BOX — FOX HUNTING—THE RUSE — KINDNESS ILL-REWARDED—HOW TOM KING WOUNDED SIR MAURICE LACY—TURPIN’S ESCAPE, AFTER this adventure Dick Turpin rode on towards London. But after awhile, fearing pursuit, he made a detour through the country and reached Brantford at daybreak, As yet he had not encountered Lady Lacy’s coach, and concluded that she and her retinue had put up for the night at the “‘ Peacock.” As he rode up the streets of the little country town the tradesfolks were opening their shops. Amongst others he passed was a jeweller and goldsmith’s, The trader was counting a large sum of money, Dick Turpin’s eyes sparkled thievishly. His first impulse was to rush in and pistol the poor fellow, and then seize his glittering treasures. But the noise of fire-arms would cause an alarm, No time was to be lost. ; What could be done in this emergency ? He had a sword. But there might be a scuffle. He got off his horse. He satintered along the pavement, pondering for an expedient, His invention, stimulated by his avarice, hit upon a plot. He took out his snuff-box. He emptied the contents into his hand. Then slinking to the door he peered in, ‘'he man was so busily absorbed in counting the money that he did not notice him. eee 157 But the robber’s step on the floor caused him to lift his eye, In an instant the villain dashed the handful of snuff into the luckless goldsmith’s face. The man yelled and danced with pain and raved with fury. Dick Turpin deftly swept the money into his ample pockets. He secured abont fifty potinds. Then, before the tortured goldsmith could prevent, him, he rushed out of the door, and springing:upon his bonnie Black Bess, scoured away. “Hurrah for the road !” laughed the reckless out- law, waving his whip. ‘ How long would.it have taken to earn so much blunt by honest means as I have secured to-night at one haul !” : . His exultation, however, was somewhat checked when his eye fell upon the body of some gentleman of his craft swinging from a gibbet at the cross- roads, He bit his lip and frowned. Then he uttered a sullen, defiant laugh, and, ac- cording to a custom prevalent among the knights of the snaffle, saluted his defunct brother cour- teously as he passed. ob ete Ife ga)loped on towards London. As he was riding apace his ear suddenly caught the sound of carriage wheels. He turned his horse’s head and trotted to the bank side and got under cover of some bushes. The sound of the carriage wheels grew louder and came nearer. Dick could also distinguish the sound of horses’ feet. “Oh, if Tom, and Bush, Rose, Fielder, and Gre- gory were here to back me, wouldn't I clip the wings of these court butterflics?”’? muttered the robber ; ‘‘ but, curse it, this is too high a game for me to play single-handed.” While he was considering by what means he could effect his designs for plunder, his attention was attracted by a loud and cheery shout ringing across the fields and meadows, and the loud baying of a pack of bounds. z Presently a fox came rushing through the hedge, and shot across the road. Poor Reynard showed every sign of distress ; his reddish fur was ruffled, his bushy tail drooped, his long, red tongue hung from between his fangs. “Tally-ho!”? cried Dick Turpin, with sparkling eyes and the eager zest of = hunter. | | The fox doubled, and, slinking back through the hedge, cunningly ran along the inner side of the hedge, baffling the pack that came pouring in a ruck over the Jong furrows of the ploughed glebe, and bursting through the bushes. Turpin, unable to resist the temptation offered by the scene—for he considered Yox-hunting the most delightful pastime in the werld—cheered on the dogs. They were at fault, and scattering up and down the road, expressed their impatience by incessant, deep-mouthed bayings. At last they recovered toe scent, and led on by two or three cunning old hounds, forced their way through the hedge, and were soon in full cry after the four-footed felon they were chasing. The tantivies of the hunters’ bugles rang merrily on the frosty air. Turpin leaped his horse over the hedge. He took a rapid glance arcund him, and across the country. Down the white and winding road, on one hand, he perceived the coach and the party of cayalieis gaily rattling along.