Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

158 Before him a scattered bevy of huntsmen came madly tearing along, A sudden thought occurred to the robber, a plan by which he felt certain that he could make at least something in the way of booty. The villain was well accomplished in his nefarious trade, being not only a brutal, unscrupulous high- Wwayman and bur glar, but also a skilful pickpocket. The carriage and cavalcade were swiftly advanc- ing, but had not yet appeared in sight, being still hidden behind the bend in the road, Dick Turpin leaped back over the hedge. Of course the gallant animal cleared it like an arrow. But the robber had conceived a treacherous plan for robbing the cavalcade, He dismounted. Then he caused the beautiful black mare to lie down upon her side. The splendid and sagacious creature was as docile as a dog. Dick took her head in his hands, and laid it in such a position, and so arranged her whole body as | to give her the appearance of having slipped down the bank, and rolled over in the road. Then he tore his coat in the briars, tumbled over in the dust, lay down, and thrusting one foot through | the stirrup, tossed away his hat and whip, and | stretched himself out as if he had been stunned by a heavy fall, The cavalcade now ene the angle in the road. Several of the gentlemen who were riding in _ advance of the carriage, upon seeing the fallen horseman, uttered a shout. They came dashing up. ‘One of the huntsman, Sir Ranulph ; he has had a bad fall,” said a gentleman. ‘« Aye, the poor fellow is killed, I think,?’ returned Sir Ranulph Gayton. ‘A splendid horse, too,” said another, “And the hedge is not. high.” “No, but the bank is steep.”’ “It was this deep rut in the road that did the business,” ‘This day has been one of mischance,” returned Sir Ranulph. ‘ Onr friend, Sir ] Maurice, is pinked by that ruffling blade who cheated us at cards < “That fellow was a high wayman, no doubt.” “Tom King, for a thousand |” ‘And now,” continued ‘Sir Ranulph, ‘* we find our way blocked by a dead man.” |_ While these remarks were passing, Dick tana | kept his eyes Closed and. his ears open, aud affected | to be quite insensible. ‘‘ What shall we do with him 2” ‘We cannot put hin into the carriage, for Sir Maurice is there with Lady Eleanor Lacy. How far are we from the nexst village 2” "Four miles, at least, Sir Ranulph,” At all events let us ‘attend to the poor fellow.” The gentlemen, most of whom had dismounted, with the assistance of the servants, raised the pros- trate man and bore him to the bank, They then tried to get the horse upon her legs, But the sagacious and faithful creature turned her eyes upon her master. He made no sign, and she undenstood his wishes. She resisted all their efforts to get her tio stand on her feet, “She is lamed for ewer and must be destroyed,’’ said Sir Ranulph, in a tone of reg ret, ‘But let us see to lier unfor tunate master,’” “ Bring the flask of strong waters.” ‘And some water from the brook yonder,” ** Loosen his craysat,”’ _ BONANG MO Mitaminmbemiieinme THE PIRATE HUNTER. While these directions were being complied Refers Minaab Gd kegs ob ioatamen ane’ |) Gaye ca ee Dick Turpin slightly moved and uttered a deep roan, : Sir Ranulph bent over him and bathed his temples with his dainty laced handkerchief, which had been soaked in the water. While he was being tended so kindly, the artful and graccless villain was not idle. Quite unperceived by any of the bystanders, he contrived, with great dexterity, to relieve Sir Ranulph and two other of the Samaritans of their purses and watches. He was particularly attracted by several large and valuable brilliants that igutteren in the gentle- men’s cravats, He was, however, Amiel to meddle with these jewels, lest they should at once be missed, either by the owners or the bystanders. At length, after having been nearly strangled by the brandy which was poured down his throat, he thought it time to decamp, especially as one ‘old gentleman who stood by was fumbling in his pocket to find his snuff-box, which the robber had abstracted. He therefore moved his hand to his eyes and gazed wildly about him. ‘‘ Bravo !’’ cried the gentlemen, ‘‘ he recovers ; he is perhaps not much hurt after all.” They raised him up. While doing so they were repaid for their kind- ness by the loss of the contents of their pockets. “That cursed hedge,” groaned the highwayman, : Thanks, gentlemen ; a rascally trick of my com- panion’s to leave me in this plight, Is the horse injured ?” ‘Ruined, I fear.” “Ha! I would as lief my own neck had been broken. Help me up, gentlemen—my leg is crushed, but, thank my stars, no bones are broken. Let me have a look at the ‘poor mare,” With creat difficulty, the gentlemen raised him in their arms. ' ‘* How did this happen ?” asked one. ‘Why, we were in full cry after the fox, when I leaped my horse over the hedge, She took the leap gallantly, but stumbled at that infernal rut.” “I told you so, Sir Ranulph,” rejoined one of the gentlemen. ‘‘Can you stand?” asked another, addressing the robber, “I think so,” replied Dick, limping away towards his horse. “We would offer you a seat in the carriage,” said Sir Ranulph, “ but it is occupied by Sir Maurice Lacy, who, besides being robbed, has been well- nigh murdered by a ruftian.” “ Robbed—murdered !” repeated Turpin, in well- feigned surprise. ‘“ What, on the high road ?” ‘T No, s8i bute ab the Peacock, a tavern at’ Islington.” ‘Was he alone, then ?” “No, our party halted there. We encountered a handsome, dashing-looking fellow, whose appear- ance was so distinguished, and his conversation so entertaining, that we suffered ourselves to be led on to play « cards with him, At first he lost, but soon his luck changed, and amongst us he won five hundred guineas !”’ “ Hive hundred guineas !” cried Turpin; then he added, mentally, “ A rare night’s work, though mine is the better purchase. But I must not holloa till I’m out of the wood.” ‘** But, as we were shuffling the cards for the last time, continued Sir Ranulph, my friend Sir Maurice detected foul play... Swords were drawn, and in an boo