Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

ROVING JACEK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. Roving Jack, whose temerity in the action (by | endeavouring, single-handed, to cope with the pirate) had ended in his detention and capture, | While skimming the waters one moonlight night, _Barabbas, unseen, listened toa conversation (the first that had been permitted) between our hero A large party of well-dressed fellows were as- sembled. They were all disguised, with blackened faces, and wore black gloves, Tom King was formally introduced to a man more disguised than the rest, sitting at the head of ~ <a = -_—" = the table, who was styled Prince Oronoko, King of the Blacks. - The highwayman was received very graciously, and placed on the right hand of the sable monarch, The supper consisted of eighteen dishes of venison, in various shapes. Roasted, boiled, with broth, hashed collops, umbel pies, and a large haunch in the centre, larded. The table at which the roysterers sat was very large, and exclusive of Tom King, twenty-one sat down to supper. Each had a bottle of claret. The man of the house and his wife sat at the lower end of ‘the table. A few of them had good musical voices. The evening was spent with as great jollity as by the rakes at the “King’s Arms,” or the “ City Apprentices ” at Sadler’s Wells. About two the company broke up. All of them assured Tom King that, upon any Thursday evening, they would be happy to see him at supper. and his well-beloved. He essayed no remark upon that which was pass- ing before him, nor did he indulge in his usual | taunts and sneers. “Let me look upon thee once again, that I may © assure myself that it is no dream,” said the young ~ girl, pressing the pirate-hunter to her bosom, © No, it is indeed John Warbold, the adoration of my soul,” “Yes, Violet, *tis I,” replied the youth, “who | can scarce believe Lam the recipient of so much — happiness, Let me also gaze upon you, that I may © ascertain that I dream not.” Passing his hand gently through her tresses waved by the ocean wind, he continued, -_ “Smile upon me, dear one, as you smiled on our | first protestation ; cast upon me, perchance for the last time, those beautiful eyes, full of tenderness as on the day I learnt the secret of thy soul,” The maiden’s heart was too full to answer, It was her lover’s voice. — : She caught the sound, and started asthe roe at They also did him the honour to inform him of | the hunter’s approach, and leapt once more into — the rules by which their society was regulated, The Black Prince informed him that their go- vernment was monarchical. — cs He stated that when they went upon atiy expedi- tion, he had an-absolute command. races Wie But in times of peace, andat the table, he con- descended to, live familiarly with his Subjects, as friends, That no person was admitted into their association until he was twice drunk, : This preeaution was taken that they might be fully acquainted with his temper. When it was agreed that a brother should be ad- mitted, he-must provide himself with a good horse, © a brace of pistols,and a gun to lie on the saddle bow, Then he is sworn upon the horns over the chimney, Thus.is he constituted a member. When ‘all had departed, Tom King was shown to ~ a littlé chamber, where he threw himself, more than half intoxieated, upon the bed, and placing his fire- arms close. within his reach, having Garefully bar- ricaded the door, he sank ito a long, dreamless slumber, ie = In the mornitte hewose early. - : Having breakfasted, he called for-his horse... = He mounted, and drank a stirrup cup with the landlord, : Sea AT Sd He presented the hostess with four guineas, _ He then dashed off, and! with a merry laugh; pro- secuted his journey to London, CHAPTER LXXv, WHAT BEFEL OUR HERO ON BOARD THE PIRATE ORUISER,THE “ SAN SALVADOR'”—THE TYPHOON OR HURRICANE OF THER BASTERN SEAS, Tun San Salvador,” after her last:encounter with the’ “Avenger,” m order to escape from entire destruction, proceeded. in the direction of the Hastern Seas, In the ‘contest her commander, Barabbas, had, by desperate’ means, contrived to still keep Violet Tremaine and Ellen Peveril his prisoners, The dwarf had been also fortunate in securing his arms. . ‘‘ This moment of pleasure,” cried the enraptured Jack, “amply repays the hours of torture I have suffered since I have been a prisoner in this charnel- house and ship of death. Is it notso?* “Yes, solicitude, sorrow, fear, até all forgotten.” “But how my Spanish gaoler came to. my dun- geon with your missive. ~ How my hand trembled as I opened the letter he gaye me. . I pressed it with transport to my lips, and kissed i€@ thousand timés; my teats bathed it, and though agony and despair rent my heart, I hastened, intoxicated with joy and breathless with delight, to your side.” «Tet us be seated; Ion this old sea»chest, and you——— | > “ At your feet, as I should be at this mysterious and nocturnal rendezvous,” added our hero, in his usual gallant manner, SSS Resting on the rude oaken “couch, after a pause, Violet exclaimed, = Jack, you will hardly credit that which I shall tell you, for, despite my chagrin and remorse, a joy sneeee and puré at this moment seizes me and éffaces every trace Of. peril or sorrow.” | Suddenly the features of the maiden became overcast ; the soft and happy sm —} asthe sunshine Of spring fs followed by the falling happy smile vanished, and rain-drop, the ray that beamed in her laughing | eye was obscured with a tear, “ Why, why is this, dear Violet?” said Jack, in astonishment, “To what am I to attribute, this | weeping ?” + Giriddant wea feed “A cruel-destiny seems to hang over, yout con- dition and mine, and seems likely to pursue ‘us from the cradle to the grave,” ontcniie! nite “What do you. mean? o.; 64) bosedan all | _ “That the miscreant {who commands this ship, impatient of your blood, has doomed you to death hee to morrow’s sunset,”’ bake AT aie “Though your words strike upon my heart like a | hammer of iron, I shall not eee a ew tiguig comes,” exclaimed our hero, boldly. “ Life’seable, I feared, was nearly run out with me, for I could not expect much merey at the hands of the buccaneers against whom I have ever waged the war of exter: mination,” i ’ : > ome » | > GOmicbdooksrcom