Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

176 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. She experienced a sudden and sharp thrilling pain, Her senses failed her, and she could not utter a word, The monster, having no other weapon, had sought to fix his teeth upon her neek, but in doing so had fell a motionless mass. The manacles Roving Jack had taken from Sebastien had stunned the vamipire. He then bore the fainting maiden up the steps, and landed with his burden on the platform of the lantern tower of which we have just spoken. At the moment, the pirates, with an increased force, again arrived at the door of the dungeon. This had been so firmly secured that it defied their utmost endeavours to force it. Execrations, deep and loud, were uttered by the disappointed rovers. After mounting the flight of stairs with Ellen, Roving Jack reached their top, A narrow opening cheered his progress. Passing this, by means of a trap-door, he came at once upon the summit of the column, ‘What was his surprise, we may say delight, to find a coil of rope. - It was fixed to the iron framework that enclosed the elevation of the lantern tower. The tower was upwards of two hundred feet from the ground, and was used by the pirates, in stowing away their spoil/or contraband merchandize. Here the means of SSRIS at once presented itself to our hero, Depositing Ellen, who had now recovered, in a place of safety, he first tried the durability of the rope, He found it was of sufficient strength to sustain his weight. It was of more, than sufficient length to enable him to reach the distant earth beneath his feet, Quick as thought he threw the cord over the edge of the structure. He advanced to the brink to see if it had fallen _ to the ground, With an exclamation of joy he exclaimed, “We are once’ more free |’* Ellen shuddered at the perilous position, and sought him to avail himself of the flight offered, but requested that she might remain, “Go, go,” she cried, “but I have ‘not the courage to face this danger, Go, I beseech you!” " *‘ What, and leave you’here to fall into the hands of the pursuers? Never !” ‘“ Heed me not,” continued the terrified Ellen ; “T have my means of escape likewise.” With , these .words the maiden painted to the dagger at her side, ‘What is my life to yours?” ““By Heaven!” cried our. hero, frantically, cir you do not obey me, I will fling myself into the abyss below, and become a prey to the vultures of the region |’’ So saying, the speaker advanced to the precipi- tous edge of the tower as if to put his threat into immediate execution, ‘Hold! I will do as you desire, and may God give me strength in this fearful venture |” Ellen Peveril, at the instigation of our hero, grasped the rope, which he had fastened with a firm knot to the iron rail above their heads, With one bound she leaped fearlessly from the parapet. Jack looked over the dizzy height, For a, moment the rope, on, which; the aREN hung vibrated with a shock. 24 JAG! As she found herself swerving to and fro in mid- air she could scarcely repress a scream, Her brain reeled as she gazed downward. What a frightful space was between her and the. valley beneath ! Her head involuntarily sank over her shoulder. Her eyes closed., But as she knew her safety depended on her own. powers of tenacity, she ever firmly clutched the. quivering cord. The rope continued its oscillations. The gripe of Ellen continued unrelaxing,. Her peril appeared imminent. ' Soon her situation was more perilous than ever. A shout, or rather shriek, had resounded in the region hard by! A body of men in military uniform had witnessed the daring attempt at liberation. They had seen Ellen launch herself from ‘the lofty lantern tower. Though these men were foes, being qe: in the, disguise of the Garda Costa, or military preventive, service, as if by mutual consent, they suspended hostilities, It was a feat of such hair-breadth risk that all gave her up for lost. But. when she had descended all evinced an admiration of the daring adventuress. One of their number, during the exploit, with a dastardly’ disposition, had raised’ his’ musket, but the coward was kept at bay by the poised pistol of! Roving Jack, Ellen having gained the ground, our hero next attempted to escape by the Same means as his companion. The rope whirled round and round, but the intrepid youth, contriving amidst the gyrations ‘to insert the point of his foot in the walled column’of the tower, gained ‘his equilibrium’ and pursued his perilous descent. Looking upward he beheld the sali outa and exulting features of Rotaldo, It is needless to state he had ‘discovered the mode of escape adopted by the prisoners. In an instant he resolved on the only revenge in his power, His gestures, ferocious and savage, indicated that he would exercise his utmost ingenuity to cause fear and torture to his flying enemy. Before he attempted to cut the rope he ‘shook it with all his force, ~ ° This jerked it convalsively first on the tight then . on the left.' Finding ‘he’ could not dislodge tik brave foe, he had recourse to another expedient. | ’ Taking firmly'hold of the iron bar of the lantern roof above him, with great exertion he pera the © rope up several feet, Uttering: a hideous and unearthly yell. he let it suddenly drop. LOOK OUT FOR THE BOY SATLOR; OR, LIFE ‘ON BOARD ‘A’ MAN-OF-WAR. A most interesting and powerfully written Tale, © to be completed in about 30, Numbers. No. 2 with’ No. 1, and*a LARGE EN- GRAVING,, GRATIS. -_-eo-o READY SATURDAY, JANUARY 19. oO Eomichooks.co