Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

Oe | oe. ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 181 ' “That will do,” said Jack, coolly,’as the landlord drew a bottle from his pocket, Violet and our hero were now left alone to enjoy their repast. They knew they must eat’ to set to work energetically, Jack had placed his lips to a tumbler of wine, when an inconceivable sentiment caused him to place it down again on the table untasted. It was a suspicion. Driven with the force of the speeding arrow into the very recesses of his soul. The thought aroused him as a pistol‘shot. The wine had been drugged—thank heaven he had drunk none of it. _ At this moment the eyes of the landlord peered into the apartment. He closed the door, which he fastened on the outside with the bolt. Roving Jack felt his heart’ throb with intense force as he contemplated that he was now a prisoner. Sg | After a pause of fearful anxiety, a second door opened and shut with a heavy’slamming. _ It was that leading to the open road, along which retreating footsteps were heard, ‘They were the footsteps of the crafty landlord, hastening to give information that he had taken the fugitives. Before our hero had time to utter a word, or reflect upon the desperate peril in which he was placed, a sound was emitted of'a trap-door opening with a hollow clangour beneath his feet. The floor receded, the macinery having been suddenly turned, and a figure ‘emerged: from’ the dark recess, Zee a To describe the effect’ produced’ ‘upon Roving Jack by what he now saw were impossible. He passed his hand across ‘his’ brow. © He gazed upon the object before him in and amazement. | In an underbreath, and with a look as if life de- pended on the inquiry, he exclaimed— “Tt is—?” ! . ~- “Tomaz Sebastien !” Ws ‘I can scarcely believe my senses. How is it possible that you can have discovered us?” ‘This is no time for explanation,” replied Sebas- tien. “It is sufficient that I was retaken by the pirates, confined here, and have found means to escape.” : Toe sudden appearance of Sebastien had again thrown the enervated Violet into a delirium. ’ Exhausted nature had deprived her of all power. _ And her helpless condition ‘would’ impede the fugitives in the premeditated flight. . : Come what might, an effort must be made to'save her in this dire extremity: ~ ‘ “The first thing we must do is to secure the door, which is fastened on the outside”) |! | With the words Jack began‘to collect the lumber and furniture of the room; which he intended to form as a barrier to the entrance. He had scarcely commenced his labours when they were arrested by Sebastien. “Stop, friend,” he cried; ‘‘I have thought of a better and a surer plan, and. one that will involve our enemies in one common ruin,” - “What do you propose?” “Let my deeds, and’ not my words, answer ‘the question,” Sebastien at once commenced carrying. out the plan he had devised. support’ nature, so doubt side, he commenced raising the boards that formed a flooring to the apartment. In a few moments, a tremendous gulf appeared Drawing a small crowbar from the wall at his’ at his feet, and entirely facing, the door by which their pursuers must enter. Having finished his task with the same coolness with which he had performed it, he remarked to his companion— “This chasm is wide enough to receive twice their number.” “Your device is ingenious,” answered .Roving Jack, “but I fear it will do us little service.. When our enemies return, they will, like ourselves, per- ceive the abyss and find means to pass it without danger,” “That we must prevent.” “ How?” ‘By simply closing yonder shutters. The total darkness that then reigns will prevent their seeing the pit that is dug for them, and they will unsus- pectingly fall into it.” - “True, I had not thought of that.” ‘‘ At all events, if such a catastrophe does not take place, it will at least give us more time to reach the ‘Black Valley.’ ” : . Arrived there —?”’ ** We are near the margin of the island, off which lies the French frigate, ‘La Belle Susanne,’ ” “We can hail her.” .. “And they dare not refuse to shelter us..,A treaty with your country compels. them to give us aid, support and protection.” Gladsome with this intelligence our hero caught Violet in his, arms, and hastily passed, with, her through the trap-door by which Tomaz. Sebastien had gained admittance in the first instance. Closing the shutters and leaving the chamber | where he had been of. such service. to its occupants, Tomaz Sebastien followed in their steps just as a body. of armed men ,were.entering the house to search for them. ) Aa * * * * * After traversing a series of tortuous and_sub- terranean passages, Roving, Jack, with. the others, reached the egress abutting on the ‘‘ Black Valley.” This locality seemed as if hewn by God's hand out of solid rock. The path rolled its way through a mighty chasm of cliffs several. hundred feet high,.... _;, The one side presented enormous masses, and the other recesses, as if the great stone girdle had been rent by a convulsion. The plain was overspread with prodigious frag- ments of rocks, Some of them were smooth and bare. Some contained soil and verdure in their fissures. These were crowned with shrubs and trees, The eye commanded a, long stretching vista, seemingly closed, and shut up at both extremities of the valley by coalescing rocks. Roving Jack and Tomaz Sebastien proceeded through the gloomy region with as much speed as the precarious state of Violet would allow them, They had nearly reached its confines when they came upon a semicircular ledge. . Up to it there led a short flight of steps. Over it waved the canopy ofa tall, graceful birch tree. Here they sat, for their exertion had been tco great to be long endured. After a pause our hero addressed the partner of his toil, 7 “Tomaz Sebastien, I am greatly your debtor,” said he. “On the contrary, I consider myself bound to you; for though I have been a bad man, lama conscientious one.” : “You opened my prison.doors.” “Haye you not done the same by me: but for CO EDOOKSrEO nn