Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

90 gold;‘ yack and onions,” otherwise, an enormous watch with its appendage of seals. ‘Ten ; the cull won't arrive for hates an hour, in the mean, the sluggards may pal foot and come up with me.’’ So saying, the highwayman dismounted and fastened his horse toa tree. After. this he himself paced backwards and forward beneath the wide-spreading branches of some neighbouring oaks, Fretfully he hummed. in, his measured step the | flash.chaunt, | ** On the high toby spice flash the maser? A ditty much in vogue at that period: with the fraternity of whom Tom Kane was.so illustriousia member. He next bethought Ferd of a new means of whiling away.afew tedious moments. | Flint, steel, and'tinder were in the pouch of the Knight. of the Post, And a short pipe was at hand. “Divine tobacco,” he mused, ‘I'll try thy balmy comfort to allay the restlessness that this adven- ture causes mé)’ Within a few seconds there ) was a stream of vapour exhaling from his lips. And tracking its still and murky course: Gaeueh the surrounding air. Suddenly the stillness of ‘the nights: was broken | by the clatter of horses’ hoofs. ! In an instant Tom King yaulted. into, his saddle, He discovers from the summit of the hill.a body of riders. These riders are making its ascent. Ever,, cautious, ever, wary, the highwayman observes their approach, with distrust: Anon, a, sbrill whistle rings along the imperfectly shaded roadway. The signal is returned. A’ short time elapses, and a voice; in — ordi: mity,’ shouts - out “the somewhat ° PEIPSLEEIONS sentence— ‘Old Oliver whiddles, us ! Tom * King’ recognised ‘his ees) and mies returned their greeting: __ “Nante palaver ; Pu ride by his glim to the chase.” ” “2 Ashe tittered this jareon) he found Fielder and Rose, two roadsters, by his side. They were attired 3 in that garb highwaymeén Wwere wont to affect; "> , And in each case armed, booted, and spurred., “Yow are Tate, my ‘rum. ¢ulls, » “continnéd Tom King, . “I should have guessed you had! padded the-hoof from London instead of namiissingt on the spanking pradsf{ that carry you.” °°" ye “The beaks nearly pinched us in a boozing ken in the Borough, To avoid such an HOP RARE we have taken'‘a longer route.” ‘Oli ¢ompoli,” laughed: Lom King, “singe you’ ve qneexed:: these zum. \coves,; we!, can ‘at, onee;oto business,”’ vo Yes;:/ business afore! plbagunes’' answered a husky WOicelor oxlt ’ ih It was that)of.one ofithe patty, wo, had cons tinuously stépped at every publio, house on bhe ual down, ‘‘ to. moisten his:dlay.” .; |. A We quote the words of the party alluded 60) | “What; J06,is that you? \How plad I am to gee | you! after 80" long’ an absence !'" You: ought to hive rn ee | agorot River means the moon.» To whiddle is to blab. Namussing— travelling.’ ‘} Prads—horses, ROVING JACK, ‘THE ‘PIRATE’ HUNTER. captain will never more. be. pals ; ; since that affair darbies.as was. waiting for him in Newegate.’;:/; gent usja lock of your hair in a (paper parcel to, let | us know you were in the land of the living’? “Stow your patter, Tom,”’ said Blueskin ; “may- | hap I hadn’t the chance, seeing. that the county | | crop was wisiting the may: in which I’d pitched | my tent.’ std see—knucks, in quod, ne haye! you, and Jonathan Wild come together again? . 1 thought, | since your late quarrel, ee had sworn to; do fo} : him ?” . Blueskin gaye an unmistakable gesture, andjcon- ) cluded the remark by stating that—.. .. - «There are sometimes wheels within. wheels.’ | .Tom King gave, a nod. as much as to AF that he,entirely coincided with such an opinion. . ' ©T saw the governor , to- aay, and have made it | all right.” . «And Jack Sheppard?’ bed od gs ‘‘ Oh, he’s as. scarce /as ever; he'll never. Aum | to serve Jonathan Wild: Mark. me, he .and, the | of Violet Tremaine’s, they, ¥ ve sworn to.do 40% each other,” ps “ Where is he?” ‘‘ How should I know 2?” replied Bluéskin, ‘witha a cunning leer, )“ All, I do; know, is that, he's. got off clean. and free, and ‘has, given. leg. pail to the “T’m glad of it; Jack’s a noble /fellow, and I should be. sorry. to. see him spring from, the ladder.” dw em _* He'll never do that without ample vengeance at the hands of Joe Blueskin.”. ~ “Come, Tom, it's time, to stagh, this espllays 3 ete pigeon must be ready for plucking,” said Fielder. f) -* True,” answered the highwayman, ‘ Blueskin, after this little matter’s settled, I. must talk ,over another to,you; forthe present, “mum's the word.” ** Are» you. sure,’’ said Fielder; addressing Tom King, ‘that you can depend upon your information that.this gallant comes on to London to-night?” ., “ Snore? why, didn’t I tell you that I learnt, all from the dimber dell Flash Nance, and that she tipped. old Blowbellows.., the farrier, who, was shoeing his.nag;.a guinea to physic the animal, and delay him a day-longer, in, order-that Lmmightsearop for you and Nat Rose?” =z. 5}. ‘Who are ever ready and, willing a3 olla he ‘mopusses,’ ” ‘Yes, yes,” continued the gentlenian. of; the met “Tm sure cnough, and, by my reckoning, he; will pass this.secluded spot-in two minntes,,sonQ,, sight look to your barkers, and. at once to: ambush.’ 9) Hither elevated by the drink, Of, whieh | he ap- peared. so. freely to’ have partaken, or excited by the golden prospect presented to his view,,Blneskin gaye; somewhat. boisterously, the following stave. (7 oa Pelexe me, there is not a game, my brave tie DMmLY Nae RATA with the game of; highstoby, sbi + av apture can equal the highw: ayman’ 3 JOYS, a blue devils and auch give the'gouby”? i) 1 “Hold your s reeebingy do, owl, or you'll S the prey } see; he’ s ¢oming' up the hill ata va pace, ’tis a beautiful-beast he rides: Out ot sight an if you hope to sharé his. gold and’ shtin ” the ha er, ” eek eves ‘Pom’ “Pielder,?” fefitled ait worthy addressed, who evidently, more, than was labouring under thie! ¢ fiects‘ot ia My I shall demand an. apology on the instant.” Ri Sek be ——"* | tS he expletive had not Seed the: Tips’ oft i mn eer hi Saran pa om at oe ei a ut el!” exc imed* Resant fei he rapidly aapubeat oe techy ts