Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

192 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. en MENEMMIINA SEAE,, CHAPTER LXXXYVIII. THE OLD BELL INN AT BERMONDSEY—JACK SHEP- PARD OFFICIATES AS OSTLER, AND IN WHAT WAY HE ACTED WHILE ENGAGED IN THAT -CAPACITY—OLD FRIENDS MEET—THE RECOGNI- TION — A PLAN’ TO ROB AND MURDER A WEALTHY GUEST. . THE “Bell” Inn was one of the old-fashioned hostelries, and, affording entertainment for tra- vellers, was well supplied with every comfort and accommodation to those who staid to refresh or lodge beneath its roof, It stood at the extremity of that locality, re- nowned for its produce of leather, called Ber- mondsey. And was approached eastward by an ancient stone bridge over a small stream bearing the name of the “ Mill Pond.” ‘Being situate on the lower road into Kent, from which county it was distant some mile and a half, it was much frequented by carriers and others, who found a suitable convenience for their cattle in its extensive stabling. In the inn yard was now stationed an individual with whom our readers have been before acquainted. This individual, though in strict disguise, still maintained his habitual mien. There was his intelligent face, fine hazel eye, and clear olive complexion. His effrontery, his mental energy and resolution, were unchanged, While his forehead, lofty and broad, exhibited the same sleek, shining black hair as usual, which, being closely cropped to admit of his occasionally wearing a wig, gave ever a singular appearance and bullet shape to his head. Jack Sheppard—it is his portrait we have drawn —was now engaged as ostler, under the name of Joshua, at the inn we haye commented upon, He had. assumed. this character with success, in order to defy the detection of Jonathan Wild, with whom the daring cracksman had lately quarrelled. As he busied himself in bis new capacity, he sang, anything but inharmoniously, the following racy and plastic ballad :— ‘* When tame fools are sleeping, From clouds the moon's creeping, We knights of the road mount our horses and fly O'er common and heath, Well armed to the teeth, We bid all to stand, with ‘ Deliver or die!’ ‘* To our doxies back creeping While for cash fools are weeping, We freely delight and the yellow boys fly, We forget, in each glass, And the smile of each lass, That we one day must swing for— Deliver or die!’”’ “Marry, come up! a pretty melody, and well tuned,” said a soft voice, whispering in Jack’s ear, after he had ended, somewhat abruptly, his song. He turned, and discovered’ Edgeworth Bess standing by his side. Her face, like a mixture of lilies and roses, beamed with delight on her paramour. Her charms at this moment were capable of triumphing over the heart of a prince, It is not to be wondered at, then, that beauty, wit, and admirable grace found favour in the eyes of the renowned Jack, INFOW READY, THE BOY SAILOR; LIFE ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR, This will be found one of the most exciting and powerful tales of the day. The scen is laid i : X SU 3 : e of the story is laid in Cornwall, and it abounds with the wild legends and strange adventures of snerdaring wreckers and aneelees that haunt the bays and inlets of that rocky coast. FOUR ENGRAVINGS, HANDSOME COLOURED BORDER, GIVEN AWAY WITH NUMBERS 1 and 2. 12 AU6OZ ORDER EARLY. ONE PENNY WEEKLY. cComicbooksicom