Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

_ ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. ., a z “You wrong me by such a thonght, Turn from the temptress, error; repulse her when she would entice you in, Shut your ears to her soft, persua- sions and burst the chains she has cast around yous: F “Let time prove if I have ‘rightly; construed, woman,” — “Still unkind; but I can forgive you from my heart. Jack Sheppard shall (never rue the day he trusted Edgeworth Bess.” “Hush ! hush! girl, not so loud. The very walls in this place have ears, and on the slightest hint we shall have Jonathan’s men on our scent.” With the remark, Jack Sheppard looked carefully around to see if they had been observed. Satisfying himself on the point, he continued, ‘Now, Bess,” said he, “ I am. going to prove the sincerity of your words. » ‘© T will hold with you to the last, Jack.” ‘Call me Joshua, the name by which I am known here since our mutual escape from the myrmidons of the thief-taker. Listen, I am going to entrust you with a secret.” ** A secret?” ‘Yes, to day has arrived a new mistress to the inn.” : oe \ “T have not seen her yet.” : “So much the better, she’ might recognise you though she has failed to recognize me,” “ Ah! you know her?” ~~ “Yes, And she-knows me. When we are better acquainted she may prove our friend. ts ** Her name——” “Is Nelly Peveril. of Sir John Warbold.”’ ‘¢ Better known as Roving Jack.” |. ‘‘He has promised to do much for me, aii 7 expect ——” A loud knocking at the outer door interrupted Jack Sheppard, and summoned him to the gateway. Opening the ponderous doors of the fore-court leading to the inn, he encountered the guest who had demanded admittance. It wag the traveller whose adyenture with the highwaymen we have related in the previous chapter. On approaching him, he appeared a young man of well-proportioned figure. He was at once symmetrical, handsome, and vigorous, While his features glowed with health-and manly beauty, it could also be observed they were tinged by exposure to a foreign sun. Proud of his waving ringlets, he allowed nature’s ornament to fall carelessly over his shoulders. Being dressed in riding attire, his general outline was revealed to great advantage. Looking hard at Jack Sheppard, the newly- arrived horseman failed to recognise him in his disguise. A similar state of things happened, to his, oppo- nent, both being unaware,that they were known to each other, ‘‘T giye you a,good eyening, friend,” said the nider ;..\ lam, a belated traveller, and seeing your inn on the way, have “called to obtain accommoda- tion and refreshment until morning,” ‘‘You,, couldn’t -haye acted. more. wisely, my master,’ replied Jack Sheppard ; ‘‘the Bell Tavern is the best one between this and Dover, and our larder will supply you toa nicety,” ‘Pm glad to hear it; let. it, at once bestow a meal on me, and I will pay for the hest it abtorday ‘Sharp get, eh ?”? From her I may gain tidings: “Yes, my journey and its results have made me as hungry as a wolf.” Without saying another word, Jack Sheppard, in his capacity of ostler, led the horse into the stable, Its owner followed quickly on his heels. No groom could have bestowed more attention on the animal committed to his charge than did the cracksman. This gave satisfaction to the traveller, who dropped a crown into his palm, He then advanced, and caressed his horse, apos- trophizing, ‘‘Thanks to thy unwrung withers, Iam safe at last—thy vigour seemed inexhaustible—thy muscle, bone, and sinew as bending iron in the fearful race,”’ The horse pricked its ears, and uttered a low neigh, as much as to indicate-that he had only done his duty in the ordeal through © which: they had passed. ‘ Noble fellow,” said the travelian contemplating still the steed ; “this is not.the first time ae brought your master off-in the f he will not be ungrateful. Th E cared for, and thy pure blood ne’ ‘er be dis a hack on the road.” ~ Behe Toil Turning to Jack Sheppard, the caer sOrl ‘Corn and water ; I must. ‘see my nag well be- stowed before I refresh myself.” —~ *‘They are faith | creatures, -good sir; and if your mistress is as true to youas your horse, you may defy all the Philistines that po wove a hempen cra at.’ Jack Sheppard having attended to ‘the directions given to him by the traveller, that party left him again by himself. “That gallant,” said he, “ must have had a hard ride, if I may judge from his fiery, hot, and jaded beast. I wonder if he has met with ny of the gang on hig journey ; ; 1f so, he has.g : them the double, and blown their cattle.” LF In a few.minutes the travellen'| va He me | haste and nervously excited, This emotion Ceased when he learnt that his suspicions were gropumless as the lines folie show, ’Fy ec Frient? said he, “help me to ‘search the stable.” “ You e lost something ?” “T trust not, for I can never ‘Feplaae the papers thas ij “ Since itis of such yalue,” said Jack Sheppard, “we will look into every nook and corner, if you suspect it to be left here.” With a horn lantern he commenced a strict ex- amination of the stable, but was stopped in his labour by the traveller, who had proceeded to dis- lodge some straw that lay near one of the mangers. “ Thank heaven, I have found it,” said he, raising ‘d saddle-bag, which he had taken from its place of concealment; ‘this contains a treasure I would not part with for the wealth of India—the ay en title of her I love,” “Tt seems heavy, “Yes; the rogues a hl waylaid me in my journey hither missed a good booty 5a thousand marks in gold is not. an every-day prize, .. 3 “But,” continued he, “pointing, to the tists that garnished hig belt, “ they should have bought them dearly, as. the contents of these, oaks shoulda have convinced then,?’ “Shall, I carry,it in for you, sir 2. »» asked ‘Jack Sheppard,as he ogled. the paddlerbag, with +f pee leer, S219 198 “No, my good fellow, this receptacle, and Iwill