Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

.————— ee ee a 196 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE. HUNTER. in This, Tom King quickly observed. He fancied that compunction, or a dread of the anticipated assassination, had unnerved his. accom- plice, so flew to that resource which ever stimulates crime, “Come,” said he, “let us go into the house and talk this matter over a beaker of brandy; it will give fire to our blood, courage to our hearts ; depend upon it the potent liquid has often carried the boast into execution.” ‘Yes, and it has many crimes to answer for, the present among others; but, there, the compact 1s made and I mean to fulfil it, Jack Sheppard’s a man of his word.” “Let fom King hear the one to gainsay it, | I'll now go into the house.”’ ‘Do so, and I'll follow you.” Left alone, Jack Sheppard paced to and fro for some time, as if lost in deep and painful reflection ; at length he aroused and thus communed with himself— ‘Now, if I would be honest, the devil won’t let me ; first he throws in the way temptation in the shape of a lump‘of gold (what a weight it is !) then he sends his instrument, in the person of my old pal, Tom King, and yet have Inotswornto— Psha, it’s the old story— *¢¢ The devil was sick; The devil 2 monk would be, The devil got well, The devil a monk was he.’’’ A slight rustling of straw now was heard at the. extremity of the stable. ‘‘ Treachery or an eaves-dropper. Let their life pay the forfeit of their folly,’’ said the robber, dashing to the spot from whence the sound pro- ceeded. To his astonishment, Jack Sheppard encountered Edgeworth Begs ! CHAPTER LXXXIX, THE DEATH-STRUGGLE IN THE STABLE—WHAT DISCOVERY JACK SHEPPARD MADE AFTER THE DARK DEED—AND HOW HE PROFITED BY THE SAME, MORNING arrives after ‘a long, dread night is passed. The rising sun shines brightly on the wooded landscape that stretches from the vale of Bermond- sey to the smiling hills of Kent aad Surrey. And disperses the white mists hanging over the marshy grounds that lie adjacent to the locality. All nature is speedily aroused by the beneficent sun-light, Why does it settle on one spot more than all others ? Would it peer into a chamber of death ? Would it know what is passing there? Would its’ slanting beams, shooting through a narrow crevice of a stable, reveal the marble coun- tenances of two men engaged in an act of murder? Will it frown upon their crime, or regardit with a lenient eye? Let time show, At day-break, Jack Sheppard and his associate, Tom’ King, found themselves listening at the stable door. . They awaited their victim in solemn silente } and neither uttered a word, or ventured the slightest remark, There was something so terrible in the moment, by anticipated assassination, that the stern hearts of the robbers seemed as it were to chill with horror, The faces of both: were blanched; to the white- ness of death, The moments pass tediously. Still not a breath is drawn. Suspense gives way to feverish anxiety. At length a footstep gave warning that the dark deed rnust soon be accomplished, “Hush, I hear him,” said Jack Sheppard. “He ig coming ! to your post—away,” Quick as the thoughts were uttered, Tom King obeyed the order. And sprang to a hiding-place at the extremity of the stable, ; He had hardly secreted himself in his refuge, when the intended victim of robbery and murder was seen coming across the long wooden gallery that surrounded the inn-yard. He slowly descended the stairs leading from the same, He bore with him his saddle-bag, and advanced to the spot where Jack Sheppard was waiting. for him, Refreshed by a placid slumber, he looked more than ever the picture of health, vigour, and man- liness, His open countenance, and beaming eye of fire, might have curbed a less stout heart than that of the pretended ostler. | ‘“Good morrow, friend,” said he, addressing that person. ‘“‘ How the dawn giladdens all that gleams around it. I envy not the sluggard who prefers his bed to the sight such a morning as this gives.” “ Aye, sir, you speak truly,” said his treacherous companion. ‘ Could the sun pierce through the shutters he might now, perchance, behold the gambler dreaming that his luck had deserted him,” ‘“The drunkard fevered by excess of wine.” “The courtezan terrified by fancies that her beauty has faded and her fascinations fled.” “But we are moralizing, while time most precious to me is flying.” ‘“Where’s the horse?” continued the traveller. ‘‘T thought you told me last night that he should be saddled and ready. Bring him out, my good fellow ; I have not a moment to lose.” “You must please to bring him out yourself, worthy sir,” replied Jack Sheppard, with rather a sulky air. ‘‘ The devil’s in the horse, I think ; he let me saddle him, but not an inch would he stir when I wanted to bring him from the stable, and I had no fancy to have my brains kicked ont, for he reared up with such violence that I was glad to escape his fury.” ‘Ha, ha, ha! that doesn’t say much for your honesty, friend,” replied the traveller, laughing. ‘“‘ My steed has an uncommon aversion to rogues. I’m afraid you stintcd him of his corn last night,” The traveller now entered the stable, He was followed thither by Jack Sheppard. Unsuspectingly, he patted his horse, as the noble steed seemed to greet his welcome with sorrow, And, had he been spared time, he might haye read in the eloquence of his sagacious eye a warn- ing more certain than that which mortal tongue could have uttered. Phe! He was indeed a noble beast. very point was perfect, and his skin sleek and smooth as velvet, om While the winged Pegasus could hardly have ex- celled him for speed or strength: No sooner had the master advanced to this faith- ful creature than Tom King snatched the saddle- bag that hung upon bis arm, : | reomichbooksscom