Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

—- — ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 197 So sudden was the theft that the robbed man, for the moment, could scarcely believe the evidence of his eyes. However, recovering immediately from his astonishment, he put his hands to his belt for his pistols. pues had been secretly abstracted by the cunning ostler. As in most cases where danger or terror assail a man and deprive him of such presence of mind as a desperate case requires, did heedlessness attack the incautious traveller. Had he called for assistance, he might have saved his life. Depending on his own prowess, he appeared to forfeit it, Finding himself without weapons, he climbed to the window from which King was escaping, and was about to seize him as he was passing through it, when another impediment crossed his path, This obstruction came in the shape of Jack Sheppard. Undaunted, the brave man grappled his new an- tagonist. His skill, strength, or dexterity gained him an advantage. At the moment of his triumph, a stream of blood flowed through the stable, and the crimson tide saturated the straw on every side. Tom King had stabbed him from behind, and he fell gore-stained and inert, with a dull thnd. “Heavens! Tom,” cried Jack Sheppard, “I’m afraid you have slain him,” or hope not ; the blow I gave was to disable, not to kill. Let the world say what they will of Tom King, they shall never brand him as a murderer.” ‘I know, Tom, that your soul revolts at blood- shed, and that if the stranger dies by your hand, he falls by mischance, not malice,” 4 Believe me, Jack,” replied Tom King, “although my life has been a reckless one, I never till now have spilt blood, save in honourable defence.” “Nor I, Tom ; I’ve ever pledged myself to such a course, and Jack Sheppard and Tom King are not the men to violate an oath.” ‘“We may be thieves, but we are men of. our word.” : “Well,” continued Tom King, after a pause, “what is done can’t be undone, and we must endea- vour to make reparation for this deed by future atonement,” The robbers now knelt by the side of the tra- yveller, in order to ascertain vhether his wound was really fatal, Tom King only saw one object. A rigid figure stretched upon the earth. There the victim lay placidly, with the smile of death stamped upon his face. Tom King turned away, but he must look again. The sight fascinated him. The dark hair, unloosed and wandering over the shoulders of the assassinated man, contrasted strongly with the marble whiteness of his skin. Yes, there he lay—cold and motionless. Cut off in the morning of _life. In his bloom—in his manhood, Tom King%again knelt down by the corpse, and clasped its icy hand, His-heart told him that the stain of Cain was on his brow. That his crime had destroyed a fellow creature, and brought him to an untimely end. There was madness in the thought. - His remorseful ejaculations made his cuilty com- panion shake with terror, But his grief was too violent to last long. Suddenly he became calmer and composed. He rose from his kneeling posture, and assumed one of almost indifference. He paused for a moment, Then spoke with a solemnity profound and im- pressive. “ Jack, mark well my words ; I have a presenti- ment that the crime which lies now heavy on our souls will prove neither the basest nor the blackest —that we shall not be the miserable wretched out- casts, condemed of heaven and mankind—but that even good may come of the offence that na3 brought this unfortunate man to an untimely grave. Thus exhorted, Jack Sheppard and his accomplice raised the lifeless form of the murdered traveller. Time was speeding on, and they had not the op- portunity of burying the body. ‘What is to be done?” Jack Sheppard had made his preparations. At the rear of the stable was an old house and ruined mansion. A most miserable neglected place it was, and nearly overgrown with long rank grass and wild weeds, Desolation seemed complete. The glass was removed from all the window panes, Some of the walls had been pulled down, and the bricks and plaster were scattered about. on every side, All the lower entrances were closely barred with rusty iron, And appeared not to have been disturbed for years. To render further seclusion and mystery to the dilapidated building, it had the reputation of being haunted and the residence of a_ supernatural tenant. Affording such security and concealment, to this spot the highwaymen conveyed their inanimate burden, which was deposited till evening in one of the cellars of the crumbling structure. Carefully ascertaining that they had not been observed, they returned to the stable of the ‘‘ Bell” inn. Treading with noiseless step they soon reached it. Despite their caution a new obstacle presented itself, As they came to the door of the stable a dog on the other side of the wall began to bark violently. Jack Sheppard was equal tothe emergency, know ing the character of the watchful and ferocious hound. “Tl manage him,” he said, “till I can get you off clear.” A familiar utterance of his name silenced the animal for the moment, but he again began to give signs of a further outcry. In the meantine the robber had possessed himself of some prepared meat. This he tossed to the violater of peace, who uttered a low growl and was heard no more, —_ ‘Where is the saddle-bag?” said Tom King, when they were once more quiet aud had re-entered the stable, bike nds “Here,” said’ Jack Shepherd, taking it from the blood-soaked straw, ‘I have it ; 'tis bought with a man’s life. How it seems to burn my hands.” “This is not the time for sentiment, though I can imagine your feelings, Jack, by my own. Repent- ance never comes too late, and we shall make ample amends before the noose is tied.” Tom King smiled as’ he made this remark, but his smile was more harrowing even’ than his former rigid mien, COME KS n(Col