Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

198 — ‘ ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. “The ‘first thing that must be looked fo is the horse,”’ he continued. _ “You must dispose of him,” returned .Jack. aL must remain at the inn,” “True ; my read lies for Barnet,” said King, “and I can readily sell him at the fair.” **But the plunder ?” ~“*We must share at once, and then Ill be off with the animal before any one is stirring from the inn,” ~The spoil was divided, and Tom King mounted. for his journey, | Barroditvanetean _ A figure crossed him as he was coming ont of the-stable, and disappeared none could tell whither., “Were I superstitious I could have sworn,’’.. said he, “that Jonathan Wild had stood in my, path ; but that is impossible since I know at this moment he is a hundred miles off. Pshaw ! had it been,so, what need have I to fear him on the ‘mibbing cheat,’ «The Tyburn, Tree Has no terrrors for me.’ Let better men swing... I’m at liberty.” Dashing along at a swift pace the highwayman bid his friend adieu, and shaped his course north- ward, Soul Jack Sheppard returned, to the stable in order to remoye.every evidence of their crime. ,Hehad buried in a deep hole the. straw stained with the blood of the murdered traveller, He then. cieansed the stable of the, same with a plenteous supply of water. _ dle next thought, of what he could do with. the saddle-bag, which still remained in his posssession. To burn it would excite suspicion... To hide the same in the manger would. be dan- gerous and more than probable lead.to: detection. The old well in the ruined house |! It was neyer used: by the ghost-fearing. neigh- bourhood, and was forty fathoms-deep ! That would, offeran assured and safe.place of | concealment, 9 ) ; While hurrying. to deposit the. saddle-bag in the unfrequented,, well, curiosity. unaccountably. _pre- vailed upon Jack Sheppard to open it again. In. doing ,s0. there .was..a; compartment in. the traveller’s pouch that had escaped. notice on its first hurried observation by the excited highway- men, , | This.,:\receptacle, contained writing), on. parch- ment, . Jack, Sheppard drew, forth the, scroll. He was about to replace it when curiosity prompted, him) \to. read. the characters, inscribed upon it. The name.of, Violet, Tremaine and)her,.seoret were at, once xevealed..to.him,; while, the. crest: of. the family of Warbold fully authenticated.its contents, Jack Sheppard ,started at, the intelligence ag) if he had seen an apparition. rf 1c He was completely overpowered; { pid’ His chest, heayed violently, ny His lipsywere apart, but no breath seemed to issue from, them, 9 At length he aroused from his lethargy. {1 | ‘Heaven could) never, have permitted such a calamity!” he cried; ‘I. would have, ‘risked. a thousand lives rather than. have: sacrificed his—my most) generous, enemy, ,my,. best, friend! That trayeller’s gaxb could never. haye concealed the Pirate-hunter, from my, eyes! A. feeling, of the deepest gratitude would; have warded. the blow aimed) atyhis»breast,,J’lli not believe it }| Roving Jack, could, never, die at, the hands.- of Jack Sheppard !” * nowhere to be seen. ; | y In, the satis starlight a masked figure “was seen passing to the ruined mansion in which the highwayman. had; secreted,, the..body ..of..,, their victim. 4) ..) t about 2! | purdainsode It was a uight well fitted for a mysterious enter- rise. ris | Calm, dark, and profoundly still. tp The strange visitor, passed ,beneath the, thick trees that.shaded the road, 9: / syingohy hoe os And the gloom in; this spot.was almost impene- -He. then kept. on the, grass, so, that no; noise should be made by the sound of his measured, foot- step... erties me 700] As he neared the house he halted. Ne one was, watching, and he,entered.) .., ‘No #ooner had be done so than he placed. the spade he carried in.his hand. against the, passage wall, and commenced. lighting a dark-lantern... A gust,of wind nearly extinguished, it, and the noise of the creaking casements added to his fears, or rather, apprehensions. _ .. Listening at the door to hear that all was, still he. closed it and proceeded to the cellar, ;. | Shouldering his spade this strange personage, descended to. commence his task, am ond 2. Surprised..at the emptiness of the cellar,his alarm was instantly excited. ..... + boleauta He searched every part, but what.he sought was For a,few.minutes she. stood. transfixed, with wonder. vote eva oT binwa At length it found vent in a sudden exclamation. ..He rushed, to.the door for the. intention’ of ‘snm- moning aid, it Bold _ But reflection forced itself upon him, and checked the action, - how hod None must know the strange adventure,» ' None must repeat the story of death. 4 » What is.that which now, attracts the eye of the bewildered man -fi i cc cered pet - ef alice sv A faintness, seized, him. as he pickedup a hastily seribbled. note... 27700" A note written with human blood! Some pointed instrument furnishing a pen. A cypher, forming the superscription, told that the letter was;addressed to, himself; isd . With . difficulty he ..made.; out...the following words) :—; r x03 “You are spared the pangs of remorse. I was wounded, but not, mortally.. I have, escaped the death your confederate’s knife intended for me. Iam alone to blame, I should have revealed myself soonér ; now a worse fate, I fear menances b] me. Iam again in the power of Jonathan Will, and” Here the writer broke’ off, evidently haying been surprised during the writing of the communication. “T will save, ordie'with him!) Foo) 9! As the speaker uttered these words,’ the mask thathé wore fell from his’ faee, andj revealed the _ features and convulsive efforts of Jack ‘Sheppard, hotan) ' ' >, | ee i CHAPTER Kev"! © SHOWS HOW THE HORSE OF ROVING JACK WAS DISPOSED OF BY THE ASSASSIN AT BARNET FAIR. | _A PLACE, some eleven miles north-west. of Landon, called Barnet, is the scene of great festivity, at, the present time. : The reason will soon be apparent when the reader _ shall have glanced over the few following lines, ° The old. town receiyed in the days of, the second Henry, the adjunct of Chipping, which signified | that it was privileged to hold within its limits a Eomichbooks.co eee ee