Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

ners 14 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE WUNTER. ener re A’ burly man stepped forward, as he did so un- sheathing his whinger. For an instant even our brave young hero quailed beneath the stern, searching glance of those wolfish grey eyes. . The man was'short in stature, thick set, but not ill-proportioned; his face expressive of extreme cunning and determination, his complexion fair and ruddy, his mouth wide and firm, his hair foxy red, his square, hard brow scarred by a despe- rate gash covered with a strip of black plaister ; he was neatly dressed in a suit of sober brown, with brass buttons, a small cocked hat was perched on one side of his head, and a “ blue Benjamin ”’ loosely wrapped about his bull throat; he was powerfully armed with a brace of heavy pistolsand a whinger ; a constable’s crown-headed staff protruded from one of his wide, flapped side pockets. ‘‘ Who is this kinchin ?” he asked, sternly. “Vor Hemmel! How sall I tell zat, Meister Vild, vhen 1 never zee de jonker before !” returned the Dutchman. “Who are ye, sirrah?” cried the other, in a tone meant to intimidate our hero. But for once he was mistaken in his customer ; the noble boy was one whom a gentle voice could easily command, but whom threats served only to * exasperate. “Sirrah yourself! Who are you?” retorted Roving Jack, in his boldest accents, ““T am one, sit, who will not brook insolence,” re- turned Jonathan Wild, in an undertone of great ferocity. ‘In that respect I think we resemble each other,” returned the youth, with provoking coolness, ‘ Nei- ther do I!” ‘‘T am unused to such language,” gasped the thief-taker, “That is because your associates are sneaks and cowards that can be frightened by big looks and bluster.” “Haw, haw!” laughed the Dutchman. “ Mein Got ! dat ist vehr goot vor zich a yong knave !” “ Pish ! mere bravado,” rejoined Jonathan ; ‘fhe thinks his case is hopeless) We mean to kill you, my ben kinchen. Ha!” ~““T hope not; hark ye, I know you're all pirates——” “Teufel !” growled the Dutchman, half drawing a pistol. “Aye; and [ll tell ye what brought me here,” continued the boy, in the same quiet, even tones. “You have been performing a pretty farce of devil scare all, to frighten the seamen and fishers from the Foamy Reef. Seeing your blue blaze on the crag I thought it worth the venture to row over and learn what you were made of. Now, as I’ve satis- fied my curiosity, and set some value on my life, if you lend me a boat (my own struck on the reef and went to pieces), I’ll go ashore ; Ill pledge my word not to betray you.” “Smother me! Was ever heard better, governor, the cull dictates terms like a conqueror ?”’ laughed a tal!, stalwart ruffian, with a face as dark asa malay's, } ‘Silence, Blueskin,”’ rejoined Wild, sternly. ‘‘Now, my ben kinchen, I like grit, you seem a bold fellow. I mean to question you further, and if Iam satisfied with your replies you shall have a free pardon ; but if you attempt to brave or bam- boozle me, you shall die for it, if there’s not another rogue left unbung in Hngland !” , ‘‘ Ye hear what the gov nor says, my little dimber damber 7?” growled Blueskin, ‘'* There's no queering that,” “Noy I never forfeit my word,” said the thicf- taker ; ‘‘and now, my lad, you must deliver up that toasting-iron.” “Certainly,” said our hero, handing his sword; “it can’t aid me much against such odds.” “Good. Are you alone?” “Aye,” returned Jack, adding to himself, ‘and in precious bad company.” “Enough ; Mynheer Wolfgang, admit us to your sanctum.” ~ iu “Ja, ja; dis vay, Meister Vild.” The trap-hatch was now lifted, and Jack was roughly thrust down the ladder into the vault below. He found himself surrounded on all sides by scowling faces, and quite at the mercy of the vil- lanous ganz. i One of the pirates advancing from the throng glared savagely into the boy’s face. “ Blood and thunder |” he cried, furiously, ‘‘’Tis Roving Jack !” “Donner! Do ye know dis yong gallowsh-bird, Barabbas ?” “Know him? aye, well enough, captain. Buta week since I met him on the jetty; I was near slicing out his viperous tongue. His name is Jack Warbold—they call him Roving Jack. His mother is a whining widow, a cunning, low-born woman, who depends for her subsistence on the charity of his late father’s relatives; a t- Jack interrupted the speech by springing at the ruffian’s throat like a young panther. “Ha, you dog!” growled Wild, hurling the boy off. and then seizing his quivering arm in an iron grasp. “ You see,” panted Barabbas, with an atrocious oath, “you see what a young hell- houndit is !” ‘Silence |”? cried Jonathan Wild. ‘Go on with your story.” “ Aye, aye, sir; there's little more to say than this: the whelp told me to the teeth that 1 was a pirate, swore he would denounce me to the beaks, and declared that when he became a man he would devote himself to hunting down gentlemen of, our gallant trade—that he would be a pirate-hunter |” ** Speak, Roving Jack, is this true ?”* “Partly,” replied our hero, with perfect calm- ness. ‘** This blackguard is a thief and a murderer. He tempted me with fine promises to: join his bloody gang, and because 1 refused to do so he attacked me with knife and pistol; so, with the help of my chum, Hal, I pitched him into the sea ; but he who’s born to be hanged can never be drowned.” ‘* And so you’re a pirate-hunter, eh 2?” “Tf you'll set me ashore safe and sound, I'll promise not to betray you; I always keep my word.” ‘*And so do I, Roving Jack,’ returned Jonatban. fa I like your mettle. Do you know who am bP) “ Mr. Wild, I believe, sir,” ‘‘Right—Jonathan Wild, the king’s chief peace- officer, and, moreover, what you aspire to be, a thief-taker,” “And a thief-maker, or rumour foully belies ye,” muttered our hero, “I make you a fair offer, my kinchen; I will take you into my service, will teach you a lucrative profession, make you a high pad bridle cull* ora tip top cracksmant, extending to you my powerful aid and protection. Refuse this offer, Roving Jack, and you die! if there’s not another rogue left uphung in England |”. * Highwayman. 4 Houscbreaker. CONNIE MOOKS ~CO