Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

— 200 aE ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. EEE Le ne EL ae EL homeward journey from Kent has been waylaid and assassinated.” “What are the authorities about?” interrupted Tom King, with affected warmth. “ Why do they allow the roads to be infested by bands of despera- does who plunder whosoever they meet ?” * No man’s life is safe.” ‘Government must look to it.” “ Look at that fellow, Tom King.” of “Aye; with a composure that puts a hermit ,to blush, 'tis said, he smashes screens, pockets dim- mocks, and charms away fawnies in prime twig.” “ You be talking of Tom King!” chimed in the farmer. ‘‘ Ecod! that be the very chap as robbed me on the great north road, He met I, as may be now, at tavern—‘Three Cranes,’ Kegworth Old Town. | “While I were taking a sup, I towd him where I always kept my money, in a riding-box, under the seat of my chaise. Moind ye, I thowght he were some gentle folk, or the loikes, he had such taking ways. ; ; ‘Well, we parted arter all sorts of cautions on his part, seeing as I had taken a little more liquor than usual, and he feared I might fall in wi’ bad company. | “Which, faicks, I did. “For, on the road hoam, whoshould I meet buta smartish spark, not unlike un as I’d seen at the ‘Three Cranes.’ I could a sworn it ’ud been the same only, drat it! he wore a masking. *“¢ Your?money,’ says he. “‘ ¢T ain’t none in my pocket,’ says L *« ‘T knowsit,’ says he; ‘but you’ve got some——’ “© Where ?’ “*¢Tn the riding-box, on yur right hand side.’ “‘ With that this same spark unseats me, and helps hisself to a bag of coppers that I had ta’en in change of the county bank. ** Lucky I’d seen double, and put by accident all my gold into box on the left.” “ And this was your adventure with Tom King?” “ Yes, so I larnt was the name of the rascal arter the affair.” ‘© Now you call it to my remembrance, I recollect that——”’ “You recollect—why, you dinna mean to say that—— ”’ “‘Come, come, no aspersions, if you please ; this gentleman is a highly respectable member of society, and I can vouch for his character.” We must now call attention to the individual who made this remark, His appearance was anything but a guarantee for his assertion, for Blueskin had, snake-like, cast his skin, and encased himself in a new toggery and disguise to, carry out a certain scheme best known at present to himself, Some traces remained, but ‘not a vestige of the original tobyman, Blueskin’s own mother wouldn’t have known her offspring. . The alteration was not to be attributed entirely to a change of costume. But more probably to a contest—we may "say fight—which had taken place between himself and three police officers, And in which he had come off victorious, though he bore such evidences of a slashing “ fracas,” Cheek, nose, and lip were woefully swollen, each trespassing on the other's precincts, His right lamp (that is, his eye) was furnished with a suit of mourning, while his left luxuriated in a black patch, Blueskin’s grinders, or teeth, seemed to have 2 AUG shared in the honours of that combat, if we may judge by certain apertures in the pearly row, one of which is taken possession of by a short pipe. But dismissing further description, we proceed to matters more urgent. In defending his companion, Blueskin had other objects in view. His peeper, though shaded, had spotted the farmer’s gold. It was the purchase money for the horze he had bought of Tom King. It was still in the canvas bag, which rested for security under the countryman’s elbow. Watching his opportunity, the robber made a sign to his confederate to attract the farmer’s notice, while he could lay hands upon his coin. A significant glance from Tom King intimated that the venture must not be made. Whether Blueskin misunderstood the token, or that temptation had overcome obedience, he paid little attention to it. For as a party of morris dancers stationed them- selves beneath the window, and caused the farmer for the moment to get up to observe them, Blueskin snatched up his money, and was out of sight in an instant. As may be supposed the whole assemblage literally stood aghast at the ‘sudden, unexpected, and impudent theft. For a few seconds not a soul could utter a word. All were breathless, stupefied, and amazed. The farmer at length aroused from his evident emotion. Seizing the arm of Tom King, he held it fast just as that individnal was about to move off. “Not so fast, my young blood,” said the enraged dupe. “You stir not out o’ this house till thee can’st give some proper account of theeself and—” “ Hang it man,” replied Tom King, with consum- mate effrontery, that threw his assailant and the surrounding crowd at once off their guard, ‘‘ what do you mean?” ‘““T mean that you have made yourself the tool of the scoundrel who has robbed me, and that you are a partner in his tricks and dishonest practices.” ‘Really, my good fellow, your conduct astonighes me as much as that of the fellow who so uncere- moniously has decamped with the cash. Did I not take into consideration that the extraordinary pro- ceeding of which we have all been witnesses, has for the moment affected your usual perspicuity, I should certainly deem you as one labouring under insanity.” The composure of Tom King while making these remarks, now more than ever found him favour in the eyes of the spectator of the curious scene. ‘““Moighty fine—moighty fine,” continued the farmer ; “but thee can’st not get over me by such palavering—he cawed thee friend—and birds of a feather flock together.” . NOW READY, THE BOY SAILOR; OR, LIFE ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR. A most interesting and powerfully-written Tale, to be completed in about 30 Numbers. No. 2 with No. 1, and a LARGE EN- GRAVING, GRATIS. opal ovorol KS, com