Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

a te ee ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 227 Sr a eR eae But, in reality, he was the principal of a gang of smugglers, These ever used the place as a rendezvous, and where they might, with security, stow away their contraband merchandise, Jack Sheppard, in order to avoid the gaze of the curious, who might either recognise or betray him, thought it better to leave the high-road, and take that cut across the marsh, to the house where he could count upon shelter and concealment, He had reached the gipsy’s tenement within a hundred paces, when a distant sound struck upon his ear. As he turned to note the spot from whence it proceeded, he beheld a horseman spurring in his direction, and riding at the top of his speed. Apprehensive of being followed, he passed through a cleft in the outward walls, and entered the premises‘'of his friend, the ferryman, Red Ishmael. From the exterior of this dwelling Ict us glide into the interior, An antiquated chamber, meanly, but comfortably furnished, with a glowing fire roaring up its broad chimney. ' The two occupants of this apartment are seated over a supper-table, The one is Jael, the gipsy girl, the other Edge- worth Bess, E ‘Red Ishmael,” exclaimed the latter, ‘‘ makes his return from London rather late. Why, Jael, you have prepared supper an hour too soon.” “He will not be long before he is here.’ replied Jael, thoughtfully, as though engared in some deep contemplation. After a pause she continued, “ He knows Iam too timid to remain in this house alone, and without protection after night- fall.”’ “What, Jael, you are surely not afraid of ghosts?” ‘No ; but that terrible Dick Turpin !” ~ © Another lover ?” _ © Yes, and a very troublesome one,” interrupted Jael. “ You know how I dislike him, yet he follows me about as if he were my shadow, and starts upon me'at each turning of my path as if I had made some appointment with him.” “T cannot say, Jael, that I admire the man my- self, His character is, too, tosay the least of him, suspicious. The band all consider that he had some hand in the last capture of Jack Sheppard.” “Yess but’ the brave fellow is once more at liberty, and, as you know, will come to see us as soon as he can do so with safety. Red Ishmael has promised to give him concealment till he can com- municate with his friend, Roving Jack, who, you know, now has power with the government, or he never could have got a reprieve for the gentleman highwayman,” “ Ah,” speaking of Tom King, “does Turpin know of your regard for him ?” | “ To be sure he does,” replied Jael, with a smile ; “but he laughs at his rival and swears roundly that though he’s an odd-tempered fellow, that the road doesn’t boast a better man,” “T trust he may never be deceived.” “ T suppose you have heard the prophecy respect- ing my love ?” “Ves, Tom King is to fall by the hand of his best friend, Mark my words, Turpin will be his assassin, if there’s truth in palmistry.” - “Your words bring to my mind a fearful dream I had last night, followed by one more appalling.” Edgeworth Bess then continued, “ Methought I was dead in my coffin, and Jack Sheppard married me in my shroud,” “* How horrible !” said Jael, with an involuntary shudder, I think nothing of it,” was the remark of Edge- worth Bess, ‘ nor do I believe in omens. ~ He who made us, and framed the universe, can punish or avert as his wisdom see fit,” - Further conversation was stopped suddenly by the appearance of Red Ishmael. The gipsy was enveloped in the ample folds of a cloak, embroidered with a * Maltese” cross on the shoulder, while a broad-leaved hat rested on his profuse head of air, His demeanour betokened anxiety as Edgeworth Bess addressed him, “Welcome, Ishmael, supper is waiting for you. Take your easy chair. What's the matter?” con- tinued the speaker, gazing at the troubled man. sf ea this unusual paleness? You surely are not well ?” “ Yes, well—very well,” he replied, seating him- self at the table, endeavouring to change the point of discourse ; “‘ get me a mess of hot pottage. I have fasted long and have need of it.” Edgeworth Bess hastened to obey, and shortly set the required dish before Ishmael, who had muttered to himself in the meanwhile the words, ‘* How shall I reveal it to her !” Though the sentence had been spoken in a low tone, it had fallen on the ear of the attendant woman, and riveted her suspicions. “You do not eat, Ishmael,’ she cried, after a pause, watching narrowly his countenance. “No; if I do it will choke me.” Marvelling more than ever at the strange words uttered by the gipsy,*and reproaching herself for not questioning him sooner, Edgeworth Bess re- paired her error by at once enquiring— “ What has happened ? ” “Tell me first, wench, when did you hear from Jack Sheppard?” “Yesterday, A faithful friend brought news of his escape from the old prison of Moorfields, and that I might expect him sooner or later at this welcome refuge.” “T fear, girl,’ said Ishmael, “such hopes are a vain delusion.” : «A delusion?” answered the {woman, somewhat indignantly. ‘‘Jack Sheppard is as true as his own blade, and would never utter a falsehood— most of all to Edgeworth Bess.” “J fear that which I heard is too true.” “To what is it you allude? Does it affect the man Ilove? Is he dead? Let me know it; I would rather hear the worst.”’ “Tjisten. The streets of London to-day have resounded with one cry.” “Name it.” “That the inanimate body of the notorious Jack Sheppard had been found, frightfully mutilated, in a chamber of the ‘St. John’s Gate Tavern’ at Clerkenwell Green.” The hands of Edgeworth Bess were hardly raised to brush off the tears that were gathering in her eyes when she heard the well-known accents of her lover’s voice. She caught at the sound, and rushed to the window to which Jack Sheppard had climbed. Disengaging himself from the trellis-work that hung about the casement, he entered the room, and springing forward, caught the overjoyed maiden in his open arms, ; The next moment she fixed her eyes as if under the fascination of some venomous reptile. CoOMmmicoooks CO) nS