Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 208: what you’re looking at

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

ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 228 Nene ee —————— She could not move her glance from him who stood before her, though she trembled as she gazed, and lastly muttered forth— ‘Who speaks ?” ‘‘T, your true love, Jack Sheppard,” “ A phantom !” ‘‘No, but a wretch that would shake off mortality rather than endure the persecutions I haye this day suffered,” “Are you alive?” said Edgeworth Bess, still labouring under the effect of the delirium into which she had fallen. ‘Yes, this hand—touch it, girl—was ever yours,” said the highwayman, hanging affection- ately over her; ‘‘the heart it leads to still pulsates for thee. Touch it, I say, or thrill it into death,” In a few moments Edgeworth Bess recovered, and Jack Sheppard gave a hasty account of his escape from prison and assassination. Her fond greeting, her many questionings, and ultimate surprise may be better: imagined than described. ‘‘T am sorry to spoil a love meeting,” said Ishmael, who had witnessed the scene with a spirit of good-humour, “but I think it is necessary that I should have a word to say in this matter.” ‘* He is.a friend.” “ And welcome here. long.” ‘‘Why so?” “You may depend upon it that when Fielder is missed, your artifice will be discovered.” *‘ Granted.” ‘“The whereabouts of Edgeworth Bess are known to the band, and this, in all probability, will be the first place that will be searched.” “You are right, Ishmael,” said Jack Sheppard. “T will put out to sea at once, for I have formed a project that I hope may end my days in happiness.” ‘“Itis impossible. My lugger can never make headway ; for the hard frost of the last few days has covered the Thames with ice, and I myself passed over-it to reach the opposite bank,” “ What is to be done, then ?”’ ‘‘ Nothing—till a thaw allows us to proceed on an outward voyage.” Till that time ?” ‘‘T must give you shelter.” While Ishmael was speaking a loud knocking was heard at the outer door, and a clamour of many voices, The intruders one and all appeared restless, im- patient, and determined. For they had no sooner summoned admittance into the house than they enforced it by bursting open the door, Before Jack Sheppard could descend from the window footsteps were heard on the stairs, Ishmael spoke not, but pointed to a very broad cedar chest that stood in the corner of the room. The hint was sufficient ; the highwayman was its occupant in less than a second, whilst Edgeworth Bess hastily concealed herself behind some hanging curtains that garnished the apartment. So rapid had been these incidents that a minute had not elapsed since their commencement and the entrance of the man and his followers who had so unceremoniously broken into the house. The leader of the party wore black crape over his face, as if for the purpose of disguise, and carried a burning torch in his hand, which, on conung into the room, he stuck in the floor near the re, _ Casting a glance round the room, he exclaimed, in a voice of thunder— But I fear he cannot tarry lm ‘‘Where’s Jack Sheppard? We knows he’s here, so deliver him up, if you’d save your neck froma halter.” “ Jack Sheppard ? or——”’ “You lie, dog ; he has been traced to this hovel, and woe to all who give him shelter.” “You call me dog ; that is not a name thai. Red Ishmael can answer to.” - ‘Oh, I see, you have turned genteel ; that cursed word has been a rock a-head, When I first knew you, you were a plain, toiling artisan ; your wife a brisk sempstress ; you were no sooner wed than she dinned that word ‘genteel’ in your ears ; you robbed your master ; you flirted on till you robbed again, and still you flirt on as near the gallows as may be.”’ ‘“You seem to know me well,” replied Red Ishmael ; ‘but no better than I know you; yon are—”’ ‘Jonathan Wild,” replied the other, revealing his features by moving the crape that covered them. The gipsy started on seeing the thief-taker. “Well,” he continued, ‘what ails you? One would think you had encountered a wolf instead of a friend.” ‘A friend |” Red Ishmael gave a sarcastic grin as he uttered the word, “Yes; haven’t we known each other for years? Haven’t we tippled together till our tongues have wagged like bell-clappers, and our hearts become as warm as spiced ale? Did not we agree to rob your master's house, and didn’t I blow the gaff upon you ?” “ Villain |”? “Call me what you will, Red Ishmael; fortune has placed you in my power, and I were worse than an ingrate—a fool, not to avail myself of the ad- vantage.” “T do not understand you.” “You will do so, presently ; in a word, give up Jack Sheppard, or you may chance to find yourself under Tyburn tree, or with as many bullets in your body as there are spots in a deer-skin.” ‘“You have had my answer,” replied Red Ish- mael, with firmness. ‘“Knough ; and you shall shortly learn my deter- mination. Secure him.” Jonathan Wild had no sooner uttered the words than his myrmidons darted upon Red Ishmael. He offered no resistance, but treated them with a sardonic smile. They first pinioned him, and passed strong cords around his body. These again were passed through a firm iron hook in the wall, which gave their prisoner no chance of moving more than a foot in any direction. The gipsy made no remonstrance at these pro- ceedings, but displayed self-restraint, and continued equally silent, Jonathan Wild, having satisfied himself of the security of the captive, ordered his men to leave him to himself, and search the cellars beneath the building. “I am told,” said he, ‘leading from them is a communication to the river, and the rnnaway has hoped to avail himself of the secret passage ; a8 we haye not given him time for a light, he is, doubt- less, in the intricacies of the same,” The thief-taker, having whispered a few inaudi- ble words into the ears of his companions, they pee on the errand on which he had sent them, He’s not been with us, nO 111 CDOOk