Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

230 ROVING JACK; THE PIRATE HUNTER. attention was attracted by Red Ishmael to a withered chesnut-tree that stood near them. It was large, solitary, and lightning-scathed, and named the “ Wizard’s Shaft,” The reason why it was so called may be learned from the following lines :— In the huge trunk of the tree was a secret door, distinctly visible from the print of a bloody hand ° impressed upon it. Tradition had assigned a cause for this mys- terious mark, “In olden times, so the story goes,” exclaimed Red Ishmael, addressing his friends, * a traveller, clinging to the spot, was murdered, and since that time ’tis said no one has been able to remove the stain of guilt.” With the words the speaker opened the entrance, and disclosed in the hollow of the tree a deep abyss—gloomy, wide, and descended by a deep staircase hewn out of stone. This led to a passage under ground, which, open- ing some halr mile further up, formed a secret entrance to the Thames, and was used by Ishmael and his smuggling band to land their unlawful cargoes, The gipsy had more reasons than one for avail- ing himself of this retreat, Besides concealment and security, it afforded further means of escape. As the reader has been already informed, the continued and severe frost had really, in many places, made the;,Thames a highway for travellers on foot, while it had hemmed in its chilling embrace the craft that usually floated on its waters. Near the spot indicated by Ishmael the ice was so thick that it would bear a burden of great weight ; while, at the same time, it stretched itself across the river, thus giving a free passage from one bank to the other. This was just the requirement of the fugitives ; for, encamped on some neighbouring ground of the opposite shore, was the tribe of Red Ishmael. Once arrived at this rendezvous they might defy any- thing like pursuit, It is unnecessary to follow Ishmael and his com- panions through the passages of ‘the subterranean roadway, but come at once to its outlet on the river, for to this point thy had arrived in safety, and the Thames at their feet with its broad ex- panse or sea of ice appeared as some dreary and impassable waste, : Its surface was broken and irregular, and covered with a thick clothing of recently fallen snow. Here and there were dark chasms or openings, through which unfrozen water had burst its bond- age ; while again in many parts were treacherous pitfalls dug for the unwary, the stream having par- tially thawed, and hiding its bosom only by 4 thin and fragile coating of ice, Narrow paths, known only to the dwellers on the borders of the river, now intersected it in various places, and to attempt to cross the frigid path without a guide would be as perilous as an at- tempted passage of the trustless quicksand. ““As I suspected,” cried Ishmael, “we have reached the river in safety ; from this spot I can see smoke curling from the camp fires, Courage, and we shall reach them before our followers can escape from the house we have left behind,” “And yet,” replied Edgeworth Bess, “it is a terrible alternative and fraught with so many un- seen dangers,” “A stout heart, Bess, and all will go well with us,” exclaimed Jack Sheppard. “Ishmael knows the perilous pass ; trusting to his guidance and the guidance of heaven, we shall make a way over the frozen river as safe as its banks on which we are now standing,” “The moon has hid herhead. Is it safe to make the venture in the dark? Shall we wait till morn- ing ?” “ If we wait till morning the venture will not be made at all, for our pursuers, aided by daylight, will discover our track.” ai “Tis our only chance, Every moment is pre- cious, and a grave in the river is better than a felon’s grave in Newgate,” With these words the passage of ice-girt Thames was essayed by the fugitives. The hazardous experiment might have inspired terror in stouter hearts, but its achievement gaye them life and dispelled every fear. _. In many parts the tract was soft, slabby, and pliant, that it seemed scarcely able to bear the weight of a water fowl. As Ishmael and his followers hurried on the un- secure footing the quivering ice bent and groaned beneath their feet, leaving behind them rents, cracks, and chasms. While yet completing the dangerous journey new dangers beset them. Behind them came loud shouts, and the tramp of many feet. . The warning was not unheeded, and told the fugitives that the pursuers had descried them, and were at hand. ““By hell, I see them!” exclaimed the leader, in a loud voice of triumph; “their figures are dis- tinctly discernible in the snow,” ‘*‘ Where! where !” cried twenty voices, ‘To the Teft,’”’ was the reply. “The rash fools are endeavouring to cross the ice.” “Cost what it may, they shall not escape me. Follow in their track, and they yet may be taken,” thundered Jonathan Wild, As the thief-taker spoke he descended the bank, and, with his attendants, made for the road bis flying prisoners had taken, of ell Ishmael was now heard exhorting. ‘‘ Follow me, in Indiam file,” he said ; ‘‘ we have arrived at the wished-for goal, and a minute's caution will see us in safety, while our foes will perish in our footsteps. Do not swerve a hair’s breadth from my track, or such a deviation would be fatal.’ The gipsy was uttering the last word when a shriek of despair thrilled through his veins. There was a floundering plunge, and three human beings were emerging from under the ice, After a short struggle in the water came horrible and stifled cries, It proceeded from the drowning men, and told the pursued that three had been destroyed in endeavouring to seize them. | ‘The poor creatures have sunk!” cried Jael. ‘What a fearful death |”’ “Have care, girl, for yourself,” replied Jack Sheppard, ‘‘or, like them, incautions, you may meet a similar fate,” “Quicken your pace,” cried Ishmael, “our enemies have taken a fresh track, and may reach us before we reach the gipsy encampment at the *Devil’s Gap yonder.” At this moment a shot was fired, It knocked off the hat of the gipsy without doing further damage. The man who had fired, being in advance, fancied he had hit his mark, and announced his triumph exultingly to his companions. The next moment, a ball from the pistol of Jack Sheppard numbered him with the dead. “Waste no more powder and shot, Jack,” ex- omicbooksre¢om