Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

en ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. IT aaa Tae ee Enoch Hammerbrass, after he had completed his examination, “Yes, and they must be replaced without delay, as we must reach London before night sets in.” ‘“ Give me time to light a fire, and I'll see what I can do for you. Zekiel, you must lend me a hand.” The farrier beckoned the party to his side, With his aid the horses of the travellers were ranged in the shed, while their owners, with their prisoner, entered the house adjoining, They were all hungry and thirsty, and sat down to some refreshment which was ordered to be provided for them. é- Presently, the brisk glow of the forge fire lit up with its lurid glare the sinewy form and brawny arm of the blacksmith, who commenced his labour. Soon was heard his bellows blowing, and then the measured beat of his heavy sledge upon the anvil. ‘‘ Come, lad,” said the farrier to his nephew, “while our customers are enjoying themselves, we may as well see if we can’t finish the job we have on hand.” “‘T'll be with thee, nunkey,” replied the atten- dant, tucking up his sleeves, and buckling to at the work to be accomplished. “‘In the first place,” said the farrier, ‘‘ before we make a commencement, where is the prisoner, our old pal, Tom King?” * Bound hard and fast in the garret.”’ “ Then he’s safe enough,” ‘“‘ Aye, safe enough if he only makes ‘use ‘of the knife and rope which we sent him under the crust of the pigeon pie.” ‘‘Good. Now bring out his nag, the fleetest of the number.” The farrier addressed the animal brought out. ‘‘ Wench, you shall have a good shod this time, I warrant thee.” While the attendant plied the bellows, his com- panion placed a glowing iron on the anvil, and fashioned a shoe. “‘T should like to belabour all the enemies of the gentleman highwayman like this heated metal,” he added, as he struck from it the burning sparks like chaff from a thrashing floor. In a very short time, three of the horses were in a fit state to proceed on their journey ; not so the remainder, who were crippled by the insertion of a nail in their foremost hoofs, The three uninjured horses were now led round to the back of the shed. Those maimed being left tethered to the posts within it. While this was going forward, the captive, Tom King, with the knife (that had been so ingeniously conveyed to him in the pic), managed to free him- self from his hempen bonds, This accomplished, with scared looks, and on tip- toe, he hurried to the window of his temporary prison. He noiselessly opened it, and attached to its strong framework the rope that, with the knife, had been furnished him by the crafty farrier and _ his nephew. Having thoroughly secured the cord, he mounted the sill, and prepared to descend by it to the ground, A quick and continuous knocking at the door of the chamber he was quitting (and which entrance he had taken the precaution to fasten)'told him that he must not hesitate for one moment in his flight. Trusting to the frail means offered for escape, he came to the ground just as his gaolers espied him from the window through which he had passed, “T ha’ gotten him, measters,” said the farrier, feigning to capture the runaway ; ‘be quick down or he’ll gi’ me the weather gage yet, for he be mor- — tal strong, and I canna hold ’un long.” Believing in the sincerity of the farrier, the others rushed to his rescue, giving Tom King a moment's parley with his cunning confederates, “Where are the horses?” asked Tom King, springing forward with lightning swiftness. “They are behind the shed, captain,” “ How am I to get to them ?”’ ‘‘ Pass through it; but be careful to shut the back door after you.” “While you——” “Will be at your side before you can vault into the saddle.” | “ But if——” “Stash patter; it’s your only chance; see, the Philistines are upon us,” As the farrier spoke, Shotbolt and his men made their appearance. Three bullets whizzed past Tom King as he leaped into the open shed, the door of which was slammed in the face of his adversaries, and barred from within, “Come forth, Tom King,” thundered Shotbolt ; ‘you are trapped, and cannot escape us. Surrender, or, by the heaven above us, it will be the worse for you. Open the door, I say, or we will force it, If you continue obstinate, we will burn the building.” “Nay, measter,”’ cried Zekiel, ‘‘ you munna do that, for it be my opinion the chap inside are found a way to hide himsen elsewhere.”’ ** We'll soon find that out.” With these words the officers, one and all, burst into the shed, Their chagrin and baffled rage was apparent when they found it empty. A door at the back had been opened, but shut as firmly as the front one, which was again closed upon them. In a word, the officers, and not Tom King, were prisoners, ‘“‘ We shall nab him yet,” said Shotbolt, exultingly. “ His horse, if he has one, must be jaded by our journey, and cannot carry him very far, while we shall get a relay at the next town; so mount, and once more be.on the road.” The officers at this juncture discovered that their steeds had been tampered with, and that the nails embedded in their feet had stopped all possibility of pursuit, ‘‘ This artifice proves, comrades,” exclaimed Shot- bolt, ‘“‘ that we have been betrayed, and I more than ever suspect the farrier and his man.” | ‘“Whoy, mun, doan’t thee guess who they be?” replied a voice in close proximity, ‘They be no other than Joe Blueskin and his pal Simon Smut in disguise.” From whence that voice proceeded, or who was the owner of the same, the listeners failed most egregiously to make out, CHAPTER CV. THE STOLEN INTERVIEW BETWEEN TOM KING AND JAEL ON BANKSIDE, AND WHAT FOLLOWED ON THE SAME—THE PATRICO OR PRIEST OF THE GIPSY TRIBE—LOVE, JEALOUSY, AND REVENGE—HOW THE RIVALS ENCOUNTERED EACH OTHER IN SAINT GEORGE'S FIELDS, INE scene once more changes to the vicinity of the old Mint in Southwark, . The scene being the exterior of a picturesque and ancient tavern, situated on a spot, now, as then, known as Bankside. E EVOOKS,GOM: