Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

244 a ae ‘These papers, then——”’ “Are the title deeds of a lady of the name of Tremaine, in conjunction with those of the sup- posed victim of murder. They were concealed in a box which the pilferer has undoubtedly brought with him,” . “My lord, this impeachment of my public character is must unjustifiable,’ said Jonathan Wild ; “I shall be able to: prove that the docu- ments in question were entrusted to my keeping.” “ By whom ?”’ “Sir John Warbold.” ‘Tis false! for, villain, learn,” said the witness, “that Sir John Warbold himself now confronts you, nor will he pause till he has brought you to a bar of justice to answer for the numerous crimes you have committed in the name of the authority you have so grossly abused.” At the sight of Roving Jack, the thief-taker writhed in the agony of passion and disappoint- ment ; he stood bewildered and stupefied. ‘‘ What mockery is this?” he muttered to him- self. ‘‘I saw him fall with my own eyes. Can it be? No, ’tis phantasy ; the dead can never again revisit earth.” Tom King, who had hitherto lain apparently senseless on the floor, at the voice of our hero started. The thought that he was innocent of bloodshed woke him up from his stupor like a pistol shot, By a desperate effort he raised himself to the barrier’before him, and beheld the man whom he deemed he had murdered standing by his side. At the blest thought his blood boiled with delight. His nerves seemed strung with newly-recovered vigour, and a thrill of joy rushed like lightning through his frame, CHAPTER OVIII. JONATHAN WILD’S HOUSE IN THE OLD BAILEY— THE CAPTIVE OF THE SUBTERRANEOUS VAULT— WITHOUT FIRE, AIR, OR LIGHT, AND WITH DEATH —A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED—PHE STARTLING ESCAPE OF JAEL THE GIPSY GIRL, JONATHAN WILD’s house was situated in the Old Bailey, and abutted on the walls on the great gaol of Newgate. _ It was a massive building, resembling a fortress in appearance, Being built upon a double basement there was almost as much of it under ground as above. In the lower portion there were various subter- raneous abodes, dark, mysterious, and mute. _ They served either as a prison or sepulchre, some- times both, and became more and more contracted the lower descent was made into the earth, When once the miserable captive, who had given offence to the great thief-taker, was buried in these dungeous there was no leaving them but for the gallows, It was a farewell to hope, to life, to light, and the entombed, with one enormous complicated iock, was shut out from every object of the living world, In one of the fetid vaults Jael, the gipsy girl, had been placed after her abduction, There she was wrapped in darkness, and immured, as it were, alive, Since her incarceration she had neither waked nor slumbered, ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE’ HUNTER. In the profound gloom that surrourded her she — could not distinguish the night from the day. A fearful dream from dread reality. Her solitude was alone disturbed by the hollow clangour of a trap door, This when {opened admitted a hand which gave her food, but emitted no glimmer of light. How long she had been an inmate of this horrid cell she could not tell as she could hear no bell or clock to denote the lingering flight of time. At length, wearied by suspense, one day or night, she perceived a reddish glare suddenly enter through a crevice in the roof above her head. Peering upward she next beheld the rusty hinges of the iron-barred door revolve and grate upon the iron framework. From the aperture appeared a figure, bearing in its hand a shaded or dark lantern. The intruder. was covered by a black wrapper, while a hood or cowl of the same colour concealed his features. For some moments Jael gazed on the spectral form. The tenant of the vault and its mysterious visitor appeared as two statues, calm, immoveable, and death-like, for neither spoke, : After a pause, with doubt and fear, the gipsy girl broke silence. ‘“ Who can you be?” “ A friend.” The exclamation caused the captive to shake in every limb. ‘‘ Are you ready?’ continued the same sepulchral voice. “Ready! Ready for what ?” ‘‘'To meet death.” “Yes; I am fully prepared,” cried the maiden, firmly. ‘* Will it come soon ?” ‘At the hour of noon to-morrow, twelve hours hence.” Jael’s head sank upon her bosom ; but joy rather than sorrow was depicted on her countenance, Raising once more her face, she murmured, “The hours will pass heavily, but they will end.” The stranger fixed a hasty glance upon the speaker, but essayed no remark, Suddenly he turned as if to scrutinize the dungeon, “Without light, air, or fire |! fate !” ‘Yes, God’s meanest creatures are permitted to bask in the sun’s rays, while the wretched Jael ‘tis a terrible . pines in unpenetrable and loathsome darkness.” . After a pause, the stranger spoke, ‘‘Do you know, girl, why you are a prisoner In this terrible dungeon ?” * T dare not tell !_I dare not think!” “What would you say if one were bold enough to bid defiance to your enemies—in spite of their threats to burst open your dungeon doors and un- lock your fetters ?” “T would bless, worship him for such sweet liberty.” ** Enough, follow me.” With the words, the stranger took hold of the arm of Jael, The poor girl was almost chilled to her vitals by his clammy touch. ‘Qh, heavens !”” she exclaimed, hand of the dead !” Her fearful companion threw back his hood. A sinister face that had solong haunted, met her gaze, Its baneful apparition roused her from the stupor into which she had fallen, com “ ‘tis the icy (E|0)(06) <S (E() ae et ee ee ya