Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

— 252 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. ee glare cast from the flaming torches in the chasm below. The party who had just entered the chamber addressed her by name. The voice appeared to be not unknown to her, and she gave a faint scream. ‘“You have nothing to fear,” said the stranger, “you may trust in me.” ‘“ Who are you?” “Your friend !” “Your tokens?” “‘T have two.” ‘‘ And they are ——?”’ - “Tom King and Wirth Wolfgang.” These names gave Jael fresh courage, for she knew that till now that the latter personage was alone aware of her refuge. She surveyed her companion, as well asshe could in the intermittent gleam, from head to foot. She could only see a dark figure, muffled up in the ample folds of a cloak. This apparition seemed to strike her as one dumb. She would have avoided the stranger, but he would not suffer her to depart. “Why, would you leave me at such a moment?” he exclaimed. ‘‘ You must not tarry, but depart in haste.” The maiden still paused, “My good girl,” said the stranger, ‘‘ why do you doubt my intentions? Since you force me to make the avowal I must tell you that you are in danger.”’ “From whom?” “ Jonathan Wild. He and the vile mob who are sacking the city will take your life.” “ Tmpossible! I have never injured them.” ‘‘The flesh of the wolf requires the tooth of the dog.” “ Can your words be true ?” ‘“They are true. Iam sent hither by Wirth Wolf- gang, who is your friend. Only follow me, and in a few minutes you will be in safety; what is more; you will be in the arms of him you love,” “Then I can have no hesitation in accompanying you, for with him I can either live or face death as fate decrees.” Jael, satisfied with the stranger’s fidelity, rapidly descended the stairs of the Newgate tower. Following in his footsteps she passed through the chapel. Though dark and solitary the lonely ‘aisles rever- berated with echoes from the uproar of the be- sieging rabble in the streets. Arriving at a door leading out of the chapel the man in the cloak unlocked it with a key he drew from his pocket. The gipsy and her companion were now in an open space at the rear of Jonathan Wild’s house, A They avoided the residence, and came to a second oor. This was opened as the first, and disclosed a street. It was entirely deserted, and, being at some distance from the tumult, was in a measure free from noise. | As the fugitives proceeded through several tortuous thoroughfares it seemed entirely to cease. After a short time they came to a narrow street, It was composed of very old houses with gable ends, and the upper portion of the tenements seemed to project half across the roadway. A rude tablet of stone caryed on the corner building bore the figures, “A.D. 1517,” to show the year in which the edifices were raised, NSERC a ASOT TC DOO: At the extremity of this street was an archway through which might be discernible a landing place leading to the Thames. The breeze which followed the current of the water, shook the trees of the neighbouring church- yard, while its rusting was distinctly audible at the point in question. Jael, descending to the margin of the river descried its bosom streaked with light. It was the reflection of the flames of Newgate, then burning. ; Anon a dense cloud of smoke shut out the silvery moonlight, and men on distant roads seemed to travel in the shade. The obscurity passed, the sky became tinged with a hue of blood red, as if the vast city was vomiting hidden blazes. The scene on the banks of the Thames was now a sight to give a sense of the vanity of this world, and of all the wealth and glory of it. The conflagration of Newgate and its surround- ing neighbourhood mounted towards the heavens in an immense sheet of fire. This proceeded furiously, and without restraint till at length the whole city appeared in flames, The shipping on the river, and the heaps of mer- chandize stored away upon its quays, were illu- mined as if by a glowing globe of light. The atmosphere was as clear as when the sum- mer sun shone, yet tinged with a lurid glare that might apostrophise the final day. In a word, the man who could not have wit- nessed the spectacle could not have had a right apprehension of its grandeur and dreadfulness. While Jael was contemplating the work of deso- lation, her companion had hailed a boat. This individual had not observed, while he was standing under the pointed archway, two figures issue from its gloom to his side. They were disreputable characters, bearing the names of Long Finger and Harold Bell-the-cat. Both men were armed with stout staves. “Save you, sir,’’ said Long Finger, addressing the stranger, who had become suddenly aware of his presence, “What do you want?’’ replied he, startled by the abrupt appearance of the robber, but maintain- ing his wonted resolution of character. “What do I want!” echoed the other, with a sneer, ‘‘ why I want everything.” ‘‘The deuce ; your wants are many, friend,’ cried the stranger, ‘‘and I regret I have not the means of supplying them.” ‘There was a pause, The stranger remained still ; so did his opponent, Long Finger, At length, wearied by the tedious delay, the former requested the latter to stand aloof, that he, and the maiden with him, might proceed on their way. ‘Stand aloof, eh?” sneered the party addressed, “epad ’tis well to talk of standing. J and my friend here,’ he continued, pointing to Harold, ‘are tired of standing.” “Yes, we are tired of standing—in the pillory,” said the last-named worthy, who for the first time had broken silence during the interview. ‘In the pillory, you say,” continued the stranger ; “perhaps you brought such a punishment on your- selves,” “Tf all who deserved it took the place we have just left,” observed Harold, indignantly, “ many dressed gallants would get a sore pelting ; but this isn’t the thing ; do we do business or not?”