Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 233: what you’re looking at

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

creme a 8 ee py ee ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 253 nt ‘That depends upon its nature ; tell me, what do you require ?” ‘‘ Charity.” “That’s a sneaking mod ing, ‘ 2 aaa g e of crying, ‘stand and “Well, bestow a trifle on us, sir gallant,” re- sumed Harold ; ‘“you have a close fist else.” ‘You'll find it close to your head if you don’t move off.” Long Finger, ever restless and impatient, now put in his word, ‘Come, come, submit quietly, and dub up your cash without further palaver hie is a npiahe land of liberty, and we mean to rob you.” “Or cut your throat !” interrupted Harold. “If you have any choice in the matter you will find us most accommodating,” At the end of this speech the speaker found him- wes pueeed to the muzzle of a pistol. € deadly weapon being well prim Beas y weap g primed and loaded The quick and steady hand that levelled it pro- duced desirable results, , To use the language of the fraternity of the betting world” Long Finger and his chum Harold Bell-the-Cat had “ edged.” They were nowhere to be seen, They had availed themselves of that convenience known as “ Shanks’s pony,” and, like prudent gene- rals, preferred retreat to defeat. The party who had come to the rescue was no other than Simon Smut, In the gloomy region which surrounded them neither Jael nor her companion could recognise their preserver ; while he, on the other hand, for a reason which in the end will be made apparent, had no wish that his “ incognito” should be discovered. It may, perhaps, seem strange to the reader that Simon Smut should appear thus a@ propos, and in- consistent that he should arrive so opportunely. Let him bear in mind his antecedents; when the adventurous youth had been hurled by Wirth Wolfgang from the Newgate tower, and fell into the tank beneath, he, as a matter of course (urged by the immutable laws which govern human nature when surrounded by difficulty) tried to get out of the same with the utmost celerity. His endeavours were successful, and panting and dripping wet from his emersion in the water, he at once laid himself out on the roof of Newgate ‘‘ to dry.” We quote Simon Smut’s own words. While intent in this peculiar position his eye eae rested on the fabric from which he had allen, It was then that his notice was attracted by two figures within it. They were those of Jael and the hooded stranger, Suspecting either mischief or treachery he had watched them closely, and participated in their flight with what good purpose events have shown. “ Friend,” said the stranger, advancing to Simon Smut, who still remained unknown to him, “a friend in need, they say, is a friend truly; you have rendered me a service worth a thousand fair speeches,” ‘Well, I can only say, master,’ answered the other, “you are welcome, and if your road lies westward I will bear you and yonder lady company beyond these precincts. Though the Alsatia of old, which stood in this neighbourhood, has ceased to exist, the present gentlemen of Whitefriars are always stirring with the owl and the bat, and you may meet members of the family before you reach home,” “JT thank you for your courtesy,” replied the i a ee stranger; “but a boat awaits my signal at yonder stairs. But by what name shall I know my champion ?” “You may call me John Jackson,” said Simon, euasively ; ‘I’m ’prentice to a merchant here close y." ‘A ’prentice and abroad? Does your master give you license at such an hour?” Suddenly, fearing that his subterfuge would be discovered, the questioned stammered out— ““ My back will taste of the stirrup leather, I dare say ; but I shan’t grieve at that since my playirg truant has brought me to your rescue, and that of the pretty maiden who bears you company.” ~ Jael smiled, but maintained the silence she had evinced hitherto. “Keod, sir gallant,’ continued Simon Smut, “there was some good sword play at. Bankside this evening ; I was there. Mahoud, the black bear, was baited; he nipped asunder Ralph, the butcher’s dog, and played the very devil among the other curs.” This redoubtable individual, having been cut short in further discourse, then received a piece of money from the stranger, and seemingly de- parted ; however, having some doubt of his inten- tions and sincerity, he determined not to lose sight of Jael till he had satisfied himself on the point. He first observed that the unknown led her to a seat in an angle of the archway, then descended himself to the brink of the river, which a boat was nearing, impelled by two rowers, ‘‘ Rest on your oars,” he cried to the men, ‘‘ and be ready to receive your charge; should fortune favour my hopes, Jael must be mine. Once in my power, she will soon be reconciled. My bright star is in the ascendant; for see, the bird flies to the net.” With the words, the speaker beckoned to the gipsy girl. She obeyed the summons, and at a sign, entered the skiff waiting for her, and hid in the shade of a decayed fence, composed of stakes, crossed with laths upon the water’s edge. “ Haste, with what speed you may, to Percy House, Stangate !’’ said the stranger, giving orders to the boatmen. ‘ We are expected to arrive there within half an hour.” From his hiding-place, Simon Smut distinctly saw the man in the cloak now take his seat in the stern of the vessel, while his attendants cut the rope which moored it, and pushed off from the shore with a long pole. Having taken their stations, they plied their oars, and by the bright light of the terrific fire which still raged in the city, were observed to row towards the place to which they had been directed. ‘With this intelligence to Tom King,” said Simon Smut, darting from the corner in which he had found concealment, and running down the un- frequented streets like one labouring under in- sanity, “ it willnever do to let the little bird build her nest in the jaws of a crocodile !” CHAPTER CXIII. PEDLAR’S ACRE, THE boat, bearing Jael and her companions, pur- sued its way rapidly up the river, and hugged the right or Surrey bank. The gipsy girl, though she had trusted herself to the guidance of the unknown, seemed to watch his actions every now and then with a feeling of indescribable terror. COMIEOCOLK<SsE@©