Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

————S— 254 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. ee SSS 8 88 Se ere He was seated governing the helm like a spectre, The cowl of his cloak was still down, and formed a kind of visor. Every time he opened his arms to propel the rudder, his wide black sleeves gave him the ap- pearance of some gigantic bird flapping its wings. Since his departure from the shoré, he had not uttered a syllable, or allowed a word to escape from his lips. In fact, there had been no noise in the boat, than such as proceeded from the oars, blended with the dash of the water against the sides of the little vessel, : Suddenly it came abreast of a point of land jutting out into the river. A shock apprised the occupants that it had reached the shoré, Though at a considerable distance from the tumult they had quitted, the appalling uproar was not deadened on their ears, and the blazing fires of the city shone as brightly as ever. The unknown rose, stepped up to Jael, and offered his arm to assist her in landing. She refused the aid, and sprang without help from the boat. She appeared so terrified as scarcely to know what she was doing or where she was going, and stood at length in a state of stupefaction. When the gipsy girl came to herself she was - alone on the river’s strand with the unknown. All at once a cold and clammy hand grasped her’s. Jael strove to speak, but her tongue clove to the roof of her mouth. Her limbs trembled, her teeth chattered, and she became paler than the rays of the moon which fell upon her cheek, The mysterious companion of the maiden still continued silent, With a hasty step he began to move towards a solitary house some half mile off. Jael, as she suffered herself to be irresistibly drawn along, had a vague feeling that fate was enforcing a decree, She had lost all power, and followed the path mechanically. The tract of land traversed was flat. and marshy. It was known by the name of “ Pedlar’s Acre,” and situated on the banks of the Thames near old Lambeth, ? The air was damp and unwholesome, for the swamp by which the region was surrounded had not been drained as in later times. Having proceeded for some time, they came to a point where the road verged to the right, and seemed to bring them again nearer the river, and involved them in a thicker mist, Jael looked around on all sides, Not a soul was to be seen, The lonely spot was absolutely deserted. Meanwhile, the unknown dragged her along van the same silence and the same swiftness of oot, She soon lost all recollection, and seemed to walk or proceed onwards as in a dream, Suddenly she passed a lighted window, made an effort to resist, and‘cried, “ Telp ! help!” The casement opened, the inmate of the chamber appeared at it with a lamp burning in his hand. He muttered a few words, and then retired, The gipsy girl felt the last glimmer of hope was destroyed, Her companion spoke not, He held her tightly im his grasp; and contem- plated her emotion. After a pause she mustered a little strength, and, in a broken voice, asked, r™ ‘Tell me, I beseech you, who and what you are’?”’ we The unknown made no reply, , Dioteit pent After a pause, he turned suddenly towards Jael. As the man approached he raised his cowl, “Oh,” stammered the maiden, petrified with horror, ‘‘my suspicions are confirmed. -[ know it must be he, and no other.”’ It was indeed the patrico. ‘Listen to me, Jael,”’ said Turpin, and she shuddered at his fatal voice. | He continued, while his broken sentences be- trayed the inward agitation experienced. “Arrived at this secluded dwelling, I would speak with you. {0 ‘We can go no farther. “Fate delivers us into each other’s hands. If you still reject my suit, I dread to think of that which I shall be compelled to accomplish, ‘The end will be terrible.” r Having proceeded thus far, the speakers voice became faint. He resumed after awhile—— Jael, turn not your bright eyes from my face, but hearken to my words; they are momentous. Girl, I love you ; open not your lips; give me no answer if you despise my passion,” Jael was silent, OD. “Beware, girl,” exclaimed Turpin, in accents of desperation. ‘‘ Nothing can be more true than my devotion ; could your youth and fond imagination paint but one tithe part of the fierce hell which rages in my bosom—could you read the horrid con- flict—you would not hesitate to assuage it at any hazard, at any cost,” Jael still answered not, “ There is a fire consuming my heart,” continued the patrico, “night and day, day and night; does this claim no pity ?” ‘None !” Turpin buried his face in his hands, Jael heard him for the first time weep, In a moment the paroxysm of grief was over, and the man, shaken by sobs, was as unpliant as marble. “Jael,” he cried, furiously, “since you will hate me for ever, I will take no compassion on you; tremble for your obstinacy.” ‘There is a fearful import in your words, Richard Turpin, and your eye glistens with anger.” “You see which way my revenge will point,” “Oh ! man, let not rage or disappointed love urge you to commit a crime for which you may be sorry hereafter |” ‘“You plead for my rival ; but mark me, you have signed his death-warrant,” ‘* Monster ! would you dare ——” | Turpin interrupted her with vehemence, “Tom King will die six hours hence if you refuse me.” Coldly folding his arms across his breast, he con- templated the horror-stricken Jael, and continued— ‘Choose between us; shall Tom King live or hang?” Jael stood motionless a3 a Statue, Her eye glared wildly as she muttered these words to herself — * Por him—for him—I must ——” : Her lips continued to move, but her tongue ceased to articulate any audible or distinct word. She passed her hand slowly over her face and regarded her fingers wet with tears. The door of the house before which she was standing now opened, and a man came from it, | | : | _ COMmIiGcDOoOKsS. cor