Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 236: what you’re looking at

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errr ra een 256 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. stowed on you. You shall no longer blush for me, for I will be good and virtuous, The well spring of my tears, which have oozed drop by drop for twenty winters and summers, are drying now.’ At that moment the report of fire-arms was heard in the vicinity of the garden beneath the chamber. Jael, with terror, threw herself into the arms of Jonathan Wild. That night a party of armed men attacked the secluded dwelling, and attempted to carry off its fair inmate, with what success a future chapter will show [gee illustration of No, 31]. CHAPTER CXIV. DICK TURPIN’S FAMOUS RIDE FROM LONDON TO YORK. Dick TURPIN, as the reader may imagine, had not left Jael with Jonathan {Wild without some cogent reason, He had been directed by the thief-taker to inter- cept “ Roving Jack,’”? who was now on a journey to Yorkshire to recover certain portions of his estate which lay in that county. He was supposed to arrive at {his destination by six on the following evening. Dick, unaided by a relay of horses, to avoid sus- picion, ‘had undertaken to arrive at the place in question before him. He had’ given Jonathan Wild his word that -he would do it, and his mare “bonny Black Bess} 4 would never suffer him to break it, We will now leave Dick Turpin hurrying over the river marsh at “ Pedlar’s Acre,” and conduct ourselves to the whereabouts of his rival, Tom Kin Sion Smut had infomned the highwayman of the carrying off of Jael, and the place of her in- carceration. On receiving the intelligence, he had made his way to the river, and arrived at a small tavern at Queenhithe, over the door of which hung the sign of the ‘ Crown and Sceptre.” He entered, and called for refreshment. Having disposed of the same, he expressed his desire of crossing the river. : The obliging landlord observed that there was a waterman asleep on the parlour bench. “‘ Boat wanted |’? aroused the drowsy sculler. ‘ Hulloa, my hearty ; I’m ready for a spell,” he cried, starting to his feet. ‘‘ Where’s the party ?” ‘‘There’s the gentleman who requires you,” re- plied the host, pointing to Tom King, who had gone down to the water-side. ‘Where to, master?” said the waterman, follow- ing his fare, and touching his woollen cap. “Stangate Ferry,’’ answered the highwayman ; ‘‘ or the nearest point to Percy House, which stands near it.” “Come along, master ; shall be there in a jiffey ” Moored to the steps, in front of the tavern Tom King had quitted, were several wherries, They were dancing in the current, and, like the person they were about to receive, seemed uneasy in their position, and impatient of restraint, Into one of these boats the waterman jumped, and, having assisted Tom King to a seat within it, immediately pushed from land. The tide running down rapidly, they were car- ried at first towards Old London Bridge,”’ 1 ie. ae I know the place; we In a short time the vessel was righted, and pro- ceeded in the direction of St. Saviour’s Church. This passed, it came upon the old and ruinous prison called the Clink, standing near the old palace of Winchester, on the banks of the river. Presently the Globe Theatre on Bankside was reached, above which floated its banner. Adjoining this, was the old Bear Garden, whose savage inmates made themselves distinctly audible, Paris Garden, at Christchurch, next came in view ; beyond this was open country and marsh, Arrived at this point, Tom King heard the sounds of |horse’s hoofs rattling along the shore, where the boat in which he was seated had stranded, Thinking the rider might aid them in the dif culty, he hailed him. This man made no reply, but continued to advance towards the spot from whence his summons had proceeded. “ What brings you here to-night?” said the new comer, narrowly watching the two individuals before him, ‘The time and place are so ill-chosen that, as a traveller, I must entertain doubts for your greeting,” “Your suspicions are groundless,” returned King. ‘You see only two men on the horns of a dilemma ; our boat is entangled in the weeds of the river, from which we are unable to extricate it. We are friends, and——.”’. “Friends, I must have stronger assurance than words for that.” “Upon my word, stranger, said Tom. King, “ if I. cannot speak well of your courtesy, I. must com- pliment you on your candour, and, certainly, a brazen front and oily tongue are creat odds against honest anger.” “ You may think you have me at dantaeee? re- plied the other, ‘‘ but you are mistaken, for I know you and your purpose.” ‘Indeed !” said Tom King. . ‘‘May.I ‘ask the name of him who seems but ill- -disposed, towards me ?”’ “No, but I can assure Tom King that all his fair prospects are darkness for ever. ‘He goes to seek his mistress, but will find her not, “ She will wait his coming on the (threshold. _ “She will find him there—a stark and rigid corpse,”’ As he spoke, the horseman drew a pistol from his belt, and deliberately fired at Tom King. The ball lodged in his breast, and he fell with a groan, lifeless, ‘The prophecy is fulfilled! He was doomed to meet death at my hand, and at my hand he .has met*it,” cried the assassin, who was no other than Dick Turpin, The waterman, who had hitherto witnessed the scene between the two highwaymen in silence and wonder, at its termination boldly rushed forward. He seized the bridle of the horse, and endeavoured to dismount Dick Turpin. The latter put spurs to his animal, whose im- petuosity at once overthrew its master’s antago- nist, “e an instant both man and beast were out of sight. Anon, five men bore home the lifeless body of Tom King, (See Illustration of No, 30.) We will here dedicate a page or two to Turpin’ 8 famous ride to York, Passing preliminaries we conduct the reader to Windmill Hill, on the north-western side of the i thar 8, )