Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

7 Lee _. ————————— — - sin — a i a a 268 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. sp NTE ne the pistol, and find I’m a considerable gainer by the bargain.” “ Well, Nat, I don’t like your trade so well as my own,” added Blueskin, ‘‘ but tastes differ. After all said and done, there’s nothing like the game of high toby. Listen. For instance, we’ll say the coach of my Lord Tom Noddy is leaving the town on the stroke of ten, and rumbles shortly on a country road, ‘“*Yes, if my eyes don’t deceive me, there it comes.’ ’ ‘“¢ Comrades, are you prepared? Put on your masks and follow me. We must receive his lord- ship with all due dignity, Conceal yourselves in the hedge-side; courage and success attend us. Stop’s the word as we drag forth the inmate of the carriage,’ ‘Don’t be alarmed, my lord, we merely require your watch, that diamond ring that adorns your finger, and your cash.’ “My watch was too slow this morning,’ cries the timorous noble, handing his ticker, fawney, and blunt. “<Tt’s going fast enough now,’ replies the roads- man, pocketing the spoil, with all the assurance of a man who feels he has said a good thing; then, handing his dupe once more from the seat he has dislodged him, politely wishes him a brave good night, and sings— *‘On the high spice toby, flash the muzzle, Freely mounted, hand in rein, Tyburn Tree, be it my fortune, If by Philistines I’m ta’en, Lilli bulero, ho!” “Hush, Blueskin!" said Nat Wetherby. aim not mistaken there is game in view.”’ * Where ?” “Yonder,” replied the first, pointing to a figure in the distance that had attracted his attention. He was a little removed from the group that were noticing him, and enveloped in a “ roquelaure,” or antique cloak, evidently worn for the purposes of disguise. On observing that Blueskin and his companions had become aware of his presence, he once diverged from the road they were taking, and with such haste, that in a few seconds he would have been out of sight, One of the party, anticipating the escape of a rich booty, fired at the retreating stranger. The shot told, and he fell to the ground, appa- rently wounded. He uttered no cry, though his whole frame shook with powerful emotion. ‘‘Hang it, Ned Bush,” said Blueskin, addressing the man who had discharged the weapon; “ why have you winged the pigeon before knowing whether the bird is worth plucking? Have you so soon forgotten my commands as your leader,” continued he, ‘that blood shall not be spilt save in self- defence, or on extreme emergency ?”’ ‘Well, it seems I never do right in your way of thinking, Blueskin,” replied Bush, sulkily. ‘I did all for the best. I saw we might let a chance slip through our fingers, and so——”’ “ Hurried to violence,” added Blueakin. is not the first time I’ve had to reprove you.” ‘Perhaps my company isn’t required by the band,” answered Bush, more sullen than ever, “ll say no more, Ned,’ exclaimed Blueskin, “T don’t want to quarrel with you, but, mark my words, obstinacy, and a morose temper, often bring men to ruin,” The highwaymen had now reached the spot upon which the stranger was lying, ort ‘* This There was no blood on his body, and he appeared rather to be in a stupor, than much hurt. Blueskin’s first action was to draw a brandy-flask from his pocket, and pour a portion of its contents down the throat of the prostrate man. Strong spirit, for. a moment, partially revived him, and he opened his eyes. But the restorative soon again lost its power, and the patient once more lapsed into lethargy. While in this state, stifling sounds issued from his bosom, as one struggling violently for respiration. Blueskin now unmasked a lantern, which he had taken from one of his comrades, and peered into the face of the stranger, He looked deadly pale ; but the highwayman in a moment recognised his features, ‘Well, there’s the hand of fate in this,” ex- claimed Blueskin, in astonishment. ‘‘The very man of all others that I had hope to come across has, by a miracle, fallen into my hands.” ‘Who is he,” inquired Nat Wetherby, advancing to the speaker, ‘in whom you seem to take such a lively interest ?” ‘“ You will know by and bye,” answered Blue- skin, extinguishing the light he held in his hand, and rendering discovery of his secret difficult by the immediate darkness. ‘‘ Ask no questions at present, and your curiosity will be the sooner gratified. I’ve a reason for not disclosing the name of this mysterious personage, So take my hint for it that the thing’s right, and let mum be the word.” No more passed between Blueskin and his com- panions, On a given signal the body of the unknown was placed on their shoulders, and at once carried in the direction of the robber rendezvous at the live Chimneys. Preceded by Blueskin and Nat Wetherby, the cortege moved stealthily across the fields leading to their destination. Arrived here they came to a halt. The access to the lone tenement was afforded by a rude bridge composed of a couple of planks and a hand-rail, the construction having to pass over a weed-covered moat, The premises here were of rather a strange de- scription. The proprietor being a trader in illegal goods, placed such as might not lead to detection in this portion of them. They consisted principally of ironwork of every shade, shape and character, There were rusty chains flung together in heaps; anvils, s'edge hammers, and old ovens at every corner; while broken anchors, dismounted cannon, and such material were seen, turn which way you could. The entrance to the main dwelling was orna- mented with a massive arch, formed by huge upright and horizontal beams, from the centre of which hung a Jarge, cracked, and crazy bell, for what purpose none could tell, as the worn-out metal vessel was devoid of a clapper. Beyond this, through the open doorway, on the present occasion, might be seen the occupants of the house, grouped around the fire within. They were a motley crew, and in appearance resembled those who had arrived. The fresh breeze of night was blo ving over the wide and adjacent extent of open country, as Blue- skin and his companions entered the strange domi- cile described. They were greeted on their arrival, and an in- quisitive glanced at the body they bore with them. The landlord of the tenement then addressed the highwayman, ? | <SiGO Mm ~