Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

ee ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 269 ee eee ee ee ee ee a “ How’s this, Blueskin ? here ?”” “A body.” “ Dead ?” tc No.” “ Drugged ?”? “‘Can’t say.” “Ts it safe, think you?” “Quite ; I know the party.” “Ah! what’s his name?” ‘‘T must for the present withhold it.” “Strange,” ‘muttered the landlord, while a grim smile settled on his countenance; “ but, however, you are accountable for your conduct, Blueskin, and I don’t think I run much risk in trusting you.” ‘When Blueskin betrays a pal, or snitches upon an upright man,” said the robber, “ may he dance a Tyburn hornpipe on nothing before he’s a month older; but as I’ve undertaken a job,” he continued, “T suppose I must goon with it, Ill get you to lend me a hand, Shadrach.” These latter words were individually addressed to the landlord, who bore such a name. ‘““How can I serve you, Joe?” said Shadrach, vainly concealing the eager curiosity he ex- perienced, “‘ By letting me have a dozing ken,” replied Blue- skin, “‘for our captive here.” With the words he indicated the body of the unknown, which had been stretched by his com- panions on the floor of the apartment, and entirely concealed by the wide roquelaure in which he had been covered. The landlord shook his head, then reversed the action, “Let me see,” he observed, ‘ there’s the garret on the roof ; it’s only filled with lumber, and he’ll sleep as quietly a’twixt the broken bottles as if he was on a feather-bed.”’ “Well, Pll make shift with that till morning,” said Blueskin, “then you and I will talk this matter over a little further.” “ Ain’t there any clue by which J might guess ?” interrupted Shadrach, still exhibiting an inquisitive feeling. “None whatever ; you will learn everything in good time. Till then, bear a hand with the glim, and light us with our guest to the chamber you have spoken of.” What have you brought ** aS + When the unknown woke from his slumber and delirium, as may be supposed, he was startled to find himself in his strange dormitory. It was lit by the transient rays of the moon, fire or candle being neither within or about it. This circumstance produced an odd effect on the various fantastic objects that literally choked up the chamber. There seemed to be in the precinct every descrip- tion of lumber, from the worm-eaten bird-cage to the service of Dresden china. Compressed in admired disorder were antique vases, iron pans and jars of all sorts, crucibles, crucifixes, retorts, and kettles without number, while accoutrements, disused garments and rusty weapons were strewn about, and garnished in some instances with some broken statue wrought in bronze or some such metal. From the chamber the spectator next turned his eye to its window. His scattered idea and confused memory served not to recal the incidents of the past hour. Something he remembered of a form that seemed to take pity on his wretchedness ; but, beyond this, all was darkness and despair, Into whose hands had he fallen ? Were they enemies or friends? Was he to meet death at the assassin or the hangman’s hands? By the window shelving he discovered he was placed at the top of the house that had given him shelter, and that escape by that means would be attended with great risk and much danger. From this point, however, he was able to dis- tinguish its locality. Before him was the broad common and the “ Five Fields,”* over which a bright moonlight shed its Justre, and sent quivering its radiance in each dell and nook, A few sounds arising from the banks of the river betokened only the passing craft, and the profound stillness that reigned abroad. On the right, afar off, might be discerned the ancient pile called Lambeth Palace. On the left, the venerable towers of the Abbey of Westminster stood out in bold relief from the mass of wood and vista of broken trees by which it ap- peared to be embowered. While the prisoner was contemplating the above scene before him, and devising a scheme that had just come into his head by which he hoped to release himself from captivity, afootstep was heard approaching the chamber. The door opened, and a man stood at the entrance, He carried a horn’lantern in his hand, which ex- posed his features. Jack Sheppard (for it was ke who had been im- prisoned) recognised in a moment his friend Blue- skin, who exclaimed, ““Welcome, captain. Jack Sheppard will find a safe retreat in the ‘ Five Chimneys.’ ” qa CHAPTER CXIX. ROVING JACK’S RETURN TO HIS HOME—A GAMBLER'S MEDITATIONS—THE FAITHFUL STEWARD AND THE INCOGNITO—HOW AND BY WHOM A DEBT OF GRATITUDE WAS PAID. THE mansion of our hero, in which the masked ball had been held, was now a scene of death-like silence, compared with the clamour and laughter which had resounded within its Walls an hour previous, In a word the revels had ended. The guests departed, and the fatigued lacqueys sought that repose which their overtasked powers required, Roving Jack stood before the house. He was alone, and appeared as some spectre, for his ghastly looks were calculated to appal him who chanced to behold the miserable man. He seemed more dead than alive. Hollow-eyed, haggard, and broken down. He uttered a sharp cry, and hurried up the lawn to the portal. He passed through the arched entrance and ascended the spiral staircase. He paused here to take breath before entering his solitary chamber, from which glimmered a feeble light. ‘At length I have reached home!” faltered Roving Jack. ‘‘Home, didIsay? It is no longer mine. House, cash, plate, are in the hands of my creditors and the stern ministers of the law’s decree. I have lost everything !” he sighed. ‘‘ Heavens! into what a sink of iniquity has my * The “ Five Fields” are now covered by Eaton, Belgrave, and the neighbouring squares, oO ON si = —eOMKE DOO KSReCOn A