Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

284 At the period of our story, Petty France was filled with squalid habitations and lawless occu- pants, and its foul recesses gave refuge to some of the most abandoned and ruffianly characters that ever disgraced community. The coarsest ribaldry assailed the ear, and noisome odour afflicted the nose of the wayfarer who chanced to tread the terrible purlieus. The kennels flowed with filth. The roadway disclosed putrescent heaps of rub- bish. Still, there was something savagely picturesque in the aspect of the place, despite its loathsome and hideous features, Its cluster of brown and old-fashioned houses built half of timber, with projecting casements, pre- sented that superior effect which intricacy and inter- mixture ever produces over the tame uniformity of a modern street. These dwellings were thickly inhabited ; every chamber from cellar to garret were swarming with miserable inmates. The rooms being almost destitute of furniture, and their tenants, in many cases, void of covering. The main thoroughfare displayed here and there clothes-lines garnished with every description of garment, while the numerous alleys and passages leading from it gave greater signs of wretchedness and poverty. In a word, the whole neighbourhood appeared like one of those hot-beds of squalor ‘and vice, to escape from which and breathe again the purer atmosphere of tke world without is a positive relief, és One night, in a narrow lane, guarded by posts and cross-bars that led into the notorious region that has been described, three men were seen. They were ‘severally known as Gregory, Harold, and Tony Wheeler, and ‘have figured hitherto as members of Dick Turpin’s gang, The last-named had issued from a house, ‘and down its steps upon which the moon had been clearly shining. ‘ Have they passed?” asked this worthy of his companions, who ‘seemed to have been watching narrowly something that interested them. ‘‘Yes,” replied Harold, “and gone down Prince’s Street.” “S’life! I’m glad to hear that,’ chimed in the individual rejoicing in the name of Grégory. “So am J,” continued the first ‘speaker, Tony Wheeler, ‘for had the watch have come up here at this moment, they would have taken me as easily as a sucking babby.” * But you’d got your pistol ?” ‘No, [hadn’t,” was the reply of the roadster. ‘I lent them to Burley Bill, who’s gone towards Hounslow to-night.” While these parties were yet speaking, a ‘light had appeared at the casement above their heads. This attracted the notice of Gregory, who ex- claimed, “ Hilloa, comrades! who’s that showing a glim yonder ?” “ [ reckon that it’s Edgeworth Bess,” said Harold, ‘waiting for the return of Slashing Nat Wetherby.” She’s a rum ’un |!” chuckled Tony Wheeler, An opinion in which Harold, otherwise Long Ned, perfectly coincided, if we may judge from the portentous nod of the head he gave: after his com- panion’s remark. “She was a nice-looking girl at one time,” con- tinued Tony Wheeler, “Yes,” replied Long Ned, ‘ That was afore she ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. nosed upon Jack Sheppard, who turned her up for her pains.” “Well, I don’t think she was so much to blame after all,” interrupted Gregory. “Slashing Nat Wetherby won her affections, and you know how he can gammon the weak sex when he’s a point to carry out.” “ That’s true,” said Tony Wheeler ; “ but I’d have Nat beware that this Dalilah don’t hand him over to the Philistines, as she has her former ‘ inamorato,’ for they say she’s jealous of him already.” There was now a shrill whistle given, and hasty steps resounding along the deserted thoroughfare followed the signal. Presently a figure was observed approzching the late speakers, As it advanced from the shade they recognised a al. It was he who had béen the object of their con- versation, namely, Slashing Nat Wetherby. ‘Well, Nat, been to the heath to-night?” was the general greeting. “Fore George, no,” he replied, with a smiling countenance, “ I’d better game in view. To-night,” continued the knight of the post, ‘ I’ve been play- ing the gentleman, dancing with ladies from whom I have borrowed no end of necklaces, and a fabu- lous amount of money.” ‘You know, my dear boys, I was never known to doss the pross of the kae-keibosh, and the tidly wink fakement on the slomdrum; no, not for Joseph; or, in plain English, I always, on all occa- sions, practise cly-sneaking, vulgarly termed picking pockets.” After a general laugh at thefadventure had sub- sided, enquiry was made as to its whereabouts, Slashing Nat Wetherby was communicative, and enlightened his comrades on the vexed question. He told them that he had but recently visited a delightful suburb, which had given a name to a useful vehicle called Hackney. A particular friend of bis resided in that vicinity. Most likely many of the fraternity knew him as Roving Jack. He had that morning immolated himself on the altar of domesticity. He would not refuse the last sad office he could pay the wretched victim, therefore he accepted his kind invitation to the wedding feast. Here he combined business with pleasure, and the rich booty which he presently presented to his accomplices clearly proved that these two occupa- tions may at times be carried forward with con- siderable profit and some success. Having delivered himself of this intelligence, Slashing Nat Wetherby next enquired after his chum, Ned Bush. ‘“‘He is waiting for you at your lodgings,” was Tony Wheeler’s answer. “ That’s all regular,” said Nat, dusting his boots with a whip he carried in his hand. “ I’ve business with him,” he continued. ‘‘Hark ye, lads, this night he and I hope to make a fortune.” ‘“Indeed,” replied one and all, surprised at this startling announcement. “Aye, indeed,” echoed the robber ; “and I sup- pose if I require assistance you will afford it?”. * OF course we shall,” formed the words of the general exclamation. ‘‘T don’t think it very likely that I shall require much help,” continued Nat; ‘‘but if the beaks should hear of our doings before the ‘queer cull’ parts with his ochre, it will be necessary to strike a blow that——”’ “Only give the word,” comichooks Eom