Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

————— ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 293 Se His triumph was but that of a moment: the next, a bullet had pierced his arm, raised to stab Roving Jack to the heart, ' The next moment our hero recognised his pre- server, _ And the voice“of Violet sounded as celestial music in his ear. Sir Ranulph Gayton, helpless, bleeding copiously, and writhing with pain, called on his confederates to avenge him, They advanced to,do his bidding as the second pistol of the intrepid woman, by a fatal mischance, ' hung fire. Husband and wife were now at the mercy of their foes, when the words “No, you don’t,’ re- sounded through the apartment, and the party who had uttered them entered the room. Though this individual was in a dark attire it was evidently not that called evening dress. And the hue of his habiliments seemed rather to have assumed it through the medium of soot than the process of dyeing. “Who the devil are you ?”’ thundered the robbers, darting an intensely fierce glance at the intruder, ‘No devil at all, only Simon Smut,” that worthy personage answered drily., ** How did you get.in 2?” ‘Down the chimley.” “The door was fastened.” ; “And the winder, also ; ‘that’s why I faked the ue,” “Why have you dared to gain admittance ?”” ‘Merely to introduce to your notice these here gentlemen.” . While Simon Smut was yet speaking the room was filled with a posse of officers. Before Geoffrey Bradshaw and his confederates could offer any resistance they were ironed and handcuffed. While this was going forward Edgeworth Bess advanced from the cabinet which had concealed her and hastily left the room. She had observed Nat Wetherby during the strugele pass secretly from the apartment, and make for the garden at the rear of the house. He had gained the gate of the same when his mistress, following on his footsteps, intercepted him, (Vide illustration to No. 36.) CHAPTER CXXVIII. JACK SHEPPARD ONCE MORE IN THE BILBOES— STRANGE VISITORS AT THE MANSION —WHAT WIRTH WOLFGANG WILL ATTEMPT AT THE FOOT OF THE SCAFFOLD — THE HANGMAN VERSUS THE HEADSMAN, WE now come to the most important epoch in the career of the housebreaker, highwayman, and cracksman par excellence, Jack Sheppard. As we have hinted in a foregoing chapter, this renowned and notorious character had been handed over to justice by Edgeworth Beas. The frail beauty having, in a fit of jealousy, transferred her affections to another illustrious satellite of the prigging community, Slashing Nat Wetherby. The betrayal, capture and condemnation of Jack Sheppard we will omit, and at once bring the reader to a point of our story that requires more immediately the attention, namely, the night previous to the execution of the criminal. At this period our hero and Violet had returned to their house at Hackney, The latter was so much exhausted by the trials she had undergone that she was obliged to retire earlier than usual, leaving our hero in the library to his reading, While occupied in this pursuit a domestic entered the apartment. He stated there were two persons waiting without who wished to speak with him on most important business, They were strange-looking individuals, muffled in cloaks, and would take no denial, After a dispute, one of the parties named had found a means of silencing scruples. Taking a ring from his finger, he requested that it might be shown to the owner of the mansion : and, at the sight of it his doors would fly open and welcome the possessor. As soon as. our hero saw the signet he recognized it as that one he had given to Jack Sheppard. With this assurance the servant was requested at once to admit the strangers. The two men the next moment were ushered into the presence of our hero. The one was stout and tall, with large feet and hands ; and, evidently, by his bulky appearance, was endowed with great personal strength: his name was Wirth Wolfgang. The other, was somewhat shorter; but, being bow-legged, broad-shouldered, and long-armed, seemed equally powerful as the Dutchman. This latter individual was no other than Joe Blake “ alias’”’ Blueskin. The customary salutations having passed between the parties, who were known to each other, Wirth Wolfgang at once proceeded to unfold the nature of the visit of himself and companion. The time was short, The moments precious, “ Ja, Ja, Muntmeester,’ exclaimed the Dutch- man, who had lighted his pipe to aid him in his deliberation, “I am afraid dat der jonker Jack Sheppard will chanse to hang to-morrow, if some one do not do him a shervice.” ‘© Yes, Captain Sheppard,” continued Blueskin, ‘‘ will certainly die of the ‘hempen fever’ unless we take him from Tyburn for change of air.” “ We will speak no further on this subject, Blueskin, if you please,” answered our hero ; “itis to me a most painful one, since I can offer no assistance to the unfortunate young man.” ‘“ No hdd “JT have used my utmost interest to obtain a reprieve,” continued the speaker, “ but without effect, The Government, exasperated at the nu- merous robberies that have taken place within the last six months, are determined to make an example of the first highwayman taken ; and, consequently, your friend, Jack Sheppard, will become the victim.” “ We must get him off,” said Blueskin, “ some- how or other, Sir John!” “‘ Tmpossible !”’ he replied. ; “ That’s not a word in my dictionary,” said Blue- skin. “J would make any sacrifice,” continued our hero, “could I liberate the condemned man.” — “Tf you mean what you say, Sir John, I think I can do the trick,” “ But how ?” “In the first place, I shall want a little ready rhino.” “How much ?” “ We'll say five hundred pounds.” “ Which you shall have in welcome.” Almost as soon as Roving Jack had uttered these G ——_—_—