Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 284: what you’re looking at

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3 04 my days, and the shadow of desolation flung over my heart; the bright flowers of my youth have been withered by the blast of guilt,” “On my road to the gallows,” continued Jack “Sheppard, “I encountered one of all others that had reason to curse me. Bereft of reason through my depravity, she breathed my name in harsh and discordant tones, and seemed to welcome me to the death I so justly merited. “Frenzied beyond endurance at the sight, and standing before the face of heaven, with my soul stained with the misery and madness of the being who had addressed me, I took the weapon she secrectly conveyed to me in the hopes of expiating my many crimes,’’ ‘‘The poor maniac, then——’ «‘ Was my own mother.” As Jack Sheppard spoke these words, the sound of footsteps were heard approaching towards the apartment in which he was lying. Presently three individuals passed through its door. They were Wirth Wolfgang, Blueskin, and Doctor Cuticle, The latter was blindfolded, and attended on either side by the former. : ‘‘ Where am I now ?” cried the doctor. ‘ This is certainly the most unprofessional proceeding I have ever met with in the course of my practice ; this handkerchief across my forehead blinds me, Am I never to see light again ?” ‘Remove his bandage,” said Roving Jack ; “then leave us with the doctor alone.” The order was obeyed in both instances, as Wirth Wolfgang and Blueskin quitted the apartment as soon as they had removed the covering from the eyes of their prisoner. “ Where am I?” he inquired, looking about the room, whose peculiar appearance we have described in the previous chapter. “And who are you?” continued the doctor, eye- ing Roving Jack from head to foot, ‘’ Questions are idle,”’ “So I’ve been informed,”’ “ Do what you are commanded,” Ws Ee ‘‘ And you will not repent your obedience.” “That’s as it may happen,” replied the doctor, testily, ‘‘This is a‘ very suspicious beginning.” “ Wear nothing,’ said our hero. ‘“ DoasI require and you shall be safely conveyed back to the spot where you were found.” “Tell me, then, what I must do?” “Your patient is there.” Our hero here indicated Jack Sheppard. The doctor advanced to the couch, and, having examined the highwayman’s wound, immediately applied himself to tend to and bandage the same. This office he performed with great skill and patience, “Well, sir, I trust you can give a favourable report of your patient,’’ exclaimed our hero, when the doctor had completed his arduous work. ‘“Yes,”’ he replied ; ‘‘ I think I may say he is now out of danger. Had surgical attention been delayed for a few hours longer mortification must have set in, and there would have been no hope for him.” “T rejoice to hear that you have succeeded so well in the case,” ejaculated our hero, ‘and I regret that I have been compelled to use such unfair means to obtain your priceless assistance. But your ap- parent generous nature,’ continued the speaker, ‘will pardon me, I know, when I tell you that dire necessity dictated them,” ‘Well, sir,” replied the doctor, “your candour i2 AU67 ’ ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. and. frankness appear to me a sufficient guarantee for your assertion. I must confess, at first,” he added, in good humour, “ that I did not like the business. I tell you plainly that it has a bad look, and if anything is wrong you will answer for the consequence.” “Do not alarm yourself,” cried our hero, “TI will take all responsibility on myself. Do you honour me, doctor, with your confidence ?” “ Sir,” he replied, “in my profession the commu- nications of patients are always received in such a quality.” “What you have seen here,” continued our hero, ‘ig a matter to be seen, not spoken of.” ‘You have my word.” “That is sufficient for a man of your reputa- tion,” The next moment the doctor found himself in possession of a very heavily-laden purse. He turned to thank the donor, but he had vanished like a shadow, while he himself was surrounded again by Blueskin and Wirth Wolfgang, who threw a handkerchief over his face, and led him blind- folded out of the apartment, CHAPTER CXXXIII. THE “CLEUGH A DHOIL,’ OR DEVIL’S GLEN— HAWKS-EYE, ALIAS JACK SHEPPARD—THE CURI- OUS ADVENTURE OF OUR HERO AND THE HIGHWAYMAN WITH THE SOLITARY TENANT OF “THE DISMANTLED LIGHT-HOUSE—SOME SLIGHT ACCOUNT OF THE “OMADHAUN,’ OR GUARDIAN OF THE BEACON. WE must now, for a few pages, change again the scene of our story from merry London to the western and rugged coast of Ireland, which we need scarcely add is washed by the mighty waters of the vast Atlantic. In one of the most remote districts of the province of Connaught, and lying adjacent to the ocean we have named, a young man known as Hawks-eye, a substantial farmer from the sister kingdom, was on his return from the chase. 4 In Hawks-eye, the hunter, the reader may recog- nise the redoubtable Jack Sheppard. He had assumed the disguise for various purposes, which will be disclosed at a more fitting opportunity. His more immediate reason being to keep up the supposition which existed in England that he had been killed in the struggle that took place on the morning intended for his execution, For two years he had remained in seclusion, and but one person on earth knew of the existence, or lurking-place of the noted highwayman. This individual, as may be guessed, was no other than Roving Jack, our hero. Jack Sheppard, like most young men of the country he inhabited, was fond of the sport in which he had been occupied. Its dangers and fatigue were congenial to the disposition he possessed, and his gun afforded him occupation and solace in the almost inaccessible recess of his newly-found and temporary home. The wild ravine into which Jack Sheppard had followed the game through the past day was now behind him, He was rapidly advancing to his farm when the night began to cast its shadows on him. This would have been a matter of little conse- quence to the sportsman had he not imbibed the traditions common to the neighbouring peasantry, ecomicbooksveom