Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 296: what you’re looking at

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

o_O 316 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. ee era apartment amidst a loud and exulting roar of the wretches around her. In the delirium she presently could observe a confused mass of threatening figures, black and shapeless, hurry her husband from her presence, while she was conveyed by others to her chamber, and there left to weep alone. Redmond O’Hanlon was the last to quit the farm- house, leaving his comrades to precede him with its Owner to the place of execution. He carefully secured all the doors save one. This had escaped his notice, and the chamber contained no less a personage than Simon Smut. This individual had seen and. heard all that had passed during the previous half hour. He watched Redmond O’Hanlon ont of the house, and the robber had no sooner departed than his ebserver, pale and dismayed, threw himself from the top of the staircase, and at once attempted to escape. ; In this he was frustrated, as he found every egress bolted and locked. “ There is no getting out !’’ exclaimed the dejected Simon Smut, on making the unpleasant discovery ; ‘my life will pay the forfeit of my folly. Ob, that my proverbial penetration should have deserted me at such a moment.” ; The speaker was now more than ever alarmed by hearing one of the closed doors which stood near - him burst open, Was it a ghost or apparition stood before the awe- stricken traveller? He felt so uneasy that he would fain have come to terms with his ghostly companion, had fear allowed him the power of utterance. Suddenly he fancied he had discovered in the features of the mysterious being those of his hospi- table hostess, “Yes,” he joyfully muttered to himself, ‘‘ ’tis the farmer’s wife and no other.” Simon Smut was right, it was indeed Bridget who had broken from her chamber prison, and was standing before him, ‘" Oh, sir,” cried the distracted woman, “ if you are a man, you will prevent this butchery—yonu will aid me to rescue my husband.’’ ‘‘ With pleasure,” replied the addressed, blandly, “that is if yon will show me how I can do so in safety with regard to myself,” “You must pursue the assassins,” said Bridget, ‘and throw yourself between them and_ their victim,” “Impossible, my good woman,” simpered Simon Smut, suddenly drawing in his horns at the rash proposal, “ Consider,” he continued, “I am alone and without-armg,” ‘‘ Your presence will deter them in their das- tardly act.” “T-can’t see it in that light, exactly,” returned Simon Smut. “ You may rely upon it, dame, that the moment I showed myself under the peculiar circumstances, I should find my body not dissimilar to a sieve that is drilled with holes,” Before Bridget could offer a reply, she was Pk by a footstep that was approaching the oor. ‘‘ Hark !” she cried, interrupting her companion, who began to show signs of terrible alarm, “ did you not hear !” “What?” Some one is coming to our succour,” “‘ Most likely the dragoons I have sent for,”’ “ No, by Jove ; a woman !” The latter remark was made by Simon Smut, as —---- SO he suddenly observed a little door on one side of the chamber open without noise. From the recess Una issued, She appeared fatigued and distressed as if from travelling. The moment she beheld Bridget, she threw her- self weeping into her arms. This gave Simon Smut the opportunity of un- gallantly leaving the ladies. Yielding to that great law of nature, self-preser- vation, he at once passed through the door which had given Una admittance, and was in a very short time out of all harm’s way. “‘ Mavournen,” said Bridget, addressing her foster child, ‘‘ how have you escaped 2?” “ T will have no secret from you, my more than mother,” replied the maiden ; “ you must know I promised to-night to meet my lover, and left the house by stealth, when—” “Say no more,” said Bridget, impatiently inter- rupting her, ‘‘I have neither the time nor inclina- tion to listen. Answer me, as you value my love, has any body seen you return to the farm ?” “No one,” replied Una, startled by the abrupt questioning of her companion. “ You are pale, trem- bling,” she continued, ‘‘ why do you ask me this ?” “You are ignorant of what has passed,’ said Bridget, with her eyes suffused with tears. “Your grief tells me something dreadful is going to happen, let me know the worst.” Bridget, though she trembled in every limb and joint, answered in a firm tone, “Una, my husband is now being murdered,” ‘‘ Merciful Providence !” she cried, turning aside in horror. “His breast is now exposed to the deadly bullets of the Rapparees,” These words, spoken with difficulty, had the effect of arousing Una from her apparent insensibility. “Why are we standing here,’ she exclaimed, ‘when we might save him?” The maiden hastened to several doors but found them all locked. Suddenly she remembered that by which she had entered still remained unclosed. To her dismay sbe found this now fastened, for Simon Smut, in his hurry and trepidation, had touched the spring with which it was furnished. There was a pause of terror. Then a cry of joy. “ All hope is not yet lost,” exclaimed the maiden, Heaven had inspired her. By the window they could escape. A strong cord, obtained from the nearer cupboard, was almost as quickly as the thought of it, fastened to the casement, Una was the first to attempt to descend, As she advanced to do so, two piercing eyes glis- tened in the shade of the garden at ,her foot, while the click of a gun fell upon her ear, Slowly she withdrew and pushed back Bridget, who had advanced with her to the window. ‘What can we do?” whispered the terrified girl, to her foster-mother, “ Since there is no one that can defend us,” she replied, with forced calmness, “a plan, fearful and deadly, has crossed my mind.” A plan?” “Yes, let the one who is rescued live to avenge the other,”’ “ This is a terrible alternative.”’ “Yet Iam prepared to abide by it; my husband reproached me yesterday, accused me of weakness, want of fortitude—judge if he spoke correctly.” ~ pete Omicbooks.com