Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. dl “Ha, ha! But, dam’me, I Joved the girl.” Tom stamped his foot with impulsive energy, and there was deep sincerity and tragic earnestness in his tone, “Tl tell you the story some day, Jack Sheppard ; but there, there, it’s all rot! A man loves—his idol crumbles to dust! He toils—his cunning hand withers ! Nevertheless, Jack, I’ll tell you thus much of sober truth—there must be some ‘ hereafter,’ and we shall cut a sorry figure when the great reckoning comes; but ‘shadows avaunt! Richard’s himself again |?” Tom King laughed a hollow laugh, and then, clapping our hero on the shoulder, he added, “T accept your offer, Roving Jack. I will join your band, 1 will fight on the right side, and the first shot that levels me with the dust I sprang from shall be welcome.” “You will not say so, Tom King, when you feel that you are once more restored to self-respect, and can look the world in the face as an honest man,” returned our noble boy hero, joyously. ‘‘ One cruise with me, and then I think I shall be able to obtain a ‘free pardon for you; in that case, all will be well, and the stains of the past will be cleansed away for ever. Won't you join us, Jack?” “Yes, Sir John, I will!” returned Sheppard, starting up, and clasping his hand ; “ but take back this purse ; I will receive no gelt from you till I have earned it.” “ You have eatned this already,” said our hero, smiling, and dropping two valuable rings into the purse. “ Take it, and if you should find yourself in want of money, freely apply to me. And now it is settled that you will join my band?” ‘Done, Roving Jack.” ‘And you, too, Tom King ?” The highwayman trolled out— ‘< This world’s a wide sea, and a rover, It’s battles and breezes I’ve breasted Some fortunate isle to discover, Where my home-loving heart might be rested.”’ Aye, I’ll be your captain of mariners.”’ ‘‘ Meet me, then, to-morrow night ; but, hark !” A shriek was heard in the passage without, Then the light patter of flying feet. ‘Tom !—help !—let me in|’’ cried a voice with- out. The highwayman and Jack Sheppard sprang up, and seized their weapons, “Tis a woman’s voice,” said Hal. ‘Aye, Kate's,” returned Tom King, stepping to the door, and unlocking it ; ‘some cursed mishap ; the traps are down, for a wager.” Tom's mistress sprang into the room. Trembling and breathless, she threw herself into his arms. “Save me! save me!” she gasped. “Tut, tut; calm yourself, my dainty dell,” re- turned Tom, drawing his sword, “you are saved already. What has happened ?” | ‘No, no! slap to the door!” cried the girl, breathlessly. ‘‘Ah! they are coming! Whither shall I fly ?” ' &_Jack Sheppard rushed to the door, closed. it, and turned the key. “The brown bills ?” “Yes, Tom; that wretch Quilt Arnold, and the horrid old Jew, Abraham Mendez, with a whole posse of watchmen, are in pursuit of me.” ' Voices and hurried steps were now heard in the passage. “To the window !” cried Jack Sheppard. ‘“ Now, Sir John, will you aid us to save this poor wench from the lash ?”’ “ With all my heart,’ replied our hero ; ** I cannot bear to see her dragged away by those brutal ruffians, and, right or wrong, [ll help you to save hers : “Gallant heart,” cried Tom King. ‘Keep the door, then. Now, Kate, give me your scarf.” ** Must I clamber down from this window?” said the girl, shuddering. “Aye, lass; but that is easy,” returned Tom, binding the scarf about her waist. ‘Catch hold of my hands, and I will let you down.” The girl obeyed, but not without hesitation. The thundering at the door, which Jack, Hal, and Sheppard had barricaded with chairs and tables, urged her to exertion, and she let herself down. Tom King held the end of the scarf, and en- couraged her in whispers. She reached the ground in safety. * After her, Tom,” said our hero, in an under tone. ‘‘She may be waylaid in the street ; besides, you may be recognised and captured.” Tom raised his hat, and smiled his adieu. He then nimbly clambered through the window, and dropped lightly on to the pavement below. ‘“‘Curse ye—open the door!” roared the surly voice of Quilt Arnold. ‘‘Open, I command ye, in the king’s name !” Bash !—bash |! “Hold !” cried our hero, as Sheppard closed the windows, “No violence; we will let you in.” He threw open the door, But so suddenly, that the little, ugly, weazened, _ red-bearded Jew stumbled forward, and pitching over a chair, rolled half-way across the chamber. Howling, cursing, and rubbing his ankle, he scrambled on to his spindle legs, ‘‘Where’s the blowen? You have let the baggage escape!” cried Quilt Arnold. ‘ Mr, Wild shall know of it. I'll arrest you all for this reseue—ha ! Jack Sheppard, you here ?” “Aye, my nab; so be civil,’ returned the robber. “ Holy Abramsh, who ish dese shentlemensh ?” snuffed the old Jew. Quilt Arnold glanced with astonishment at the gallant forms of our hero and his friend, “Tf I mistake not, sir,’ he said, in a respectful tone, “‘I have the honour of addressing Sir John Warbold ?” “Aye, Master Quilt Arnold,” returned our hero, sternly ; ‘‘and this is not the first time we have met, Have you forgotten the pirate’s cave, at the Foamy Reef ?” “Hush, for mercy, Sir John!” muttered Wild’s satellite, with a start. ‘Do not betray me,” He then drew our hero aside. “Hark ye, Sir John; perhaps you have some wish that the bona roba should escape?” ‘With what crime is she charged?” asked Roving Jack, The thief-taker grinned. “Not with cly-faking, I must confess; she’s not a cut-purse exactly ; but Mr. Wild has reasons of his own for wishing to apprehend her; and you know, Sir John, that by virtue of the new statute, he can at any time clap his hand on the shoulders of a girl of her class.” “J understand,’ said our hero, “But tell Jonathan Wild that it was my wish that she should not be apprehended.” “Should be sorry to be the besrer of such a message, with pardon, Sir John,’’ returned Quilt, gravely. ‘‘ You don’t know the man.” “T do know the man!’ returned our hero, fiercely. “I know him fora bloody and treacherous comicooo SCO)