Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

a 52 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. Na miscreant ; and I have sworn to send him to the gallows, if there’s not another rogue left unstrung in England !” Quilt Arnold leered malignantly. “These are dangerous words, I do assure ye,” said he; “ however, since it is your honour’s wish, the pursuit shall be stayed, though Mr. Wild's anger will fall heavy on me, and these poor fellows will lose the reward offered for the girl’s appre- hension.” “They shall not suffer any loss on my account,” returned Roving Jack. ‘‘Divide this amongst them.” The old Jew, who stood by, looked on with glistening eyes, and twitched his long, claw-like fingers. He shuffled up to our hero, and plucked his black velvet sleeve, at the same time shrilly whispering in his ear— “Von vordsh, Shir Shon—dish vaysh.” Our hero took a step in advance, the old Jew cringing by his side, ‘‘T am shuresh you have not comesh to dish dish- repetable plashe for nothing, Sir Shon; dere ish shome pretty girl in de cashe.” ‘“A shrewd guess,” replied our hero, smiling; ‘but the deuce of it is that the minx does not care a fig for me, and I am determined to possess her,” ' “ Shtrike me! datsh spoken like a prave young shentlemansh !” returned the old sinner, rubbing his hands, and chuckling with delight. ‘“ Ferry goot, Shir Shon; Ill do it sheap, I'll have the skittish;fench carried off for you.” ‘Bravo, old Judas !’’ laughed Roving Jack ; “ but she has a lover, a meddlesome rogue; I wish he were put out of the way.” The old Jew’s eyes glittered with bloodthirsty eagerness. He threw a glance around. Then he crept close to Jack’s side. He drew his skinny fingers across his own throat. ““Umsh |” he grunted, inquiringly. “You wouldn’t object to undertake such a job?” said Roving Jack, carelessly, ““T am sho poorsh, Shir Shon,” whined the old wretch, “I can’t afford to be too shcrupiloush. He! he! fere shall I find dish varlet? He shall not trouble your vorshipful honoursh any morsh ; but, by Moshesh peard, you must not grudge putting down someting handshom for such a shob ash dat,”’, “Pretty peace-officers,’ laughed Jack; “but, enough,” he added, impatiently turning towards the constables. ‘‘ You see, gentlemen, the girl you ate Beer Ive is not here; are you satisfied of the act ?”’ “Quite satisfied, yer honour,” returned the poor old ‘ Charlies,” grinning, and touching their caps. “Had you not better allow us to escort you home ?” suggested Quilt Arnold. ‘This is a dan- gerous locality ; you may be attacked by foot- pads.” ‘‘Thank you, I am not alone,” returned our hero, “nor yet unarmed; I bave no fear of the rascals |” “As you please, Sir John ; I wish you good night, and a safe passage home,” returned the thief-taker, ‘Joe Hind vill tell you fere I can be heard of,” whispered the old Jew, “TI vill do de shob for your vorships; the prish ish yon toushand poundsh }”’ se U . ona I want your assistance I will apply to “Tt ish not shafe to trusht anypody in such mattersh, exchept a reshponshible pershonsh like myshelf. De ting shall be done in a quiet, pisnesh- like mannersh. Keep de shecret, Soir Shon.” The old Jew winked, and stroking his red beard, shuffled towards the door. ‘Good night, yer honour,” chorused the watch- men, ‘‘ Good night, friends,’’ returned our hero. ‘’ What was that rascally old Jew talking about ?” asked Hal, when the thief-takers had left the room, Roving Jack laughed. *‘ Would ye believe it, Hal? The outrageous old villain offered to carry off a pretty girl for me, and to cut the throat of my rival in love !” “ Benevolent, serviceable old creature,” laughed Hal. ‘“ But, seriously, is that true?” “ Hact, I assure you.” “‘ And what was the price he asked for this pre- cious bit of service 2” “Only ‘von toushand poundsh,’” returned our hero. ‘But is it not scandalous that the arch- villain Wild should hood-wink the government and surround himself by such desperate agents to carry out his devilish schemes? I am resolved to do my best to unmask the wretch.” “ Let sleeping dogs lie !’”” growled Jack Sheppard. “The governor’s a dangerous customer ; even I am hardly a match for him; he is the king of all the rogues in England.” ‘Two Jacks will be a match for this king of clubs, I'm thinking,” said our hero, with curling lip; “ but come; Jack Sheppard, you are mine now, accompany me home, and I will provide you with a suitable disguise, and you can lie close till my ship sails.” “T cannot leave this place to-night,” returned Sheppard, firmly. “Tf you linger you are lost,” urged our hero. ““Do not fear for my resolution, Sir John,” re- turned Sheppard; ‘‘I have passed my word, and that is enough,” ‘““ At least I shall see you in the course of to- morrow,” said Roving Jack, reluctantly giving up the point ; ‘‘I shall want to employ you in a certain mission which will require all your tact and dili- gence.” “May I ask what sort of business it is?” “This is neither the time nor place for explana- tion,” returned our hero; ‘but I will tell you thus much—I am anxious to discover the whereabouts of the parents of a certain young lady who has been neboreed from her family since her early child- ood,”’ “And do you know the name of her parents?” asked the robber. ‘“‘ Her father is, or was—for I know not whether he is dead or living—Sir Jocylyn Tremaine.” “Sir Jocylyn Tremaine!” repeated Sheppard, starting in surprise, “‘ Have you ever heard the name before?”’ asked our hero, “Yes,” returned Sheppard, “it is one of old Jonathan’s secrets. Is it your purpose to restore the young lady to her friends and fortune?” ‘* Wxactly so.” _ “Then let me tell you, Sir John, you are embark- ing In a very perilous enterprise,” returned Shep- pard, seriously. ‘‘ However, we will speak of this to-morrow. But they are calling me ; I must return to my associates for the present; get you away as quickly as possible, to-morrow I will visit you at your residence, Sir John,” “ Do not fail; and so, good night, Jack Sheppard.” a Gomicbooks.com