Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

/ EEE o_o o_O ————————————————————— ne 54 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. Le 0060606060686 000606065 ————— nr Instantly upon seeing him, our hero started and whispered to his companion, “Tis Wild! Stay one moment, Hal; I’ll watch the rogue down Wych Street, and see if he will enter the ‘ Black Lion.’ ” “ But I will go with you.” Set still, you will attract his notice,” returned Roving Jack, ‘I'll return on the instant,” Our bold young hero dogged the steps of the thief-taker, and tracked him to the “ Black Lion,” where, as our hero had expected, he had entered. Crossing the road, Roying Jack peeped in at the little window of the parlour, In the middleof the room stood Jonathan Wild, a sullen glare on his savage and astute countenance, listening to the eager recital of the tall and dark- faced ruffian, Joe Blueskin. “ And he has dared to listen to such a proposal ?” growled Jonathan Wild. ‘““Dared!” returned Blueskin, with a scowl. ‘‘Zounds! what is there that Captain Sheppard dares not do? But my notion is simply this, that we mustn’t lose our best hand, eh, guv’nor? Where- ever was there such a cracksman as our little pal, Jack? and what should I do without him? Why, ’od rot it! I think I should give myself up, or save old Marvel* a job by chalking myself across the weason with my own cheese-knife. And Edge- worth Bess, and Mistress Maggot, what would they do without their fancy man? We should all break our hearts,”’ . “You may console yourself on that score, Blue- skin,’ sneered Wild. “Jack Sheppard shall never leave England.” “ Perish me! no, guv’nor, it’s not to be thought of.” ‘And so that young bloodhound, Roving Jack, has inherited the fortune and title of Sir John Warbold, the old port-admiral ?” _‘*That I and Jack fleeced so neatly in the St. Alban’s Road,” grinned Blueskin. “ Aye; but how long shall the troublesome young braggart enjoy them ?” “ Only so long as it suits my purpose,” returned Wild, sternly. ‘‘So his term is short, Blueskin, I warrant ye.” “Send I may live; but ’m glad you're o’ that mind, guv’nor,’’ chuckled the robber. “ He has done mischief enough already. I’m ready to cut his throat whenever you like to give the word. It'll be a labour of love.” The ruffians now receded from the window, and our hero was unable to catch the rest of their con- versation. Roving Jack now thought it prudent to return to the carriage. With this intent he proceeded a few steps towards Drury Lane, when his progress was suddenly ar- rested by the appearance of three showily-dressed fellows, masked, and armed to the teeth, who sprang forth from the black shadows of a gable, and with naeed swords gleaming in their hands, confronted im, ‘‘ Stand !’’ shouted one of them, Roving Jack threw his back against the wall, and drew his sword, “Back, you villains!” he cried, ‘“ The first man who advances one step dies on the spot !” “B—t ye! give up your money, and quickly, too, or I'll rip your heart out!” growled the tallest of _ the three robbers, and apparently the leader, “Aye, Dick ; let’s have no palavering,” rejoined another, savagely. ‘Wild passed just now, we have no time to lose.” * The hangman. GEomicbooks.com “Come, sirrah, your purse, your fawneys, your coat !” cried Dick Turpin, for it was he who took the lead. “Quick, I say! another moment’s hesi- tation and I’ll lodge a couple of slugs in your piggish head, you obstinate fool |” | “Rescue! thieves! watch!” shouted our hero, lustily, while he darted upon the robbers. Dick Turpin uttered a tremendous oath. He sprang towards our hero with a furious lunge, Roving Jack cleverly parried the thrust. | The slim blades clinked and clattered as they intertwined in the mortal conflict. Our hero, who had constantly practised the art of fencing under the best masters he could procure, fought with the utmost skill and bravery. The highwaymen slashed and lunged, cursing and swearing by the deepest and most dreadful oaths, that they would kill their courageous opponent. Roving Jack shouted in bold tones his ery for help against such heavy odds. One of the highwaymen, hearing the distant sound of springing rattles, and the shouts of Hal and the two footmen, who were hastening to our hero’s assistance, took a step backwards, and drew a pistol and levelled it at him. But in an instant Jack was alive to his danger, Recklessly dashing through the advanced swords of the other two highwaymen, our hero reached the fellow whose fingers were already curling round the clumsy lock of the long pistol, and with a fierce thrust ran his sword to the hilt through his body. f Blood flew from the ruffian’s mouth, his arms tossed up, and as Jack drew back his sword, the robber rolled down as dead as the stone that was stained with his gore. For several moments the rascally Joe Hind, the landlord of the ‘‘ Black Lion,” had been a witness of this exciting scene. He stood on the step of his house, and held aloft a flaring torch, which threw its lurid light upon the combatants. Yet he forebore to interfcre, though Jack called to him, and adjured him to come to his assistance. When Dick Turpin saw his comrade fall dead at his feet his surly and savage temper broke all bounds, and, literally foaming with rage, he sprang upon our hero, receiving a desperate cut on the cheek, however. Seizing his laced cravat he attemped to drag him down, while he shouted to his comrade to snatch the watch and jewels and to cut away the pockets of the struggling boy. With his right hand our hero slashed at the robber who was attempting to carry out his leadér’s directions, while he contrived to wind his left arm round Dick Turpin’s waist, and advancing his knee BREE him over, and threw him heayily upon the curb. With a yell of fury the highwayman drew a pistol. | Roving Jack, planting his knee upon the breast of his prostrate foe, clutched his wrist. A desperate and protracted struggle ensued for the possession of the pistol. The other robber, freed from Jack’s attack, now stole behind him, sword in hand, The point of the weapon had already touched the velvet coat of our unconscious hero, who was too much absorbed by his tussle with Dick Turpin to think of anything else, when a loud report ran down the street. . A bullet whizzed past our hero’s shoulder, and cracked into the robber’s skull, scattering his brains against the wall, and stretching him stiff upon the pave,