Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 52: what you’re looking at

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64 CHAPTER XXIII. A QUARREL BETWEEN JACK SHEPPARD AND JONATHAN WILD. “T pon’r like to leave Bess neither,’ said Jack Sheppard, internally ; “and though I am in hourly danger of being captured and brought to the gal- lows, I cling to the scene of so many exciting adventures with an infatuation that I can’t shake off. But this place is getting too hot for me; I have had more than one quarrel with old Jonathan, and I cannot depend upon him protecting me much longer. No, I'll give them all the slip—TI’ll send word to Field at our lumber ken, and make over my share of the swag to him and Blueskin ; and the money I got fram Roving Jack I will divide between Bess and Poll; and then I will join the crew of Pirate-hunters, and begin the world anew,” While thus soliloquising, Jack stood beneath the dark shadow of the boundary wall of the old Fleet prison. He had doffed his showy dress in which he generally appeared in public, and was now attired in dark and homely clothes, and looked like a re- spectable apprentice or tradesman’s son. “Twelve!” muttered Jack, starting surprisedly, as the bell of St, Sepulchre’s sullenly chimed the midnight hour. ‘‘He is late—perhaps he has changed his mind, and will deceive me.” A cloud of anxiety gathered on his brow. Then he burst into a laugh. “‘ How Blueskin will storm when he finds that I have failed to keep my appointment at Field’s; to- night we were to speak to the case at Plaistow— but who comes here ?”’ The stern, heavy tramp of footsteps caused Jack Sheppard to turn hastily. A burly fellow, in a drab coat and top-boots, paused in his walk, and fixed a quick, hawkish glance upon the robber, “Never! it can’t be surprise. “I wish it couldn’t,’ mumbled Jack, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets, and glancing down, half sheepishly, half sullenly, “Hulloa! failed? What, has there been a smash ?” asked Wild, in a tone of annoyance, “Yes, of the whole concern—dissolution of part- nership, and retirement from business,” said Jack, grinning. “It’s better to be plain with ye, ain’t it, governor 2” “Then, why are you not plain with me, sirrah? What do you mean? Have you quarrelled with Blueskin? Has Field played the snitch ?” “T have quarrelled with no one but myself, governor,” said Sheppard, coolly; “but I have been reflecting upon my folly in joining a firm where one partner has all the profit and honour, while the others share nothing but the shame, dis- honour and danger of the trade. I want to escape the gallows if I can.” Wild looked grimly at him, “The wish is not unnatural, with a leer, “but, in order to its you must divest you, Jack!” he cried, in Jack,” he said, accomplishment, yourself of every idea of your own free agency. You are sold, Jack, and bought ; you are mie, Mine to save you or to hang you according as I find you obedient or rebellious, The noose is already round your neck; I can loosen or tighten it at pleasure.” “ Jonathan Wild, you are an growled Sheppard, between his clenched teeth. “Granted so,” returned the thief-taker, chuck- ling ; “and really, Jack, as the world goes, it’s infernal villain !” ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. a scarcely worth while to deny such a trivial charge. A villain I may be, Jack, but I am also—a power! one you cannot resist.” ' . “The power of evil can be resisted, though,” returned Jack, witha sneer, “ For, asmy pious old master, the carpenter, used to say, ‘ Resist the devil, and he will flee from thee.’” -“ Humph !” chuckled Jonathan. “Thenlama mightier devil than my master, for I flee from no opposition, and as for resistance, ha! ha! What are you thinking of, Jack? You know that within an hour I could lodge you in the strongest dungeon in Newgate.” ‘ But you are not quite sure how long you could keep me there,” returned Jack, with a smile, “The next time, Jack, that I think it necessary to clap you into the stone jug I will take such pre- cautions as will try your skill to the utmost,” “Do so; I should like to startle the world by my next deed of prowess,” returned Jack. “I mean to become famous as the Prince of Prison-breakers,” “You will have every opportunity afforded you of gaining such a reputation ; it will be your own fault if you fail,” sneered Jonathan. — f Then sternly scowling and assuming a bullying air, he growled in a tone of great ferocity, “Away with this jargoning! What news from Plaistow, sirrah? Have you spoken to the case?” “No !” shouted Jack, with flashing eyes, wd “And Blueskin?’”’ asked Wild, trembling with wrath, : “What he and Field have been about to-night I neither know nor care,’’ returned Jack, doggedly. “For my own part I did not want to have a hand in the plant ; I am not in need of the ready Just now, and I had other fish to fry ; so there you have it.” “ Dog !” growled the thief-taker, savagely wield- ing his truncheon, He struck Sheppard a desperate blow on the temple. ‘You scoundrel !” gasped Jack, “and I am un- armed, too ; but come on, I will die rather than be your slave any longer.” | With this he sprang at the thief-taker’s throat, and tried to hurl him to the ground, But Jonathan Wild was a terribly powerful man ; Jack but slim and slight as a harlequin. Uttering a chuckling laugh of disdain, he dashed Sheppard back against the wall. Jack was half stunned by the crushing of his head against the stones, while the sharp edge of the little silver crown that tipped the truncheon had inflicted a deep cut on his forehead, from which the blood ran down in a stream over his face. “Ha!” sneered Jonathan Wild. “ You see how useless it is to cope with me, Am I not your master ?” "No, devil! you have not conquered yet,” returned Jack, in a courageous tone. He swiftly drew out a pocket-knife, and opened m4 blade, and then made a spring upon the thief- aker, —eQoooQuoouunananauaer EEE NOTICE TO OUR READERS. REMEMBER 'THIS!—In consequence of the enormous sale of “ROVING JACK,” the Proprietors have determined on pre- senting their Subscribers with a most interesting and novel gift. As it will take somo weeks in preparation, we shall give particulars in No. 11, As tho gift will be a surprise to our Readers, and a great expense to ourselves, we shall not issue it to any but our regular Subscribers, Remember! —This gift will be something new, and highly amusing. ==—comiicbooksseo Se UEEEERnnnee