Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

| | —— ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 67 “Enough! enough ! foolery ?” ‘With a final sentence. You are mine, Jonathan Wild! The meanest of your dependents is not more wholly a slave to you than, you are to myself, If you attempt to brave, or thwart me (to use your Own expression), my word is my bond, and you shall die if there Is NOT ANOTHER ROGUE LEFT UN- HUNG IN ENGLAND.” a “Gentlemen,” said Wild, nervously, turning away to address the astonished by-standers, “ Sir John has interceded on behalf of this wretched young criminal, whom he desires to save from punishment, and though it is a breach of my plain duty, as I am pleased to have it in my power to oblige so be- neyolent and distinguished a personage, I will give Sheppard a last chance for his life.” “Ha! hal governor,” cried the house-breaker, gleefully, “so you’ve met your match at last !” ‘ Silence ! rejoined our hero, “away ! and think yourself fortunate that you have escaped from your well-merited doom. I will send you some money, and enable you to evade your pursuers, and to redeem your character; but you must leave’ the country.” “ Heart’s thanks, Sir John,” returned Sheppard, “but not till I have, settled accounts with yonder villain.” He turned, and rapidly turning the corner of the street, disappeared. As for Wild, he was struck dumb with mortifi- cation and baffled revenge. “ This is most extraordinary !’’ cried Sir Ranulph. “In heaven’s name, what motive can you have for wishing to wrest such a notorious criminal from the hands of justice 2?” .; “T don’t wonder that you think my conduct strange, Sir Ranulph,” was our hero’s reply “ but, I will explain all as we walk along, for it is very late, and we must turn oursteps homewards. Good night, Mr. Wild ; we shall meet again.” ““ Accept my excuse, Sir John,” replied the noble- man, ‘‘ but we must part here for the nonce ; I have a word to say to Mr. Wild respecting the recovery of some of my stolen valuables, and it is not my intention to return to my house to-night; but Sir Maurice will accompany you.” Our hero and his party raised their hats and re- tired. Sir Ranulph drew to the side of Wild. “We have witnessed a rather odd scene, eh, Jonathan,” he said. The thief-taker smiled grimly. “T and Sir John understand each other,” he re- plied, with a shrug. ‘Ts it possible ? You have done business together, eh?” “Yes, and I hope to do more, for he is a good paymaster.” * Amazement! The gallant Roving Jack too, the robber-hunter, ha,ha! Well, with all his chivalrous bearing, I always thought him a deep dog, Is his affairs similar to mine? Has he been bewitched by some of the Alsatian Helens, or does he wish to wreak his vengeance upon some private enemy ?” “Tis a secret, Sir Ranulph.” “ Right, right ; I have no wish to pry into your secrets, Jonathan, so long as you respect mine, But, dismiss your followers.” The thief-taker turned towards his satellites and waved his hand. At the signal they fell back, and slowly followed the pair, keeping out of ear-shot. “And now listen,” said Sir Ranulph. ‘TI have brought you the money according to promise.” Will you put anend to this Wild seized the purse that the other offered, and, with glistening eyes, slipped it into his pocket, “Now, I find, that with all my endeavours. to vanquish my cruel charmer’s aversion to me—of course, I allude to Bertha Gray—I cannot——” ‘‘ Permit mé to interrupt you, Sir Ranulph, for one moment. Can you tell me by what route Sir John Warbold will return home 2?” ** Why do you ask ?” “Oh, from no evil motive. I forgot to inqnire of him on the subject; it has a bearing on the little affair between us.” “Well, then, he will cross the river in a wherry, embarking at London Bridge; but, to come back to the business in hand——” “Once more I must ask your indulgence, Sir Ranulph. You see that fellow lurking under the shadow of yon portico? I must speak a word with him ; T’ll return in an instant.” He crossed the road, and gave a low, peculiar whistle. 1 A tall, dark-faced ruffian glided from his ambush. “ Blueskin !” “Tm here, guv’nor,’ growled the robber. “TI know you'll be angry, but, send I may live, it wasn't my fault.” ““T know what you would say, Joe; the plant you were engaged for has miscarried——” “Aye, but, dam’me, Mr. Wild, I can’t think what has happened to that frisky lad, Jack Shep- pard. He promised to meet me at Field’s; we were all three to go reg’lars in the job; but when I got to the lumber ken I found he was not there. I waited for hours, but he didn’t show up. What has happened ?” “No matter now; Iam satisfied that you were not to blame, The plant will keep; but, harkye, Blueskin ; [I have a proposal to make to you,” ‘* Spit it out,” was the elegant rejoinder, ‘Will you earn a hundred guineas?” Oh, no; ’tain’t likely,” returned the ruffian, laying his finger on his nose, and winking signifi- cantly. | ‘‘ Roving Jack is at the bottom of Sheppard’s defection ; he has seduced him from his allegiance by tempting offers of reward and security.” Blueskin apostrophised our hero in a style more emphatic than flattering. ‘He must not live another day,” said Wild; “either he or I must fall. He has laid a deep plot to trap yourself and a dozen others.” Again Blueskin interrupted with a terrible im- precation. ‘‘Harken! he is now on his way home; you must overtake him, and make cold meat of him; if you’ll do it ll add another fifty guineas to the sum I’ve offered.”’ ‘““That’s all bob, guv’nor; but this is a fancy affair I could a’most do for nothing. So help me, Nick, Pll do for him.” “Aye! but it’s a ticklish job, and will require all your skill and wariness. Moreover, there’s no time to be lost; he will cross the river from London Bridge. I know the waterman at that station ;.he is Sam Seuller, one of my men; and I shouldn't wonder but you will find Chiving Dick hiding under the arch ; he is keeping out of the way on account of that affair of the farmer whom he killed in Holborn ; take him with you, and tell him that if he succeeds with your help and the waterman’s to kilk our arch-enemy, the robber-hunter, I will extend my protection to him, but that, if there’s any bungling, he shall mount the nubbing shear, if there’s not another rogue left unhung in England,” “Done, guv’nor,”’ returned Blueskin ; “Vl meet 0 Gomichdoo S (CO)