Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 58: what you’re looking at

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70 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. py plant, but it’s as well to be prepared ; and now let’s away.” They re-passed the gloomy chambers, re-locking the strong doors, As they emerged from the house the clocks tolled three. } “Hasten, I fear we shall be toolate: What an exacting fool is Sir Ranulph to insist upon having the job done at this late hour. Come on. Well, Abe, what’s the matter, you seem all aghast? Have you seen the ghost of Tom Hall staring from my window? Speak, you idiot |” | “ Mishter Vild,” returned the Jew, in a low, eager whisper, “I fear ash ve are vatched, I shaw a dashing-looking shentleman loafing pehind the church wall, but when I twigged the touter he shneaked off. I tink it vosh——” “Hal the devil!” : ‘““No, Mishter Vild ; but—Tom Kine!” CHAPER XXXVI, THE ABDUCTION OF BERTHA GRAY. “You were not mistaken, Nab,” said Wild, as | with his two satellites he walked onwards through the cold, bleak street, on which the twilight of dawn was dimly glaring. “We are watched !” They had not proceeded far before Wild stopped at a little door under a narrow by-lane. “This is one of my lumber kens,”’ he said, “There is an outlet by the back by which we can slip off, so that Master King may watch till a blue moon rises if he likes; neither he nor Turpin can escape me for long; their whole gang shall swing if there’s not another rogue unhung in England.” They entered the house, and passing through a : kind of store-room came out by a back door into a liftle paved yard, in which there was a gate that opened into the street. Oncé more hurrying their steps they pushed on towards Salisbury Court. At the corner of this alley they encountered a man leading a strong grey charger. _ * Well, Nimble Nat, have you bad a quiet watch ?” asked the thief-taker. ‘‘All’s bowman, Mr. Wild,” replied the man. “‘There’s no one down; the house is as dark and quiet as if all its inmates were dead.” **Good. Hark ye, Nimble, station yourself here with the trotter ; when we have secured the girl we will bear her to the archway, and give a low whistle ; if the coast’s clear answer to the signal, and then I wilk bring her out, put her into the saddle, and carry her off like a Sabine virgin.” ‘All right, gov’nor, I'll keep my eyes open you may rest assured.” Wild and his two satellites entered the court, The old inn stood on one side. They found it as dark and silent as Nimble Nat had described, ‘‘Step softly,” whispered the principal villain’; ‘“‘she sleeps in alittle room, no better than a loft.” ““ Put, my tear Mishter Vild, take care; thereisha pig tog shained in de yardsh,” said Abraham, “Aye, curse the beast ! I had forgotten him.” ‘‘ He dosh not park ; perhaps he ish ashleep.” “Hay Pll try the philter ; lend me your wipe, Sxselds I shall want my own to quiet the wench with.” Mr, Quilt handed to his superior his tattered silk mouchoir. ‘Give hita a good dose,” he muttered with a chuckle. st | sake!” “ Never fear,” returned Wild. cite He poured nearly half the contents of the phial upon the handkerchief, _ Very cautiously and quietly they scaled the gate, and crept across the yard. | They had not proceeded far before they were startled by a fierce, though a half-drowsy growl, and rattling his chain a large mastiff sprang out from his kennel. : | In an instant Wild was upon him, and had thrust the wetted handkerchief into his mouta. The animal stood asif bewildered and benumbed, then with a suppressed snarl he tottered and fell plump over on his side, and remained so still as if he were death-struck. ‘‘ Excellent |” chuckled Wild, “ with this magic elixir we might spell-bind and bear off all the houris in teh Grand Turk’s harem. Come.” His attendants followed him close. “ By all that’s infernal!” growled Wild, starting back, ‘‘there is a light burning in her room; she must be awake !” ‘“Holy Abramsh, vot shall ve do now, Mishter Vild ?” returned the Jew. * Hush! Here, Quilt, take the handkerchief, but don’t use it unless she sees you and raises an alarm, Now, clamber up to the window and see what she’s about.” Arnold mounted on the slouching shoulders of the trembling Jew and peeped into the room through a hole in the blind. “Well?” asked his master, as Quilt slipped quietly to the ground. “Tt’s a queer go, and no mistake, Mr. Wild,” re- turned the other ; “‘ she is sitting at a table, writing, with a pile of books and maps before her.” “‘ Shtrike me blindsh ! vot a shtrange ting !” ‘“Ha! I see,” said Wild, quickly, “‘her chosen lover is a young law student of the Temple, who, being himself a book-worm, is desirous that she should acquire some learning before he marries her, and the fond fool wastes her nights in study for his * a a “‘Vot a pecooliar creatursh is vomansh!” mut- tered the Jew, uplifting his lank, yellow hands, and sighing sentimentally. “Well, we have come, and we have seen, and we must conquer |” returned Wild, in a tone of deter- mination. ‘The handkerchief, Quilt ; and now let me mount up the casement,” Jonathan Wild sprang lightly upwards, caught a grasp on the sill; and raised himself on ‘to his knees, Peering into the room, he perceived the beautiful and innocent girl, pale and tired, and poring intently upon her love-prompted studies. A thrilling moment passes. The girl sees not those demoniac eyes that glare upon her devoted head. ; “ Tick-tack !” plies the little clock on the mantle. a RS CBAERED sings the cricket in the fireless grate. Bash ! clatter! clingle ! A piercing shriek |! Wild has bounded into the chamber, and the hapless girl is vainly struggling in his strong, fierce grasp. He claps the handkerchief over her mouth. A mortal shudder runs through her tender limbs, | and she sinks ina deep swoon. | : The jar of a door opening in the lower part of the house, A step on the stairs, Wild blows out the candle, Lhe door is tried, , * , Eomicbooksrcom