Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 59: what you’re looking at

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ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 71 \ It is found fastened. this chamber, he placed the girl gently upon the “Bertha, my child,” cries a quivering voice from without, ‘‘are youill? Did youcall? I thought I heard you scream.” Wild imitates the deep breathing of one in a fast slumber, “No, she sleeps ; perhaps she was dreaming, or I must have been mistaken,” mutters the voice. “Bertha! She does not answer. How deeply she sleeps; no wonder, after toiling so hard all day. Well, I'll not wake her. Angels guard the poor child! Good night, my Bertha,” 7 Steps descending the stairs. The noise of a closing door, A gain death-like stillness, *Tick-tack,” plies the little clock on the mantle. ‘‘Chip-chirrup,” sings the cricket in the fireless grate. 4 Wild bears his unconscious burden to the win- ow. , . He hands her down to the ready arms of his satellites, . Wild once more stands in the little court-yard, and beside his attendants. “Capitally done!” he exclaims, triumphantly. “But, gad ! what a narrow squeak |” The ruffians carry their doomed yictim through the yard, and lift her over the gate. They reaco the dark entry of the court: Wild gives a low whistle, | It is answered. “Tt ish all right, Mishter Vild,’’ mutters the villanous old Jew, gleefully rubbing his hands. Nimble Nat is ready with the horse. Wild mounts the saddle, and, placing the un- conscious girl on the pommel before him, flings his heavy horseman’s cloak around, ‘Bravo, my lads!” he cries; ‘feach has acted his part to admiration! You shall be well re- warded. And, now, disperse ; I can manage the rest alone,” The three minor villains watch their principal as he spurs his horse, and dashes away, CHAPTER XXVIL. THE MURDER OF BERTHA GRAY. JONATHAN WILD galloped his eharger, and bore off the unconscious Bertha Gray through the cold bleak streets. A group of noisy, drunken revellers staggering home; a lurking thief ; ashivering, homeless beggar slinking by ; some fine beau or belle returning from ball or ridotto, earried deftly along by trotting foot- men in sumptuous liveries, and preceded by a link- bearer; a solitary ancient watchman in his long grey coat, toddling feebly, bearing his lantern and staff, and making the walls re-echo to his quaint, plain- tive cry, “ Past four o’clock, and a cloudy morn ;” such were the only passengers he met with. At the entrance of a dark alley in the purlieus of Seven Dials, Wild dismounted, and lifting the girl from the saddle, carried her down the dark and narrow entry, He opened a little door in the wall with a key he took from his pocket, and bore his victim into a dark room, He was evidently well aequainted with the place, for though not a single ray of light penetrated into floor, and lighted a lantern. The room thus illuminated presented.a wretched and squalid appearance; a low truckle bed, screened by a patched and tattered curtain, a rickety table, an old leather-bottomed arm-chair, -were the only articles of furniture it contained. Window there was none, but a sort of trap-door in the wall might, if opened, admit, the light ; but now it was fast closed and seeured by a padlock ‘and chain, The walls were disfigured by many scrawlings in charcoal—verses from vile doggerels, caricatured portraits and drawings of gibbeted criminals. He stood with folded arms, gloomily regarding her. | “S’death | tis a potent drug,” muttered the vil- lain. ‘I wonder how long she will remain thus?” He felt her pulse, and. thrust his hand into her soft bosom to discover whether her heart had stopped beating. : “ Life seems almost extinct,” he continued, in a low and anxious murmur, ‘I will see what can be done to break her trance,” In one corner of the room was a pitcher of water and a small hand-basin. He brought these to the bedside, and, pouring the water into the basin, bathed her forehead, and sprinkled her face, But this had no effect. The girl yet lay as still as an effigy in a tomb—as cold and marble pale. Jonathan Wild seemed puzzled and perplexed. ‘Tf I have been tricked! If that old leech Nightshade has given us—poison!” he muttered, excitedly. ‘“ Could I be sure that she would rouse from this mortal lethargy within a few hours, it would be well as it is; but, if she is dead, how shall I face Sir Ranulph?” As if impressed by asudden thought, he seated himself beside the bed. He lifted her smooth, white, rounded arm ; it remained drooping and passive in his grasp, He ther. turned another glance upon her beautiful but inanimate face. “She is indeed a lovely creature,” he said, with a peculiarly hideous smile. “Ido not wonder that the libertine is smitten with such charms; but I must try and restore her to consciousness.” He drew a clasp-knife from his pocket, and, opening it, made a slight incision in the fleshy part of the white moulded arm, After some time the little gash crimsoned, and a clot of thick blood oozed forth, which trickled heavily and slowly dowa the fair and tender limb, Still Bertha stirred not, The blood liquefied and flowed brighter and more freely. Then the lashes unclosed, and the mild, pure blue eyes dilated with alarm and wonder. Bertha started up. : ‘‘ What place is this?” she shrieked. Blood! Oh, I am murdered !” Her pealing screams rang fearfully through the grim chamber. ) “ Silence, fool!” growled Wild, turning pale. ‘Silence, I say; do not force me to quiet you by violent means; you imperil’my safety and your own life. Hush! Calm yourself. Do you not know me ?” The girl glared wildly into his face. ____ conniclbooks.c© af