Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

i ee, cee we a - - — ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. J ee Then she recoiled with a shudder of horror and detestation. : “You—you are that demon—Jonathan Wild 1? she gasped, in accents of intense terror. ‘“Demon—ha!” growled the thief-taker. _ ‘ In- solent minx ; but, there, do not be frightencd, I war not with women; I have done you a service, for which, hereafter, you will thank me.” “Ah ! now I remember all,” cried the poor girl, distractedly. “I was at study—you burst into my chamber and seized me—I fainted, You have carried me hither, but with what intent ? What haveI done to incur your hate ?”’ ‘“‘Hate—pish ! Had you said love But, there, there, I tell you, you are safe from insult and from injury ; and now listen calmly to my explanations.” The girl remained mute and trembling. ‘‘ Your fortune is made, Bertha Gray,” continued the villain, with an odious leer, ‘ Your bright eyes have inflamed the heart of the handsomest and richest gallant upon town.” ‘You allude to Sir Ranulph Gayton,” murmured the poor girl, faintly. “Ha, ha! You acknowledge, then, that my description of him is accurate,” returned Wild, chuckling. “ A scoundrel, a gamester, a libertine !’’ cried the girl, passionately. “Granted he is all this, my pretty Bertha. He is of high birth, is rich and generous, and, if you are wise, you will accept the good fortune. Come, speak truth, and say your gallant lover has earned your——” “My scorn, my detestation !” cried Bertha, with great vehemence, ‘“Proper stuff!” growled Wild, impatiently. “But, listen; I am unused to these displays of womanish petulance. I admire the sex; if I have any weakness it is a devoted attachment to beauteous woman, but I will not be thwarted in. any design. must be his,” “Oh, spare me!” sobbed the girl. “One word for a thousand !” growled the thief- taker, “I will not endure to be brow-beaten and rated by a puling wench whom I wish to serve.’’ ‘Oh, Walter, my own brave Walter, why are you ignorant of my distress? Why can you not save me?” cried the hapless girl, tearing her hair in dis- traction. “ Faugh !” returned Wild, scowling blackly. “A girl of your beauty and sense to Javish your favours upon a beggarly student, without friends, fortune or prospects; a scribbler of jingling rhymes— T am losing patience ; you must prepare to go with me, in silence and submission,” “Oh, no—no !” cried the girl, eagerly. return home ; I will breathe to no mortal living— not even to Aim—the secret of this night. It is early yet; my absence may not have been dis- covered, You shall have my full forgiveness and gratitude, my blessings and prayers. Spare me, Jonathan Wild! By your mother’s honour, I im- plore you save me from this shame, to me far worse than death !” Wild looked grimly at her, Then he turned aside, “Well, well, Bertha ; we’ll see what can be done,” he muttered, He took out his handkerchief, and the phial con- taining the fatal chemical, and poured a few drops upon it, > atthe ined anche taht dation tes ital “sip ie ath ant oh Sir Ranulph loves you, and you “T will “ Traitor!” screamed the girl, leaping to her feet, and dashing the phial to the ground and shattering it to pieces, “I know your design, Now Lremember all; but I have destroyed your hellish charm, and you shall not bear me from this place alive.” “‘ Ha, jade !” growled the ruffian, brutally seizing her in his arms. She struggled violently, uttering the most piercing shrieks, A thought flashed through her brain. In the struggle her hana had come in contact with the stock of the pistol that protruded from Wild’s coat pocket. In an instant she grappled the weapon, and drew it forth, * She leaped back with an hysterical laugh, and presented the gleaming barrel point blank at his head. ‘Foiled, villain!’ she exclaimed triumphantly, “ Advance one step, and I will kill you! Now oppose my exit, if you dare !” For a moment Wild was taken a-back. Then rousing all the determination of his dogged nature, he sprang boldly upon her. She fired. ; Too late, for he had already closed with her, and the bullet flew past his head, grazing his cheek. “Help! help! murder!” she shrieked, fran- tically. Wild dragged down her hand, and wove his arm around her face, A GRAND COLOURED PICTURE, GRATIS, with No. iz. IN consequence of the length of time necessary to prepare the novel Gift we have announced, we are compelled to postpore it for afew weeks; but, to make amends to our Headers, we intend to present them with a magnificent Coloured Engraving of TOM KING PURSUED BY THE BOW STREET RUNNERS. CLEAR OFF, THERE! AND MAKE ROOM FOR “SKELETON CREW!” Boys! read the startling History of WW ETL. D- FIRE NED, In the “ Skeleton Orew.” Now ready, with a splendid Picture, and No. 2, GRATIS. EXTRACT : THE ** Spoke to you ?” <5 OS; Sirs “© What did it say ?” “** Halt!’ it shouted, and on the instant my horse stopped, and would not budge an inch. ‘ Halt!’ it said, in awful tones, glaring down on me with its flery eyes. ‘I am one of the Skeleton Crew ; go, tell your master that Farmer Bertram is murdered!’ ” “‘ Murdered ?’’ said one and another of the company, in pale surprise. “* When did this foul deed take place ?"’ “** Murdered last night,’ said the Red Man from the gibbet, as the Darlington village clock tolled the hour of one. ‘Ha! ha! the Skeleton Crew still lives, and rules the seas, and will long defy the power of man. Fly from this spot, rash boy, before you are numbered with the dead.’” # This is a most horrible revelation,’’ said Sir Richard. I did not stop to hear more, for I shouted with fright, and galloped madly away, feeling as if frozen to the very marrow, for I HAD SPOKEN WITH THH DEAD!” Tom looked exhausted, and shivered in every limb. 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