Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

——— Se eens ws 74 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. described, and with the heavy chain it clashed down, ; He then tore down the hatch, and crawled into the dark opening. : He looked back for an instant with a fascinated gaze upon the body, then, with a muttered excla- mation of chagrin, he re-closed the trap behind him and disappeared, E Many moments elapsed, and the unhappy girl re- mained quite motionless. ; At length a piteous groan fluttered from her white lips. é She feebly raised herself upon her arm. She raised her bloodstained hand, and clutched her forehead, wet with the dews of her death agonies. “Walter |” she gasped, feebly, ‘remember me !- Avenge me! Yes, it shall be known by whose hand I die 17 Exerting all her strength the dying girl dragged herself along the floor, and sank down by the wall. Then dipping herhand in the fatal life-tide welling from her wounded breast, she feebly traced the dread letters upon the wall. When she had com- pleted the sentence her hand fell, she sank power- less, and with a low moan her spirit parted. And there, traced in her life’s blood, stared the damning accusation— “MURDERED BY WILD |!” CHAPTER XXVIII. THE DECOY—THE STRUGGLE IN THE WATER, Rovine JACK and Sir Maurice Lacy, with Hal Hetherington, after leaving Jonathan Wild, turned their steps in the direction of the river, They reached the stairs of London Bridge, at that time the only one in the metfopolis, It was covered with houses, and the arches, nine- teen in number, were supported by huge piers laid upon starlings or jetties that stemmed the strong and rapid tide, ? A more detailed description of London Bridge is reserved for a future chapter. The night was black and murky, and from the houses, perched dim and shadowy in the gloom aloft, the lights of windows shimmered down and glittered brightly in the dark and sluggish stream, Upon the water-steps, which were lighted by a flaming cresset, a waterman stood with folded arms, smoking a pipe, and drowsily watching, He was dressed in a woollen cap and short doublet, with a badge on his arm, : As the three young gentlemen tripped gaily down the steps, the waterman stepped forward. “\Vant a wherry, your honours ?” he asked. “Aye,” returned Roving Jack, stepping lightly into the boat, “to Southwark.” He was about to seat himself upon the thwart when he felt a clutch on his arm. . He turned carelessly, thinking it was Hal or Sir Maurice who had touched him. He started with surprise to behold a strange man, his face pinched with hunger and want, as pale and cadaverous as death ; he was very tall, in fact little under seven feet, as thin as a taper, He was wrapped in a loose and ragged grey coat, and an immense Spanish hat slouched over his eyes. ‘‘ Sir,” he whispered hoargely through his clatter- ing teeth, “assist me with a little money; I am dying of starvation,” te The man’s haggard looks and faint accents so fully confirmed this statement that the three young gallants uttered an exclamation of pity. __ “ A living skeleton !” exclaimed Sir Maurice. “ Can it be possible! andin this great and wealthy capital ?”’ rejoined Hal. ; Our hero looked the stranger searchingly in the face. *‘ Yes; but who are you, friend ?” ‘Don’t ask me, sir; a poor hunted wretch, who for a whole week has tasted nothing but a few stale crusts, fleshless bones, and other garbage thrown down from the houses on the bridge.” “Hal then you are a fugitive hiding from the pursuit of justice?” To this question the fellow returned no other answer than by reiterating his supplication. ““T starve, sir ; for God’s sake assist me,” The waterman drew our hero aside, and whispered in his ear, | “The rogue doesn’t deserve your help, sir,” he said ; ‘‘ he is Chiying Dick, one of the gang of foot pads who robbed and murdered the farmer on Holborn Hill. Jonathan Wild is after him, and the hunt isso hot that the poor villain has been forced to hide himself beneath the dry arch of the bridge ; this is the first time he has ventured forth since last Wednesday,”’ “Well,” said Roving Jack, “let the officers of law catch him, and hang him; but, meanwhile, I can’t for my life resist the appeal of a poor wretch — in such a condition as his,” So saying, he placed some guineas in the fellow’s extended hand, ‘‘Dam’me!” cried the fellow, with a chuckle of delight, and a brightening gleam in his dark, fierce eyes, “this is the kindest thing that ever I heard on. May fortune favour your honour in war, love, and hazard, I’ve hardly breath enough to thank ye; but your gift will give me life to serve ye, and, henceforth, I’m your slave! I’d strangle a babe or rob the altar for your honour !” “I’m afraid you’d do either upon less occasion,” returned our hero, coldly. He seated himself in thé boat with his com- panions. The boat was pushed off, and disappeared in the darkness. “ Pull away, waterman !” Chiving Dick peered through the gloom, and watched the boat as it glided through the dark waters. A hand was clapped upon his shoulder, : He uttered a cry of alarm, turned round, and with a bitter oath, seized the man who had laid hands on him by the throat, “Ha, ha! startled, my pal! Don’t ye know me? I'm a fellow chip.” “What !—Blueskin !” cried the other, of relief, nailers,”’ “‘Suspicion always haunts a guilty mind,’ as roaring Tom King, the toby gloak, would say,” laughed the robber ; “but Iam in haste, I’m glad I've met ye, Chiving Dick.” “Ha! maybe you come on an errand from Jonathan Wild,” returned the other, suspiciously. ‘“You’ve hit it,” said Blueskin ; “I come direct from the city marshal,” “Stand clear, then,” with a sigh “I thought you were one of the growled the robber, stepping backwrdas, and drawing a long, broad-bladed dag- — ger, half my strength is frozen and starved out of me, the other half will serve against a single adversary ; 80 look out for yourself, Joe Blueskin !” cCOmMIchHOOKs “I don’t mean to be taken alive, and, though © ‘ ; : eh com — Dine mite Oe —s + a. ion ote