Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. | 79 The swarthy ruffian laughed gruffly, and drew a huge horse-pistol from his belt. “The odds are mine, pal,” he said. Your tool is a very pretty one, and you can handle it well, but it is not worth a wheatstalk against this—but I bring you good news, A reprieve from old Jonathan is to be purchased upon an easy condition ; he has promised to get you off if you will assist me in settling a certain flash cull, known as—Roving Jack,” “You are fooling me.” ‘“‘No, ’pon my soul. I thought to have overtaken the fellow. Has any-one embarked from tie stairs within this half-hour ?” ‘Yes, yes; in Sam Sculler’s wherry. Three ‘bloods,’ one of them in a mourning suit of black velvet.” “That’s right. Which way have they gone?” “ To Southwark,” “Quick, then ; jump into that boat,” returned the robber. ‘‘ We must give chase.” Chiving Dick stood irresolute. Blueskin got into a wherry, unmoored her, and struck the oar-blade against one of the piles. “Will you come?” he asked “If you won’t help me in the case, I warn you that Wild has sworn you shall mount the nubbing cheat if there’s not another rogue left unhung in England.’ ‘But there are three of them.” “No matter, we are equally matched, for Sam Sculler is one of Wild’s lieges, and though he has no weapons, neither of the gentry coves, as I think, carries a barker.” ‘Yes, I'll go,” returned Chiving Dick, quickly. He sprang into the boat. “Take an oar,” said Blueskin; ‘‘and pull like blazes. How long have they started?” ‘“‘ Scarce five minutes,’’ “Then we shall overhaul them,’ returned the robber. “The governor has promised me a hun- “dred pounds if the job is done cleanly.” “ But must we kill all the three 2” “In course, my covey,’ returned the other; “unless we can nab the young blood-hound alone when he lands ; -but we must not stick at trifles; rather than lose our game we must run down the boat ; the tide is strong, and the best of swimmers could scarcely manage to reach the shore. But we’ll slit their throats first, and let ’*em drown arter- wards ; tug away !” ae boat shot through the black and lopping tide. : Neither of the men spoke for some moments, Their excitement was intense. “ Hold-water |”? whispered Blueskin at length. “* Whist !” ‘The men rested on their oars, and listened in- tently, ‘Hear anything 2?” “Yes, the dip of the sculls,” returned Chiving Dick, excitedly. ‘‘ We are close in their wake.” Blueskin gave a low and peculiar whistle, The signal was answered from ahead, “ All’s bob,” chuckled Blueskin ; ready ?” “ Aye,” muttered the other, trembling not with fear but with cold and hunger. ‘ Be resolute,” said Blueskin. ‘“ If we can manage this job, old Jonathan will come down handsomely, and you may snap your digits in the queer-chief’s face, though you were guilty of regicide, for Wild’s a trump and never breaks his word.” ** Hush !” “Confound you, take the tiller, we shall run astern of this hulk,’’ muttered Blueskin. “are you His warning was timely, for the strong tide drove the boat violently against some craft moored in the mid waters with a terrific bash, and nearly overset her. ‘Boat ahoy ! help, we’re swamped ! ahoy ! help |” cried Biueskin, in a loud ringing tone. Then he whispered:in the other’s ear, ‘‘T know the kid; he can never resist that, he will come to the rescue; though he’s as hard as the devil’s horns in hunting down us reeving culls, his heart’s as soft as a woman’s, and he always responds to an appeal for help or charity.” “ Aye, I know it,” returned Chiving Dick, in a hoarse tone, ‘Took ye; when their boat runs alongside, leap in and settle ’em all three ; the sculler will help us. Can you swim 2”? “Like a trout.” | “So can I; and in case of accidents, I'll divest myself of my coat and jack-boots.” With this he threw off his rug coat, and drew his legs out of their heayy encasements. Again Blueskin gave a loud shout for help, at the same time splashing the oar in the water, Tt’s all right,” he chuckled; “Sam Sculler has put about. See, they have lighted a link, and are pulling this way.” “ Ahoy there, what cheer?’ cried a voice, which the robbers immediately recognised as the water- man’s. ; ‘Help! ho help !’* cried Blueskin, steering the boat close under the deep shadow of the huge barge, . The other boat now ran swiftly alongside. The waterman leaned upon the bows and held the torch close over the water. Roving Jack stood up in the stem-sheets, Blueskin shouted a few rapid words in a slang that was unintelligible to the gentlemen, but not to the waterman, who, at hearing them, started and turned deadly pale. , He answered, however, in the same jargon. “What does this mean, sirrah?’’ cried our hero, sternly, for his suspicions were aroused that all was not right. “ Nothing, your honour; at least no harm,” re- turned the man, with forced calmness ; ‘‘we scullers have a peculiar cant of our own.” “Ha, then it was a waterman who shouted ; his wherry in distress, perhaps ?” “Yes, sir; run astern of yon craft; the fellow is clinging in the chains, most likely,” returned the sculler, in an excited, anxious tone. Once more Blueskin roared out some unintelli- gible order. The sculler replied, then turning to Roving Jack, he said, ** Pray be seated, sir, else the boat will be overset ; we must rescue the fellows one by one and put them on to the barge, there’s not room for them all in the boat; they are clinging to the hawser that moors the vessel.” “How many are there?” “Can’t say ; two or three, I think,” returned the seuller ; “but it is so dark I cannot discern them. Pray sit down.” Our hero complied. The waterman crept behind him, making some excuse, and as he did so drew a knife from beneath his doublet and placed it between his teeth. Blueskin now seized the oars. “Mark ho!” he whispered to his companion. Now’s the time ; Sam will finish the spy and we must tackle the other two.” COMLGDOO