Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

76 “TREACHERY !” roared Chiving Dick. “ Ware steel, Sir John; your life is in danger !” Our hero, Hal, and Sir Maurice instantly drew their swords and seized the waterman. “Ha!” cried Roving Jack, in a terrible voice, ‘‘the villain has drawn a knife ; we are beset by assassins,” . “Mercy !” shrieked the sculler, struggling in our hero’s grip. “‘ Betrayed !”” growled Blueskin, seizing Chiving Dick by the throat. The boats rocked fearfully, and were in instant danger of a collision. Uttering the foulest imprecations, Blueskin attacked Chiving Dick with wolfish savagery. The latter had the advantage in height, and, under ordinary circumstances, was more than a match for his antagonist in agility, but he was faint and weak from famine, and as he upraised his long knife his hand quivered as if he were palsy- struck, The boat lurched and the water dashed over the bows, drenching the combatants. Chiving Dick got his left hand upon Blueskin’s collar, and, forcing him back with his right, was about to drive a knife into his side, when Blueskin clapped the muzzle of his pistol to his breast and deliberately shot him through the heart. But he did not relinquish his grasp, for his fingers tightened in his mortal agony, and both the men rolled over and plashed into the water. Down, down they sank, Blueskin fighting des- perately to release himself from the other’s death- grasp. The strong tide swept the struggling men away, and again they sank, but Blueskin contrived to free himself from the other’s clutch, and rose to the surface of the stream. Turning his head, he beheld the torch in the distant boat flaring luridly through the darkness. He struck out vigorously, and with a spurt dashed swiftly after the boat, Meanwhile our hero had pitched the waterman overboard. . : Hal and Sir Maurice were rowing fast, while Roving Jack, with the torch in one hand and his naked sword in the other, kept a sharp look-out. Blueskin swam up. He seized the gunwales of the boat and tried to capsize her, Our hero made a thrust at him with his sword but did not reach him, Hal, however, struck him with the oar, The daring ruffian let go his hold and sank back into the stream. ‘Did you see the villain’s face, Hal ?”” asked our hero. ** Yes, it is Blueskin !”’ returned his friend, “Zounds ! the notorious scoundrel, who, in con- junction with Jack Sheppard, robbed my friend Sir Ranulph of fifty guineas, besides his valuables,” rejoined Sir Maurice. ‘Well, his career is finished,” returned Hal. “I saw him go down; he has perished by water, despite the old proverb.” But Hal was mistaken, for Blueskin, who was a wonderfully good swimmer, glided to the side of the boat and once more attempted to capsize her. This time our hero thrust the torch into his face, scorching his cheek and setting his beard a-fire. The robber uttered a yell of pain and once more dived down beneath the surging waters. In a few moments Roving Jack and his com- panions run the whérry in shore without further adventures. COMIEHOOKS ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. CHAPTER XXIX. THE DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF BERTHA GRAY— THE DEADLY CONFLICT BETWEEN JONATHAN WILD AND WALTER REVEL, AxBourT an hour after the abduction of Bertha Gray one of the hostlers employed at the ‘“ Bear and Ragged Staff,” a short, thick-set, grizzly-haired fellow, by name Bob Bannister, aroused from a deep drunken slumber, to find himself lying upon a truss of straw in the stable of the old inn. He rubbed his bloodshot eyes, and with aching head and fevered body glared stupidly about him. ““Od’s bobs! this is queer !” he muttered. “The candle has guttered down in the lantern, and the door is half open. I must ha’ been gloriously boozed last night; the punch at old Hind’s ig precious heavy, it has taken a strange effect on me, How camel here? Bah! my memory ewaporated in the steam of the punch. I don’t know nowt about it, Well, it’s wery evident I warn’t seen by any o’ the folks in the house when [ came home. Ha! let me alone for a deep dog even at the wust o’ times. I s’pose I managed to open the little wicket in the coach-yard ; but gad! where’s the keys? Gone! And if——” He looked round with a startled air. **No, the hosses is all right,” he added, with a sigh of satisfaction ; “but, dash my wig, I mun look arter the keys.” » He walked rather shakily to the coach-yard. He found the wicket ajar, and the keys lying a little way from it among the straw. ‘‘ Here’s a provident’al marcy !” he chuckled, as he fastened the gate. “It might ha’ been a case o’ locking the door arter the shed’s stolen ; but I allers was lucky.” He entered the stable-yard again. ‘* A—wagh !” he yawned, stretching himself and stamping his foot, for autumn was waning, and the mornings began to get cold, “I wonder why old Jowler’s so quiet; it’s seldom he hears a fut- step without rattlin’ his chain. High! dog, come out, sirrah !” But Jowler did not respond to this call. The old hostler walked to the front of the kennel. He started back with a blank look. The dog lay on its side, apparently dead. “Hillo! here’s summut wrong !” murmured Bob. “Why, smother me !” here’s a hankercher clenched in the poor brute’s jore! He’s been a gone and got pizoned |” He laid his hand upon the animal, and found that its body was warm. : “He don’t seem to be dead, neither. Well, this 1s a start; p’raps the ’ouse has been broak into in the night, Yes, by jingo! Miss Bertha’s winder is pushed in! Oh, lors! a trembles like a haspic |” He ran and fetched a ladder, and, propping it against the wall, mounted to the window. He started aghast, and his trembling shanks almost failed him ; had he not tightly clutched the rowels he must have fallen to the ground. The room was untenanted ;1t was evident that the bed had been left untouched, while the table was strewn with books and papers, which were soaked with ink that had been overturned, The candlestick lay upon the floor, His first impulse was to give a shout of alarm; but suddenly restraining himself he got down from the ladder, and stood shivering with dismay. ‘‘Thave it ! she’s been kidnapped !” he exclaimed, aloud. “Some o' them doamed mohocks has been ee gone and carried her off ! Oh, lors! what a go | ; Eom