Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

80 ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. et es cll into the hapless creature’s house in the manner mentioned above. The first thing they did, on getting access into the house, was to bind the old lady and her maid. They next demanded the whole of her money, and on being told by her that she had none in the house at the time—being very loth to part with her , gold—they threw out such horrid threats, and were proceeding to such acts of monstrous cruelty, even going so far as to place her on her own fire, as forced her to discover where the cash was kept that she had by her at the moment, all which they fleeced her of, the sum amounting to upwards of £400. The next person they robbed was a farmer, whose dwelling they entered, and whose people they subdued in like manner as had been done at the old woman’s premises, £700 being the booty which they carried away at this adventure. It was their custom to wreak out their vengeance against whatever persons should at any time attempt to baulk their schemes and efforts, Accordingly, they not only committed robberies on a large scale, but often maltreated the helpless ones who had the misfortune to fall into their nands, savagely flogging and otherwise cruelly dealing with their victims, Frequently would the villains continue in the house for a time to eat and drink at their will, while the inmates were forced to remain in quiet- ness and silence, On other occasions not only was murderous flagellation inflicted upon women; but they were made to submit to worse than loss of life, One cf their most frightful and monstrous exploits took place at the house of |Mr, Lawrence, near Stanmore, in Middlesex. Here they seized several persons, and treated them in the most ruffian-like manner. They tied a boy’s hands, whom they found putting up sheep after nightfall, with his own garters, and with a pistol held at his head made him do their bidding. They seized Mr, Lawrence, threw a cloth over his face, and after Turpin had ripped up his small clothes with a knife, taking from the pockets all the money found upon the gentleman, they forced him to go through with them several parts of the house, in order to name to them what was to be found in the ‘same that was worthy of notice ; and when they fancied that their victim gave them not all the information they required, they barbarously struck him on the head with their pistols and dragged him from one place to another by the hair of his head. After other pieces of barbarous usage towards this gentleman, and several of his household, the burglars retired laden with spoil, including plate and linen, warning the terribly-abused people, ' who were locked up in the parlour by this time, that they, the robbers, would return in a short time to see if any of the family had dared to stir from their place of confinement, when the punishment for so doing—before ample time had been allowed for the safe bestowal of the stolen property—would subject every one of the inmates to a sudden and terrible death, In short, the gang had become the horror of the districts in which they prowled. We have thus brought the {history of ‘this villain up to the point where our story commences, and forbear for the present to apply to the records of 24 JA 67 his life and trial, lest we might, by anticipating some of the most remarkable of his adventures, detract from the interest of the present romance. The first meeting between Dick Turpin and Tom King has already been narrated by the former. We resume our story. CHAPTER XXXI. THE HIGHWAYMEN PLOT AGAINST SIR RANULPH GAYTON, It was a glorious autumn night, and the full harvest moon sailed in her silver galley over wold ‘and waste, town and hamlet, when a party of dashing highwayman spurred gaily along the high road, The party consisted of Tom King, Rose, Bush and Fielder ; they were dressed in a very dashing style, wearing rich-coloured silk coats, elaborately embroidered with gold brocade ; cravats and ruffles of the finest point lace streamed in the air from their necks and their wrists. They were powerfully armed. A GRAND COLOURED PICTURE, GRATIS, with No. 12. IN consequence of the length of time necessary to prepare the novel Gift we have announced, we are compelled to postpone it for a few weeks; but, to make amends to our Readers, we intend to present them with a magnificent Coloured Engraving of TGM KING PURSUED BY THE BOW STREET RUNNERS. CLEAR OFF, THERE! AND MAKE ROOM FOR THE “SKELETON CREW!” Boys! read the startling History of WwiLD-FIRE NED, In the ‘‘ Skeleton Crew.” Now ready, with a splendid Picture, and No. 2, GRATIS. EXTRACT : “* Spoke to you ?” ‘6 Yeu. girs: *“What did it say?” “** Halt!’ it soouted, 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 fiery 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! hal 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 HAD SPOKEN WITH THE DEAD!’’* Tim looked exhausted, and shivered in every limb. Now Publishing, One Penny Weekly,