Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

~ FN eee a ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 83 mansion ; the body of the poor girl and that of her lover was found in a sort of chamber in an old archway not far from Seven Dials. The place, I fancy, is one of Wild’s hiding cribs; at all events, suspicion fell upon him; but none dared accuse him. He made it appear so plain that he had been far away from the spot where and at the time when the crime was committed, that both the coroner and the magistrate before whom the witnesses were examined never attached the slightest importance to several strange circumstances in the case which convinced me—for I was present at the examination —that he is really the murderer.” Tom interrupted with a fierce oath, ‘‘T am to blame for all !” “You, Tom ?” Yess 1.7? . ‘“How can that be ?” “On the night of the murder I went to Wild’s house.” “ For what purpose?” ‘For a purpose which, if carried out, would have prevented this foul tragedy,” rejoined Tom, gloomily, “What did you want with Wild? ” ‘To kill him |” returned King, sternly. “ And, gad, Tom, you could not perform a better action,” returned Nat; “but shall I go on with my story?” “ Aye, we listen.” ‘‘ Sir Ranulph, as I told you, was for some time quite beside himself with grief and rage, but he dared not make a stir in the matter, for there is little doubt that Bertha was carried off from her father’s house at his instigation.” ‘“Té I thought so, I would terribly avenge her !” said Tom King. “You will have a fine chance of avenging both her wrongs and your own,” returned Nat, “ for Sir Ranulph consoled himself for the loss of one mis- tress by carrying off another.” ‘Ha! my Kate. Well, he may have her; he has done me a service by taking her off my hands,” cried Tom. ‘For her sake I have risked the most deadly perils, and on her I have lavished a fortune that might have bought me ease and security—let her go!” . ‘““As you please about that, Master Tom,’ re- turned Nat, “but she must leave some of her sparklers and gelt behind her, by way of a souvenir.” ‘‘What! is Sir Ranulph’s coach on the road, then?” asked Tom, quickly. ‘““Aye, and we mean to stop it to-night,” re- ‘turned Nat, “so you can pink your rival and recover your mistress,” “Capital!” cried Tom, waving his hat and laughing joyously. ‘It will be a feat worthy of Claude Duval; one just to my taste, Spur on, lads, and hurrah for the road !”’ The robbers dashed swiftly on, and in a very short time reached a small, low-built inn, known by the sign of the “ Jolly Harvesters,” It was little better than a large shanty, being built entirely of wood. It stood on a lonely spot at the foot of a little wooden bridge, that crossed a brawling, stony brook, To it was attached a forge, and behind it were some cattle-sheds and granaries, long disused. Not far away, and upon an elevation a few yards from the road, stood an old windmill in ruins, There were no other houses near the inn, nor in fact was there any other habitation in sight, the Oh Ore OO situation being a long low valley, the hills on either side fringed with dark dense forests of fir. — At the door of the inn a splendid black courseér was pawing the ground, while herrider, dismounted, stood at the door, a glass in his hand, conversing with the landlord: | The latter was a short, thick-set fellow, stout, but unhealthy-looking ; his cheeks were flabby and sallow, and his black eyes had a cold, cunning ex- pression, which was very repellant. The beautiful black steed raised her head upon seeing Tom King and his party, and whinnied a3 if in salutation. ‘Ha, Bess!” cried Turpin, whom our readers have doubtless recognised in the horseman, ‘‘are ye glad to see your old comrades, my beauty ?””—and he fondly patted her sleek raven neck. ‘Once more you will lead the race, as you did of old, for we have a long run before us.” : “Ben darkmans, captain,” cried Tom King, riding up, followed by the rest, Dick Turpin shook hands with him. ‘“So, comrade, our little disagreement is for- gotten! Is it peace?” grinned Turpin. “ Aye, dam’me, I never had sufficient strength of mind to bear malice for a week together,” returned Tom King. “But let us drink a cup to the for- getting of old grievances,” They entered the inn. “It must be only a stirrup cup, Tom,” said Turpin, “for Master Rummer informs me that Sir Ranulph’s coach has got an hour’s start.” ‘“‘Say you so, my prince? Then, bring us a bottle of your best white wine, landlord, and let us drink to the success of our adventure.” The wine was brought, The robbers filled their glasses, ‘* Hurrah for the road |” “How is Sir Ranulph attended?” asked Tom of the landlord. ‘‘ By two footmen and his land-steward ; but he’s an old man,” returned the other. ‘Mount, then, lads!” cried Turpin. “We must overtake them ere they reach the next town.” _The robbers mounted their steeds, The moon had now reached the mid-heavens, and shone brilliantly in a cloudless sky, Away sped the horses at a rattling pace. Turpin forged ahead on his gallant black mare. Tom King kept close on her flanks, The others followed in a ruck behind. The forest rustled past them; the broad meads and corn-crofts swam dizzily by. They reached the toll-gate, They inquired of the toll-keeper in a careless manner who had passed through the gate since noon, By his replies they fonnd that Sir Ranulph’s coach was not more than a quarter of a mile in advance of them. ‘‘ Have a care, gentlemen,” said the-toll-keeper. ‘That scoundrel Dick Turpin and his gang have been seen on the road, and, though you areastrong party, I should advise you to be careful; you should, by no means, separate eyen for a moment, for the villains are reckless dare-devils that will stick at nothing,” “* But is not Sit Ranulph Gayton in some danger of falling into their hands?” said Turpin. “No; he is well-armed ; besides, he carries with him something that renders him as safe from assault as if he were escorted by a troop of dragoons.” “And pray what may that be?” asked Turpin. ‘‘A pass of safe-conduct from Jonathan Wild,” CS 2COn