Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 85 have the honour of crossing swords with you.” ““T agree to that,” said Ranulph, grimly, ‘‘ upon the sole condition that in case I should come off victorious I shall suffer no injury from your fellow ruffians.” “That I cannot guarantee, Sir Ranulph, unless you use more respectful language, These gentle- men are men of honour, and will not brook insult,” said Tom, “The devil seize this buffoonery,” roared Turpin. ‘Blow his brains out, Rose, and stop this infernal palavering,”’ As he spoke he was dragging the trembling Kate from the coach. Rose was about to carry out his leader’s orders, eam already levelled his pistol at Sir Ranulph’s -head. ‘At your peril !” shouted Tom, in a terrible voice, seizing his wrist. At this moment a sturdy man, somewhat ad- vanced in years, but strongly built, and evidently a very powerful person, leaped out of the coach and grappled Turpin. The robber swore awfully. A fierce struggle took place. The old gentleman was struck down senseless by a fearful blow with the butt of Fielder’s pistol. Meanwhile Wetherby, Bush, and Rose, were busily engaged in cutting the traces of the carriage horses, and rifling the contents of the carriage. The coachman had been dragged from the box, gagged, and bound hand and foot, and flung down upon the bank beside his fellow-servants. Sir Ranulph and Tom King had engaged, and were exchanging fierce and rapid passes. With a shriek, Kate Dulcimer threw herself be- tween the combatants. “Oh, do not kill him, Tom !” she panted. ~ Tom drew back. ‘Are you his advocate, eh, Kate?” he asked, with an ironical laugh. “ Have you forgotten all your fervent vows of eternal love and fidelity ?” He wound his arm round her waist. ““ Come, lass, make your election. Will you be this heartless libertine’s mistress, or will you return to one who has ever been an indulgent, good- natured lover, who has squandered a fortune, and risked his life for you? Come, speak boldly, for you have nothing to fear from my jealousy.” *T will return with you, love,” murmured the girl, clinging to his broad, manly breast. “*Sdeath, ruffian !”” shouted Sir Ranulph, pas- sionately. ‘‘ Release the girl!” He made a desperate lunge at the highwayman, The point of his sword entered Tom/’s left arm, The robber uttered a curse and pushed Kate aside. “You shall bitterly rue that treacherous thrust, you dastard,” said Tom. ‘Come this way !” And he walked off towards the wood-side. Sir Ranulph followed, sword in hand. | Kate would have rushed after them. She was seized by Turpin. | “Your jewels, your money, jade,” thundered the ruffian, shaking her brutally. | ‘‘ Help |!—save me, Tom, save me!” she screamed, | struggling to release herself from the brutal grasp. | But King and Sir Ranulph had disappeared in | the forest. | “ Silence, you baggage!” roared Turpin, buffet- { ! _ | tion that the rules of society compel one gentleman to afford another in a case of this sort, I shall > ing her upon the face. She shrieked, and fainted. The robbers stripped her of every valuable article —her fan, her rings, her watch and chain, her purse—they even tore off her silk mantle, and her shoes. Turpin then lifted her roughly, and dashed her across the road on to the bank. *“ Quick, lads !”’ he cried to his men. thing bagged ?” “Yes, captain,” returned the others. ‘* Have you fleeced the flunkies ?” ts Yes.’ “And the coachman ?” “All right, captain.” ‘‘What the devil has become of Tom, King? Where is Ranulph ?” “They have gone into the wood to settle their quarrel. Hark! That is the clash of their swords.” ‘Tom King is an egregious ass!’ growled Dick Turpin. ‘“ Hand me that carbine, I'll precious soon finish this affair!” Dick Turpin rushed up the bank, and entered the wood. Guided by the clashing of the swords, the robbers soon reached the spot where the duellists were con- tending. Each was stripped to the shirt ; they were fighting fiercely, and with admirable courage, skill, and coolness, Dick Turpin aimed his musket at Sir Ranulph. ‘“‘ Hold, ‘captain !” cried Nat Wetherby, catching his arm, ‘‘yow ll shoot Tom King !” “ Hal” gasped . Dick Turpin, grounding the carbine, while a strange presentiment sent a thrill through his heart. Just on the moment Sir Ranulph made a feint in order to give a final and fatal lunge at his adver- sary. He was not quick enough. Tom King sprang lightly forward. His sword passed through Sir Ranulph’s shoulder. ‘The young noble staggered, groaned, and dropped apparently dead. ‘‘T treated him like a gentleman, and I must say he fought gallantly,” laughed Tom, wiping the blood from his sword, which he sheathed. ‘‘ He is my prize ; and gad, sirs, I deserve my winnings.” With this he stooped over his prostrate foe, and tore the brooch from his cravat, he then possessed himself of his rings, watch, snuff-box, silver-hilted sword, and rifled his pockets of purse and papers, ‘°S’truth, my rum ‘uns, this has been a good purchase,’ laughed Dick Turpin, rubbing his hands, | “ Hurrah !’”’ shouted the robbers, “Stash your bellowing, idiots!’ cried Nat Wetherby. -‘‘ We have had row enough already. We shall have the harving beaks down as true as Tyburn.,”’ ‘© What shall we do with the body, captain?” asked Fielder. “Tet him lie where he is,” returned Turpin, “T’ll tell you what, Tom, the old land-steward is killed, and it seems to me that we had better settle the whole lot, throw their bodies into the river yonder, and run the horses loose in the forest.” * Dick, you are a bloodthirsty ruffian !” said Tom, contemptuously, ‘“‘We are masked, we have not been recognised, except by Kate, and she shall go with me,” They returned to the spot where the servants, gagged and bound hand and foot, were lying | helpless. Poor Kate lay insensible upon the bank. “Ts every- LICDOOKS.GO