Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

Lowe gurgled hysterically, and then fell down in w swurn, to all outward appearances as lifeless as the young stranger. It was tliat which took place just after Maud had screamed, aud the landlord, being made acquainted with it, rushed into the inn. ‘*Hush—hush !” said Dick, speaking to her as reassur- ingly as he could—*don’t be alarmed! We know ovr danger in good time, and all will be well. Do you bear —do you understand? I teil you to be calm.~ ** Yes—yes.” “ We are in no danger yet-—most ~ertainly im no danger. And now pay particular attention to my instructions.” She looked up into his face cttentively. ‘Tt will never do for us to remain here any longer,” he continued, speaking in a hurried tone of voice; ‘ we can- not tell one moment from another when Jack Marshal] and his officers will arrive. Iam resolved to depart at once. I wiil take advantage of this confusion that is reigning around, and hasten to the stables. In the mean- while, you enter the inn and, without attracting any more notice than you can help, leave it by the back door; you will see me there, and after that Black Bess will do the rest.” Hastily as these instructions were given her, and great as was the confusion of her mind, Maud perfectly under- stood them. Dick left her, hastily darting round the corner of the BLACK BESS: Of 7 He did not hesitate to urge her to wut forth her utmost powers of speed. As if by magic, then, the troop of police officers were . left behind. They tried indeed to keep up a pursuit, but found it © impossible—their horses were thoroughly exhausted. Dick continued his headlong course until he felt that he had gone far enough tu be perfectly secure from all danger of pursuit. Then, by slow degrees, he tightened the rein. Maud was anxious and alarmed. She looked apprehensively behind her, being scarcely able to believe that they were out of danger. ‘‘T am vexed,” Dick said, ‘and for more reasons than one. { fully intended that you should have plenty of rest before we journeyed further; as itis, we are in the open daylight without knowing where to look for shelter.” * Don't let that trouble you,’’ said Maud—“it is not worth your consideration. You should remember your own life is at stake, and that you should do everything in your power to preserve it.” ‘¢ Well, Maud, we will do our best. I should like to get some distance further from the officers than lam now; I am sorry, too, to put Black Bess to another gallop, yet | it must be done.” inn at full speed, for just then no one happened to be > about. He had no difficulty in entering the stables. __ : Black Bess was there, and according to his request all her trappings had been hung up on the stall in which she | stood. a9 With nimble fingers he placed them.upon her back, He suited the action to the word, and for some time not another word was exchanged—in fact, it was not until the sun had attained a considerable altitude, and until the business of the day had fairly commenced, that Dick again drew rein. He then found himself in a most beautiful and pictur- | esque portion of the country—a place in which he would and he had her already for the road in a space of time so | short that it would have made the ostler of the Wood | Pigeon ready to die of vexation. Rapid as all his movements had been, yet by the time he gained the door of the stable Maud had entered the yard. She hastened towards him, and Dick without more ado mounted. way as before, he rode with rather dangerous swifthess to the front of the inn. CHAPTER CMII. DICK TURPIN LEAVES THE WOOD PIGEON INN, AND HAS AN ADVENTURE ON THE ROAD. Hirrer the ostler had been observing Dick’s motions, or else the clatter of Black Bess’s hoofs had attracted atten- tion, for the landlord and all his household hastily made their appearance at the front door. “ Hi, hi!—stop!” he roared—‘ stop—stop! What does it all mean? Is everybody mad, or am I ?” The landlord might well ask this question, for the events that had so recently occurred in such rajnid suc- cession were quite calculated to disturb the equilibrium of one who had led such an even life as himself. Dick made no reply, but he slackened his mare’s speed somewhat. Then, plunging his hand into his pocket, he drew forth a guinea. “Here,” he said, as he threw it among the roup, “that will do for the reckoning.” No sooner had the words passed his lips shan he again gave Black Bess the impulse forward. As he did so, a loud, peculiar shout from the rex became audible, and he turned quickly to ascertain tre cause. To his extreme annoyance, for he hoped to leave the inn unseen, he perceived a throng of police officers ap- proaching. They were at too great a distance for the'r courtenancer tc be distinguished, yet Dick fancied, nom the general appearance of the one who rode a little in advance of the rest, that he “as no other than his pertinacious foe, Jack Marshall Black Bess had had but a ’orief rest, yet that had snfficed to recruit hor energies’ 7o7 derfully. Besides, although they had t/avelled so many iniles, Dick had carefully husbanded wr strength e had uow the best of al] seasons for congratilating bimsolf upon having adopted co prudent a vourse. have been glad enough to linger for a time. Not even the least observant person could have looked around without perceiving the many rare natural beauties of the place. In the bright morning sunlight, too, all objécts had a particularly fresh and pleasant appearance. Indeed, it was scarcely possible to look upon that scene sane ; et | «+2. oe.. | under a more favourable aspect. Swinging her into the saddle before him in the same Tar away before them the road could be traced, stretch- ing itself hke a broad strip of white ribbon, and Dick’s keen eye presently descried, at a great distance, the form | of a mous ted man, who was riding towards them. Evider fly the sight reminded him of something, for he brought Black Bess completely to a halt, and plunged his hands ¥ . quick succession into his different pockets. ‘ Ma’ 1d,” he said, at last, in answer to the inquiring look sue gave while he was thus engaged, “it isas I fear.” ‘What 2?” she asked, with an expression of alarm. “JT haveno money. That was the last guinea I flung to the landlord as he was standing at his door. We can- not go on thus; we must have money before we can pro- ceed further.” “But,” asked Mand, trembling with dread, “tell me where you can obtain it ?” Dick raised his arm and pointed over the low hedge- row s. ‘ Do you see ?” he asked. ‘fhe figure of the horseman was now much more W stinctly visible than it had been before, for the simple reason that he had come much closer. “T see that horseman,” said Maud, more agitated than before; ‘‘ but surely you do not mean——” “Yes, Maud, I do.. The only means by which I can obtain money is by taking it on the road. I will commit : act of violence, and, from the appearance of the stranger, I should fancy that the loss of such a trifle as I shail take from him will not inronvenienc3 *=2 much.” “But you forget.” “ Borget what P” “Your own danger.” Dick laughed lightly. ‘But consider,” persisted Matd, with great earnest ness—“ consider chat the officers are closs behind you and that it is broad daylight. This act cannot fail to bring the cfficers upon your track.” “hey will trace me easily enough as it is,” was Turpin’s iejoinder. ‘ No—no, Maud, I see no reason to hold back ; fortune has thrown this chance into my way, and I should be unwise in the extreme not to avail mr- self of it.” Cg > Matta ets Sue " ees “GOMIGDOO