Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

=, fas — oe _ Bor once,” said Maud—* only for once let me request _ you to allow him to pass unmolested.” : “Do not entreat that favour,” replied Dick, “for it is es e I cannot grant, though it pains me to refuse yoa. ‘There’s little or no danger, ard, as I said before, meney jis more necessary to our safety tnan anything else.” Maud burst into tears, but Dick affected to take so __ gotice of her emotion. ‘ : Come, dear Maud,” he said, “Jet me assist you to the ground. There, that will do nicely. P> not be in the _ Jeast frightened. Sit down on that tittle grassy embank. ment, and remain there; in a few minutes | shall return. mapa be afraid; the adventure is a trifling one after 1, : These words, however, did not reassure Maud in the least, for she wept bitterly. She had learned from experience, however, that when _ Dick had once made up his mind to pursue any particular course it was quite vain to attempt to dissuade him from it.’ > At such times there was only one thing she conld de, and that was to submit. i _ This course she adopted on the present occasion , but dreading the encounter that was about to ensuc, she shut out the sight of everything around her by clasping her hands closely over her face. = In the meanwhiie, with the easicst air imaginable, Dick ' + Yurpin trotted forward, and to have glanced at him, co _ one in the world would have believed that his position . was really so perilous as it was. & But this little adventure, coming upon him so unex- ____pectedly, seemed to have quite a reviving effect upon his --_-_—_—sdspirits—indeed, as he walked Black Bess slowly forwards he lightly hummed a tune. _ When hastily leaving the Three Spiders, be lad only just time to buckle on a sword. sane He was altogether unprovided with firearms or ammu- tition. To all appearances, however, this circumstance did not path. trouble him in the least. <e The stranger came on at rather a smart trot, and every : ‘step his horse took produced a jingling sound. He was wrapped in acloak, for the morning air was chill; but every now and then the wind wos!d blow it partially aside and disclose his apparel, which was thai of an officer of the guards in an undress uniform. ae Apparently he took but little notice of Dick as hs walked Black Bess deliberately along the road. Nor did Dick seem particularly attentive, although his : eyes were keenly fixed upon every movement the -_ giranger made. | At length, when close enough for his purpose, Dick stopped Black Bess just in the centre of the road, and the stranger, perceiving it, had to eheck his steed somewhat abruptly to prevent a collision. Dick took advantage of this event by taking off his hat and making a low bow. ‘he officer, who was evidently also a gentleman, with es great politeness and grace returned the salutation. He would have passed on, though, had not Dick’s voice arrested his progress. “One moment, sir,” he said. “Excuse me if I inter- a rupt you on your journey—one moment, if you please.” ~ — ‘The officer looked at Dick closely, thinking perhays that he might be some forgotten acquaintance. Failing to recognise him, however, he said: “J amat your commands, sir. What is your pleasure ?” “T can scarcely say,” said Dick, with a laugh, “ but just at the present moment I happen to be in a little difficulty, and I am sure you will rejoice when I tell you that, above all others, you are the very man who will get me out of it.” “Indeed !” said the stranger, with sine show of gurprise and interest, for Dick’s manner of accosting him was such that he never for one moment guessed at his intention. is ) _—==——zD r CHAPYER CMIII. THE CONCLUSION OF DICK TURPIN’S ADVENTURE WIT “ THE OFFICER. ilaaZz INDEED and in fact,” returned Dick, very gravely. ae a “Tam at a loss to understand you,” ejaculated the KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. ra > = 1478 “No doubt you are,” said Dick; “bat I shall quickly make myself clear. It would be a shame to keep you in & state of ignorance upon such a point. The fact is, the difficulty Iam in is the want of money.” The stranger repeated the words half txconsciously, and backed his horse several paces. “Yes,” said Dick, speaking now in a bolder and mons determined tone of voice, “my last guinea is gone, and I look to you, sir, to replenish my purse.” * Well, d—n your impudence!” said the stranger. “Curse me if ever I heard of such a thing in my life! Be off with you !” “Stay 2” cried Dick, in a loud voice, as by one bound he caused Black Bess to plant herself exactly in front of the officer’s steed—‘“stay! I intend to stand no non- sense! At the same time, I would gladly avoid violence; therefore, let me advise you to hand over your money quietly, without making the least fuss—indeed, it would not be becoming of you as a gentleman to do so.” “Wouldn’t it? ‘Then I beg leave to differ with you upon that point—to differ with you entirely! And now I tell you plainly, Mr. Highwayman, that no money of mine shall you have!” * You will alter your mind,” said Dick—“ TI feel sure you will alter your mind! How very unwise it would be of you to risk your valuable life for a trifling sum of money !” “ Well, I must say you are the coolest customer that ever I met with or heard of in the whole course of my life,” said the stranger, forced against his will into admi- ration. ‘‘Do you always take these matters in so equable a manner ?” “ Ahem!” said Dick, “it depends. But when I am with a gentleman like yourself, 1 endeavour to treat him as a gentleman.” The stranger laughed at this compliment. ‘7 don’t intend to risk my life for what money I have about me,” he said, “because it isa mere trifle. Still less, however, do I feel inclined to give it up without any show of 1esistane@. You shall have my purse upon one condition.” “Name it.” “Tt is, then, that you draw your sword, alight, and cross blades with me, just in a friendly way. Andif you | can succeed in giving me three distinct hits before I have touched you twice, the purse is yours; on the other hand, if you fail, I retain my money.” “ Agroed!” said Dick, as he sprang lightly from the saddle. ‘Nothing could be more congenial to my tem- yer |” . or Nor éo mine,” said the stranger, “ for I have a chance of keeping what I have, with the additional satisfaction ‘hat no une can taunt me with having tamely submitted to being robbed on the highway.” The stranger alighted also, and secured his horse to the branch of a& tree. ‘hen, drawing a tolerably well-filled purse from his pocket, he \hrew it into the middle of the road. “There,” he said, “‘there’s the money. The victor takes it!” With the same nimbleness that had characterised all his movemenis, the stranger now pulled off his coat and rolled up his shirt-sleeves, disclosing an arm that, though slender, was evidently very muscular. But Dick did not think it worth while to disapparel him- solf. Perceiving thet he advanced with his coat on, the stranger said : “J don’t wantiotake you at aa unfair advantage—it is not in my nature to do so. I believe that without vanity I can say lama good swordsman. I should like | you to stand on equal ground with mysclf. Most cer- tainly your coat will impede your movements.” ‘No matter,” said Dick, in the same easy, careloss mauber in which he had all along spoken. “I am used to ligating with my coat on; and besides, we shall save ‘ time.” The stranger did noi say another word, but immediately eressed his biade over Dick’s. His attitude and the manner in which he fixed his eyes made the highwayman aware that he was pitted against an antagonist of no ordinary description The noxt moment this singular conflict began. The blades of the swords rattled together o4 tha «we (e(e) pet? Eomilceboo * te ee —4 -_ . ' £ 2 r ‘ ‘J r a , raion aha - ry TY ak ae on, ee tS «nag» cS