Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

Ls - > ty r of ne very great moment, yet for the life of me I can’t think it so. It concerns a promise that I made—a promise that I cannot see reasonable hopes of being able to perform.” “What promise was it?” asked Maud. wonderingly- -“™he one I made to Mr. Bradbury, the Governor of Newgate. I told him that if he went within a week to Hampstead Heath he would find buried at the root of a certain tree that I described to him. some recompense fur what he did on my behalf.” “ And is it not there ?” “No, certainly not; I only represented to him that there was, thinking I should have no difficulty whatever in riding there and concealing such a sum a& I considered an adequate reward for all that he had done; but now how am I to hope to achieve it ?” Maud shook her head. “T am afraid,” she said, “that the Governor will meet | with a disappointment.” “T should be vexed for such a thing as that to occur,” said Dick. “I place great value on a promise, and I shvuld not like the Governor of Newgate or anyone else to be able to say that Dick Turpin had gone from his word. No—no, Maud, that would never do; somehow or other, and in spite of all risks, the money must be put there before the week has expired.” “ But under present circumstances,” said Maud, “is it not a total impossibility? You have no money except what you carry with you, and how could you possibly venture on to Hampstead Heath for the purpose of bury- ing it. The latter part would be easy enough,” said Dick; ‘the worst of it is I have not enough; I should not like to insult the Governor by offering him such a triflin sum as this purse contains. I must set my wits to work, and doubtless ere long [ shall see some means or other of fulfilling my project.” After speaking these words Dick relapsed into silence. He was turning the matter over in his mind in every possible way. Thus plunged in deep thought he rode on, he scarcely knew for how long a period. The progress Black Bess made was very slow, for she found she was allowed to go just at her own pace. All at once both Maud and Dick were startled by an unexpecied but by no means alarming sound, yct it was ene that made Black Bess prick up her ears and_ project them forwards. The sound was repeated. “ That’s a laugh,” said Dick, in some amazement. “Who can it be in such a lonely, out-of-the-way place as this, giving way to laughter?” Maud clung to him full of terror. “ Be not alarmed,” he said; ‘‘surely we ought not to be terrified at hearing the sound of laughter.” “ But who is it ?” ‘That we shall know in a very short time,” said Dick, “ for the sound came from somewhere very close at hand. We will look first if possible without revealing ourselves, then we can perfectly satisfy ourselves that there is no danger.” Creey,mg close under the shadow of the trees, Dick made ’sis way along the lane to a point where it terned ef a, rather a sharp angle. ; {¥ aching this spot, he paused and reconnoitred. +1 a little distance off he perceived a sight that was at enve yicturesque and amusing. A \Ntle way further on the character of the lane e] ang) \—in fact, it seemed as though it emerged upon a wild ki. d of common or heath, Near the edge of the lane Dick saw a cart piled up w ith a! Iscellaneous assemblage of articles, end a yellow earava | 3 \icabs/ on the ground were in all about half a dozen gen on/, nearly all of whom were laughing heartily. \"el/ looked in order to ascertain the cause of their laughter id soon found it to ve the antics of a boy cer- Be ay, ek: THH KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. 4 _ cme i a =~ oe" * ait a OPA ee ge FP rea See ieee Ye ee ag ne m (af “SS” ear MS 2S eee ae, & en MS eee Ss 2 Pg hs i> Sie ee a tS moe ie e ae é + oes y = > py 2)" fee ; vet ‘ ys . . ; . \ =~ “1477 Certainly the utmost good fecling seemed to exist among the whole group; there was not one sorowful, de- jected-looking countenance. “Shall we avoid them ?” asked Maud. “T think not,” said Dick. ‘TI feel sure that such wan- derers as these would gladly extend a friendly hand to us. ‘They are more comfortable than one would imagine at a first glance, and unless you have some strong objection I should recommend that we goto them and ask them for rest and shelter.” “If you think it would be safe to ds go,” said Maud, “I should be glad indeed, for Iam utterly weary.” “Se am I,” said Dick, “sois Black Bess, and this sweet grass {hat grows hereabout will mals for once an excel- lent substitute for a feed of corn.” Dick’s resolution being thus takm he ventured to show himself. Slightly increasing his speed, he rode towards the merry group. The sound of a horse’s hoofs attracted universal atten- tion, and they all fixed their eyes curiously upon Man3 and Dick. The boy whose antics had amused the rest no sooner perceived the new-comers than he ran towards them, made a grotesque bow, then, turning a succession of se aeaule along the road, stopped suddenly upon his eet. He bowed again, and held out his hand to solicit 4 donation. Dick stopped and threw him a piece of silver. * Ask your friends,” he said, “whether they will allow us to join them for ashort time? Weare hungry and weary ?” Astonished at the gift of so iarge a sum of money, the boy cut a fantastic caper and hurried off. Ke guickly communicated his message. In the meanwhile Dick continued to ride slowly to- wards them. A man now rose from the grass on which he had been sitting, and advanced towards Dick half respectfully, half confidently. “You are quite welcome to stop,” he said, “and to share everytuing we have. You won’t find us close hearted, though we are poor and cannot afford to be very generous.” “T will pay liberally for everything,” said Dick. ‘Don’t think I want to trespass upon you in that re-= spect.” “Then you are heartily welcome,” said the man, “and we will make you as comfortable as ourrough means will permit.” Dick looked at this man with more than common in- terest. In spite of the poor, ragged clothes he wore, there was an indefinable something in his manner that showed at once that he had occupied a tolerable position in life— indeed, his mode of speech at once displayed this fact. Maud was assisted to alight. Dick followed quickly, and removed the trappings from Black Bess with his own hands. ‘‘T am known as Herr Smithini,” said the man, address- ing Maud, “and if you will come with me I will intro- duce you to my wife, who will do her best to make you comfortable.” The remainder of the troop looked somewhat surprised when Dick removed tke bridle from Black Bess, thus allowing her perfect freedom; but then they were not aware thatthe highwayman could call Lis steed at any moment to his side by uttering that poculiar chirping signal whistle. CHAPTER CMV. DICK KURPIN BELISVES THAT HE WAS FOUND A FIBM, TRUE FRIEND. ay THE troop of strolling players, for such they were, con- tainly nov more than seven or eight years of age, wha | sisted of Smithini, two other men, two fomalcs, and the vis} (fic. apting some difficult feats of tumbling. Manu Jooked non this scene with great surprise ape Cn} sity. boy. The men, though clad in loose, ill-fitting garments, were evidently tumblers, as was shown by the flexi- --‘Lovy are stresfing t'ayers,” said Dick, in answesa tv | bility of all their joints whenever they moved. an inquiring glance that sle beut upon him. “@ood. barm- | _ ess puone vo doubt, who have sat down here to zast.’” Without exception, they made Pick wiy woicoms |. viting him toa share of their provisions. EORMIC } JOOKS. CO