Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

1§Cs kis person, then, following the instructions he kad re- ceived, he entered the yard and hastened towards Clare Market as quickly as his legs would carry him, He felt rather nervous when he first stepped out inte White Horse Yard, but that feeling immediately vanished when he found no notice was taken of his sppear- ance. From this it was only.air to assume that no officers were concealed in that quarter, for if so they would un- questionably - e pounced upon him. Feeling much more easy in his mind, he continued on his way, and having reached a dark, obscure corner, paused to look about him. A moment or two elapsed before he could catch sight of old Matthew. But at length he perceived him, and to his sroat joy he saw he was patting the horse upon the neck. “All right,” ejaculated Dick, with a sigh of great re- lief—“ all’s going well—I have nothing to fear.” With these words on his lips he hastened to the spot where the horse was standing. ‘Look out for the spy,’’said Matthew, as soon as Dick was close to the vehicle; “there’s no one besides him about; he has followed me so far at a distance, and I should not be surprised at his following you.” ‘‘Shouldn’t you?” said Dick. * ‘hen I should. Where is hke—can you see him ?” ‘Yes, there he is, on the other side of the way, stand- ing near that shop; he is pretending to look at the things in the window.” Old Matthew pointed, and Dick immediately perceived the spy standing at no great distance. ‘‘He won't follow me, iil warrant!” he exclaimed. “Just bring the horse quietly after me, and sce how 1 will dispose of him.” “ Captain—captain,” said Matthew, “don’t be rash— pray don’t be rash! Go quietly away, and leave him to me ” Bat Dick was quite deaf to these words. He strode rapidly along the street, then crossed dircctiy over to the shop at the window of which the spy was standing. Late as was the hour, the shopsin the neighbourhood were for the most part unclosed, though apparently Little Susiness was being done in any of them. The spy was evidently taken by surprise by these movements on the part of Dick Turpin. He was conscious of the highwayman’s approach, yet knew not exactly whether to stand still or to fly. He hesitated until it was too late to make a retreat. Dick clapped his hand upon his shoulder. The man faced round at once. “Don’t be so fond of prying imto my business,” said Vick, in a menacing voice, ‘tor it will be the worse for you, and, just to prove that this is no idle threat, 1 will give you a taste of what you may expect.” It so happened that the shop before which this man was standing was one belonging to a general dealer in provisions. Not only in the shop and in the window were his aracles exposed for sale, but out upon the pavement as well. Among other things, cheese was piled up, and there was also an enormous box filled to the brim with eggs, beside which one of the shopmen was standing observing the movements of Dick and the spy with great attention. No sooner were the last words out of Dick ‘l'urpis’s mouth than, quick as thought, he seized the spy by the nape of his neck and the seat of his breeches. With an exertion of his utmost strength, Dick lifted him fairly from the ground, and flung him with full force into the box of eggs. There was aloud cry, an oath, aiid a fearful crash. Then the body of the spy almost completely disappeared, for the eggs gave way immediately beneath his weight. Dick did not stop to see anv more—he kne4 the soouer he beat a retreat the better. By this time Matthew had brougnt the horse elose to the shop, and Dick, with extraordinary speed, asceaded to his seat and sct the horse in motion. The stopman, who had witnessed the whele trausac- tion, ran forward with the intention of stopping tie cart, but old Matthew piaced himself full before him. “Ten pounds,” he said—“ten pounds, Tom, if you BLACK BBS; Gy, (Ee ce tae mee” keop quiet! You know mo. Just make it ag hot tor the cae as yo! ean—I owe him a grudge.” I'he man thus addressed looked rather amazed f inoment, but he knew old Matthew perfectly well pie folt certain he would be as good as his word. = a pcorei ney. he ues round, and, addressing the poor retch who was strugglin inly i ease Peucelh cea egiing vainly in the box to rel ‘You rascal! What do you mean by this? suffer for it! Here—here police och I” risa A crowd immediately assembled, though where the people came from so suddenly seemed a mystery. Just as the cart turned round the corner of the street, Dick looked back, and then he had the satisfaction of be- holding the spy still kicking and struggling ‘n his efforts to liberate cimself from his unple?“Ant positien. CHAPTER OM:s1it IN WHICH THE SPY ACQUAINTS TUE BOLIUx OFFICERS WITH IIIS SUSPICIONS. OLp MATTHEW, perceiving how ready the shopman was to take the hint that had been given him, drew aside. He wished most particularly to watch the ensuing pro- ceedings, yet he did not desire to appear to be mixed up in any of them. A hundred voices began to ask at once what was the matter, but no one seemed in a position to reply. Rattles were sprung, watchmen came hurrying forward and lusty throats bawled out for the police. ‘Pull me out,” roared the man in the box—“ pull me out, 1 say! Won’t one of you lend me a hand?” ‘¢T.et him alone,” said the shopman, as several hastened forward in answer to the appeal—“let him alone, ean’t you? He’s safe prisoner where he is, that’s one comfort.” '‘'he crowd drew back, and so the spy was thrown upon his own resourees. His furious struggles, however, only served to break more of the eggs, and the consequence was, that instead ot getting out of the box atall, he kept gradually sinking lower and lower down into it. At last, when the confusion had reached its height, a couple of police officers came hastily round the corner. ‘I'he people made way for them, and no sooner did they pause in tront of the shop than they immediately recognised the spy. ‘‘ Seize him,” cried the shopman—“ seize him! He's a desperate character! Don’t let go of him on any account!” ‘‘ Why,” said one police officer, stopping suddenly short, and gazing with surprise into the countenance of his companion—“ why, it’s Jackson !” “ Yes, d—n it, it is Jackson, sure enough !” roared the spy. ‘“‘ Help me out, can’t you? Don't stand there like a couple vt idiots !” ““ Come—come, you had better not be abusive. What does it all mean ?” ‘ Pull me out, and I'll tell you pretty quickly.” The ofticers thought fit to comply with this demand, and by their joint exertions the spy was released from his uncomfortable position. “Now, then,” cried one of the ofiicers, addressing the shop ‘what's this all about? Just explain it!” ‘‘Bah!” said the spy. ‘‘Don’t be a fool, Brown— don’t be a fool !” ‘‘ What do you mean ?” “ Why, 1 speak plain enough! Here, come-closer—2 want to whisper something. There—there, what do you think of that?” T'he spy whispered something 1n the ear of Brown, the police officer, which caused that worthy emissary of tho law fairly to stagger back. Then a loud shout of laughter came trom the crowd as they perceived the plight Jackson was in. He had truly taken a most uncomfortable bath, and as the eggs exposed for sale were none ef the freshest, a by no means pleasant odour exhaled from him. ‘What did he aay, Brown ?” gasped the other pote officer. “Why, he says thata few minutes ago either Dick Turpin or one of his comrades was here disguised as a carter, and it was in consequence of his recognition thes Gomicbooks (E(0)] f