Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

14 er -- Oe ee ee ~~ Oe eee made fttle progress, for although they inquired in every | lirection, they were unable to meet with a single person who could recollect essing a cart such as they des- cribed. The fact was, Dick, with a bolduess to which he cer- tainly owed his safety, had gone straight in the direction of Bow Street, which carried him past the front of old Drury Lane Theatre. Hore the acene was one of tremeudous commotion. The King had gone that night to see the play, aud the house was consequently crowded ?y a highly-fasltonable audience. The street was literally choked up with vebhiclea, Amid the general confusion and excitement, Dick was unnoticed as he steadily wound his way in and out through the throng until he got into a clearer street. Then, lashing his horse, he made him put fortk his wt- most rate of speed. ; Now, if Dick had obeyed the very natura] impulse to turn down any one of the quiei streets in the neighbour- hood the officers would, in all probability, have got upon his track, as the passave of the vehicle through any one of them must have been seen by some persob or other. He made his way directly westward, but while he journeyed on his thoughts were busy. He lad more causes than one for gratification. Maud and Black Bess he knew to be in perfect safety, he had performed his errand without accident, and bad in his possession a sufficient sum of money to satisfy the Governor ot Newgate. He had also made old Matthew aware of the fact that he had a traitor beneath his roof. Another consideration, however, now presented itself to Dick’s mind, and while he reflected upon it he allowed his horse to proceed very slowly. Morning, he saw, was yet some hours distant, and the uestion occurred to him whether he should not avail nimself of the present opportunity and secure the bag of gold. He had fully intended to hasten back to Maud; out then, on his return journey, he might meet with danger, and the hag of money might be lost. Now he was at no great distance from Hamyotead Heath, and by turning off to the right he could reach there in little more than half an hour. To bury the gold would be the work of a few myments only; then from that point he would be able to make his way to Somefield, where Le had appointed to over-» take Maud. “Yes.” he said, at length, “that shall be it. My mind istaade up. Whocan tell how long a time may elapse before I have so good a chance of burying this money as | have now ?” While be spoke the words, he turned alvuytly down a dark narrow Jane witn which he was po. very well acquainted, but which, nevertheless, he believed would take him near the point he wished to reach. This lane was quite deserted, and no wonder, for its condition was disgraceful. So deep was the mire that the tired horse eould haraly strugele through it. In consequence of this the journey to Hampstead Ieath occupied a much lenger period than Dick had caiculated upon. At length he paused upon the verge of the vast open gp:ce. It was now necessary to take an observation before pro- eeeding further. The heath itself appeared to stretch for miles before him in the darkness, and althongh he turned his eyes in avery direction he failed tv perceive the giimmering of a xingle light. Having tormed a tolerably correct idea of his position, Dick turned to the right, and when he paused again it was close to the tree he had described so particularly to the Governor. And, indeed. the appearance of this tree was SO Simscfar that it could not fail to be recognised by anyone whe teok the trouble to Jouk for it. Through @ brew cpayue section of the show is vr aarcks covered Mas oxy, Bho mua ait jorkh = cht uthaty hehs, which Dick hailed with pleasure, great assistance to him in carrying out his proceed- ings : : ny 444) iy : "tS OME eae Vance” OL SNR REWARD ken A ore, We «| rota) a A iS aN ha Pea felis AS: BLACK BazZB ; ou th 4 : OR. Pe Or OT First of all, he stood for several moments in a listening attitude. The silence was profound, and, without any great stretch of imagination. he could have beiieved that he was tgousauds of mutes away from any of his fellow- creatares ‘The horse seemed quite content to stop, for, bendiny down his head, he commenced eating with great wora- viousues®* the grass that was growing everywhere around. Cul artrER CMXIV. IN WHICH DICK TURPIN RECEIVES SOME DISINTERESTED ADVICE. Finnr’s all around him so very still, Dick Turpto deter- miued not to lose any more time, but to commence dig- ging a hole in the ground forthwith. | He was but ill provided with tools for this purpoee; yet, by using Li bands and a knife, he nianaged tn a sliort space of tinae to scrape out a cunsiderable quantity of earth. ‘This being done, he carefully placed the bag inp the hole. fled it up with dirt, and carefully pressed down the surface so as to restore it to its original condi- tion, , Once, when he paused ta the midst of his labours, he fancied he heard a slight sound close at hand. He listened tminediately ; but as it was not repeated he concluded bis fancy had misled him. At last, when all was finished, he rose from his knees, and, as he did so, he felt certaiu that he caught sight of a dim, shadowy figure in the distance. A cry of vexation and anger esvaped his lips. There could be no doubt all his proceedinss bad been watched by some one, and that some one, whoever he might be, would beyond doubt take the first opportunity. after Dick's departure, to try and ascertain what bad been buried so carefully amoug the roots of the old tree. For a wonder, Dick was at a loss what to do on the spur of the moment, aud this hesitation, bref as i was, deprived him of the chauce he had of rushing forward and suddenly seizing the tntruler. Now, when he looked all around, nothing but the broad expanse of heath met his view. “Oonfound it!” be said to himself. “ What shall J do now? To attempt to find him would be perfectly idle. He could dodge me till daybreak. I must think 8 little while.” By way of assisting himself in this operation, he took hold of the reins, and foreed his horse te quit his meal. and while he was doiug so a bright idca entered his brain. “J will drive off,” he muttered, ‘and pretend to take uo notice, and when [ have gone a little way [ will de- scend from the cart, and creep stealthiiy here on fom. Then, no doubt, be wil] be thrown off his guard, and { shall be able to seize him.” This resolve was no sooner made than it was carried out, though, at present, Dick had no very clear idea of what he was to do after he had succeeded in captur- ing the man who, he imagined, had watched his move- ments. Despite the danger of such a course, Dick drove across the heath, preferring to do so to trusting to any of tuc bad roads that intercepted it. On the soft turf the progress of the cart made scarcely a sound—at any rate, he felt certain that no one could hear it at a distance of a few yards. Having gone far enough as he imagined to answer his purpose, he stopped the borse and descended. He was vot afraid that the animal weald stray far— it would be only too glad of the opportunity to renew iés feast. Shrinking low down to the ground, Dick then swiftly, yet noiselessly, made his way back again to the oid trea As he neared it his speed abated, and bis caition in onanead. Whee only ) ©» few yeriis distani, he Stopped altonsener a: % would be of | and, placing his bands up to his eyes %& order t wy more distinctly, he strove to pierce the ghee. Then he sev, or fancied he saw, close « the trumy a Gomicbooks com —