Penny Dreadfuls, 1866 · page 125 of 400
Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 125: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This is a **page of running prose with an illustration** from a Victorian penny dreadful serial. The page shows Dick Turpin (a famous highwayman character) observing Simon and a beadle in a cage. The text depicts dialogue between a constable and Simon, in which the constable orders Simon to guard a prisoner and threatens to shoot him if he attempts escape. Simon makes hesitant objections, then the constable departs with villagers while others linger around the cage watching Simon. The page is numbered 183 and advertises that "No. 189 will be Published next Monday," indicating this is mid-serial installment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
= ~ ; o Ry . ~N 2 hr lq | | : = ee epee = — = om, ON = = —— SS ——— \ | | | ‘ | = Spy ZAR OS Lua : ‘ ISs S REWARD |AIM 3 WS. Boe SIA , es ae Mt a \\ ae i \ Ae Ve] \ ki \ AN \ Ayes S . " ™ \ FANNS EAS SS Ook x. \ SA |) pag cS SS = =) © it — ——SS—ss [DICK TURPIN LOOXS SIMON AND THE BEADLE IN THF CAGE.] Ne » Simon did not make any verbal reply, but sat still,| “No—certainly not. You have my authority. He's #oxing very stupid and foolish. been duly warned ef the consequerses, and if he attempta ‘Do you hear what I say?” roared the constable, for | to escape. why, the consequences will be on his own his temper had been greatly tried that morning. head. I’m off now,’ the aonstable added; ‘‘and mind “Yes, I can hear right enough.” that you keep a good guard during my absence.” “Well, then, why don’t you say so?” With these words, the constable turned round and Simon was again silent. marched away. “ Understand distinctly,” continued ti:e constable, ur- Several of the villagers accompanied him, of course posely raising his voice that it might reach the ears of the | anyious to draw him into conversation respecting the prisoner within the cage, “if he so much us show the | events of the morning. tip of his nose in the attempt to escape, shoot him down | Others less atfxious in this respect, but more so in like you would a crow.” : another, lirgered around the cage, looking at Simon with “ But—but——” said Simon, hesitatingly. admiring eyes, but keeping a safe distance from the r “ But what ?” blunderbuss, the effects of an explosion of which they “Suppose I killed him ?” justly dreaded. “ Well, then he will be a good riddance—that’s ai: un{ At last, however, these villagers, one by one, dis- say. persed ; there did not seem to be one thorough idler ‘‘ But sha’n’t I be had up for i$?” emong the group—all] had their work to do. io, 188.—Biack Buss. => =D '@ bookssco im No, 183. Prrox : No, 189 will be Published-next Monday.