Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

ev wy gt: . gots ~ a Soe pines Soe * — “oo s - — “a * ® & - Oe - " me ~a cyt Beg your pardon, sir,” he said, bluntly, and with uine John Bull freedom, “but I like your pluck and your ways, though you are a stranger tome Iam going some miles to-night, and if you happen to be travelling my - way, why, I shall be glad of your company.” ___ Dick Turpin said a few words expressive of his thanks for this kind offer, and while he was uttering .nem he was dabating in his own mind whether he should accept Of tha invitation or not. Certainly, as time ha@ been lost, it would be an ad- * Bae ~ r Ps --¥antaye, should Mr. Reynalds be travelling § wards - Sometield, to share his vehicle with him. Bat, somehow or other, a presentiment of danger eame - over Dick, and he felt impelled to decline. “2 The feeling, however, was one of whick he felt ashamed, and so he banished it. ee _ “Tam journeying north from here,” he said. ; “Soam L” returned the prize-fighter. “May1l ask how far you are going ?” “To Somefield.” “ Somefield 2” he repeated. “‘ AL! Iam not going quite so far as that, but within a couple of miles or go of it. _ Did you come here on foot ?” “Ves? | _ «hen you had a long walk before you—that’s all I can gay. However, if you are willing to take half my gig,and ride with me as far as I am going, you are heartily welcome to do so.” “J am much obliged,” said Dick; ‘and accept the offer with great pleasure. I am much obliged tu you for it.” | “Nay, nay, don’t mention it; it isn’t worth a word of _ thanks ; and perhaps you would oblige me still further by taking one more glass before we part; we shall have time, for I know what a long-winded rascal the ostler Gs” ; _ ‘This offer, after some little pressing, Dick Turpin ac- ceptid. Two farewell glasses were brought, and disposed of, ~ and by that time word was brought that the horse and gig were ready at the door. | : Once more bidding adieu, Dick and the prize-mghter . departed. On going out of the front door of the inn, Dick per- ceived a small, well-built pony harnessed to a light little _ gig, with large wheels that seemed built expressly for speed. PCT here's a turn out, sir,” said the prize-fighter, with _ perhaps pardonable pride—'‘‘there’s a turn out, sir! _ Fit for any prince in the world! ‘The lightest, best- made gig, and the fastest pony to be found within a _ hundred miles!” “Very likely,” said Dick, as he followed his com- panion’s example, and climbed into the vehicle—“ very likely.” eeascaly had he taken his seat than the prize-fighter, _ pnatching hold of the reins, uttered a peculiar shout. It was clearly one which the pony perfectly understood, _ for it started off at a most tremendous pace, and in a few moments the inn was left far behind. _. *Den’tshe go rarely?” said Mr. Reynalds, addressing _ Dick, and breaking the silence. “Did you ever ride _ behind such a one?” “TT can’t say Lever did. You travela good deal, I sup- 7 se ?” “¥es. Iam mostly knocking about the country—first _ im one place, then in another. Perhaps you know me, sir, though you are astranger to me?” ~ “No—I can’t say that I do.” “Well, then, my name is Reynalds—you heard the _ landlord say so—Reynalds, the prize-fighter, I am gener- ally called.” 7 ““f have heard of you,” said Dick, “though I little _ thought I should make acquaintance with you so strangely.” “Curious things do come about, and thi8 is one of them But I am tired cf this life; I haye made up my mind not to fight say more.” i ~ “Tndeed 2” -s a Yes, I think I can manage tolerabiy well without Ve f <2 = oe “You have been fortunate, then—made money 2” __ “Well, yes, fairish ; but I have a little speculation under _ Rand at the present moment which I have an idea will > — “ ee a. 3 TRH KNIGHT OF THE BOD. 1803 EE ee ENS Cele hee cause me but little trouble, and the nct gain will va im- mense. - “‘T hope you will be successful,” said Dick —“ I hope so with all my heart.” ‘Do you indeed ?” “Yes. But why did you speak in that strange tone ?” “Oh, did I? Then I meant nothing—nothing at all, of course. But we are rolling along rarely, are we not 2” “Yes, we are.” “You see those twinkling lights youder? That’s where I shall stop? Somefield, as L told you, lies between ‘wo and three miles beyond.” “Then we shall soon part company ?” “ Yes, I think that very likely.” But,” exclaimed Dick, “ you are pulling up, *hat’s that for ?” ‘ This,” was the prize-fighter’s reply, as he let fall the reins and clutched Dick tightly by the throat—“ this! I know yeu! Give in—it’s no use to struggle, Dick Turpin, you are my prisoner, and I will have the whole of the reward |” CHAPTER CMXXIII. DICK TURPIN HAS A LIFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLE WITII THE PRIZE-FIGUTER. Tuis attack was so sudden and unexpected that the high- wayman had been thrown completely off his guard, and before he could well make out what had happened he was overpowered. ‘‘ Now I have you,” said Mr. Reynolds. ‘ And perhaps you understand the little speculation to which I referred. In two more minutes we shall be in the next town, and all will bear witness how I bring you in a prisoner, cap- tured by my own unaided exertions!” Pressing Dick’s throat still tighter with one hand, the prize-fighter removed the other, and placed it in his pocket, doubtless with the intention of drawing forth something with which he would be able to secure his pri- soner. Dick Turpin seized that moment to male an effort of resistance. He had been gradually summoning up all his powers, for he knew the struggle would be no trifling one. The prize-fighter swore most fearfully, for he imagined his object had been accomplished. But he found each moment that Dick appeared to grow stronger, and, adept as he was at wrestling and feats of strength, he felt that, for once in his life, he had encoun- tered some one worthy of being called his match. A struggle of the most furious character now took place in the narrow precincts of the gig. Both had obtained a good hold, and it would have been difficult for anyone to have decided as to which would prove the victor. 2s No one was near, however, to note the different phases of the conflict. But the two men fought none the less desperately on that account. Suddenly, the prize-fighter, urged to desperation by disappointment and the peril of his position—for he felt Dick was obtaining the mastery over him—uttered again that peculiar cry which was the signal for the pony to set itself in motion. F Nor on this occasion was the signal disregarded. With a bound that almost threw them both out of the vehicle into the road, the pony started off, terrified by tne noise behind it. ; Dick guessed at once the purpose of the prize-fighter, and it made him fully conscious of the desperate cha- racter of the man with whom he had to deal. His object was to run the rk of the danger, and make his horse enter the town just before them, when doubtless he would easily obtain assistance. It is true this would not enable k'm to lay elaim to the whole of this reward, but he felt ye would rather forego the whole of it than that Dick should escape him. re The highwayman dared not turn his attention to the horse in the least, nor put one hand to seize the reins, as such a course would have given his «»ponent the dvantage. F Altogether heedless, then, of where the terrified beast was going, or what obstructions lay in his path, Dick MMICLOoOL<S @ (E(@) G (©)