Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

> t304 _ i bent the whole of his energies to overcoming his an- tagonist. . The prize-fighter felt himself getting gradually w. ested, but he still held on tenaciously. He knew the town was now within a few yards of them, and he trusted in being able to retain his pri ioner until then. » Dick knew this wed, and guessed why he continved to struggle so fiercely. } Cold drops of perspiration started out upon his »re- head, for he could not elos¢ his eyes to the fact th t he a very imminent danger indeed of being cap- tured, On went the horse at a more furious speed than ever, striking sparks from the hard ground with his hoofs as he went. Hitherto he had kept directly in the middle of the road, and, providing he continued to do this, and did not abate his speed, there was just the possibility that he would get through the town aimost befere anyone was aware of what was the matter. This was a frail hope to eling to, but it was better than none at all. Dick did not dare to think of what a trifle would bring their headlong course to a stop. ‘ The sudden turning of a corner, the approach of any c+her vehicle, or, indeed, the slightest obstruction ix the'r way, and then most surely they would go down with a crash. The next moment the lights of the town flashed before Dick’s eves. The p.ize-fighter saw them, and tried to shout for succour. Bat Dick’s pressure on his windpipe was so_ great that he could only give vent to a gurgling sound. The street was clear. Several people, though, were standing about here and there, gazing with amazement at the strange sight that flitted past them almost before they knew what it was, The market-place was reached, and passed, and Dick began to thirk that he should be fortunate enough to ride completely into the open country once more. The prize-fighter also had this fear, for he changed his tactics. In his rage, he felt altogether indifferent as to the amount of danger which might befall himself, and so he struggled furiously to fall over one side of the gig into the roadway, endeavouring, of course, to drag Dick Turpin with him. The consequence of such a fall might perhaps have been death to both of them, but for this the prize-fighter did not care—death was preferable to being vanquished. And now, indeed, the hardest portion of the struggle had arrived, for hitherto the prize-fighter had endea- voured to consult his own safety as-far as possibls, and his struggle had been more to overcome the highwayman and bind him. Now it was almost more than Dick could do to prevent. him from throwing himself into the road. Could he have done so, and remained in the vehicle himself, all would have been well, comparatively speaking, though his danger then would have been considered ap- palling by most persons. Dick felt that he was being drawn slowly but surely nearer to the edge of the gig. He felt that in another moment nothing could savo them from falling over. Rendered desperate by his position, he took a desperate ‘course to save himself. With great suddenness he released his hold upon his antagonist, and at the same instant clencned both his fists and struck him two hard blows. The man’s grasp perceptibly relaxed. But Dick followed up the blows by others. The prize-fighter tried, but ir vain, tu obtain another grasp of his adversary. But Dick eluded him, then dealt one more blow of so decisive a character that it pst a complete termination to the contest. With a rush and a hideous crash the prize-fighter fell over the wheel of the gig into the roadway. To what extent he was injured Dick had no means of ~uessing, for such was the prodigious rate at which the } ~* BLACK BESS; OR, | 2 -—o-ee— 44 pony was going, that his foe was in a moment out of sight. Dick drew a long breath of thankfulness for this escape, and then had to settle down to face a danger searcely less alarming. © The pony was now com, 'etely maddened, and Dick questioned whether any mean3 could be adopted fur checking his career. ‘Ife reins had dropped, and how to regain them was a mystery. While going so swiftly, it seemed the height of mad- ness to attempt to leap vut of the vehicle, and allow the creature to take its own course. ; ¥ct Dick felt this was_what he wouid be compelled to he Just then his foot touched against something, and he stooped down to examine it more closely. To his joy he found it was the rein, which had fallen over both ends of the dash-board of the gig, and so had remained secure. Seiziug hold of it, Dick began slowly but firmly to pullit tight. — But the horse seemed altogether heedless of the pres- sure of the bit. Dick knew that his tremendous pace could not be checked all at once, but he-hoped to do so by degrees. His chief concern was to keep. in the middle of the highway. Tighter and tighter he pulled the reins, and yet tighter still, and he had at length the satisfaction of perceiving that the horse’s speed perceptibly dimi- nished. He bent forward, and pulled again with his whole strength, which proved, unfortunately, too great for the strength of the reins themselves. With a sudden snap the leather parted, and the frantie animal, again feeling his head at liberty, and chafing under the restraint he had just endured, flew onwards again, if possible at greater speed. Dick now had clearly no, resource but to run the risk of descending from the vehicle, and, after a mo- mert’s consideration, he determined to do so by luwer- ing himself over the back. Climbing over the seat, ard clinging tightly to the scroll iron-work at the back, he lowered himself down until his feet almost touched the ground. It required, even then, a great effort of courage to let 0. 2 But Dick did so, and though he strove to save himself from falling, he failed to do so, and reached the ground - with most unpleasant violence. For afew seconds all the breath was knocked out of his body, but he seemed to be recovered by hearing a tremendous crash. Raising himself up a little, he looked in advance, and then saw that one wheel of the gig had come in contact with a post, after which the vehicle seemed to vanish as though by magic, while the pony, with portions of the wreck clinging to his harness, continued his mad careex. CHAPTER CMXXIV. DICK TURPIN TAKES REFUGE IN A TREE, BUT FINDS IiE IS BY NO MEANS OUT OF DANGER. . Dick TuRPIN struggled to his feet, and wiped his face, which had not escaped injury by his fall. He had good cause indeed for congratulating himself pon having made up his mind to quit the gig when be did. Had he remained only a few moments longer the chance would have been lost, and he could scarcely have escaped with life had he been seated in the vehicle when it came into such violent contact with the post. Dick’s brain was still confused. and he steod for some time in the road in a strange, dreamy conditiox, He was startled, ho-vever, by hearing behind the sounds of horses’ haovfs beating rapidly on the hard road, and at the very same moment he also perceived in the distance before him two faint, glimmering lights, which, from their distance apart, evidently proceeded from » stage-coach, or some other vehicle carrying lamps. Dick started atonce into life and energy. ‘The prize-fighter has given the alarm,” he mutteres (Eco) AANICE .OOKS;: COr