Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

1508 Far and wide all objects could be distinctly seen, and the police, as they gazed over the fair, silvery-looking country, uttered ejaculations of surprise and astanist: meéLt. At first they could not sredit their vision, but a sauund glance assured them that they saw aright. ) Dick Turpin, in his well-known scarlet coat, ate larg» white cravat, ana Sis three-cornered hat, was mak/ng his aes at a sharp trot across the level expanse of meSuuw- nd. 3 “Ourse # all!” said the chief officer, as he pauci off his hat and in his rage smacked it down into the roadway. “Something told me that we were wasting our time 2n a@ wrong scent! But never mind! He is not far off my lads! Come on—we shall have him yet!” The police left the mailcart even more precipitately than they had climbed into it, and them ran with might and main to their horses. “ Jenkins” roared the chief, “run to that gate yum&er, and open it, then we can make haste through.” One of the men hastened off to obey this comman while the others scrambled with the best speed they oval into their saddles. It was wonderful to see in what an incredibly short space of time they were all in the saddle and in motion. The gate was held open, and they dashed through it in a dense throng, quite heedless of the injuries they re- ceived by coming in contact with each other and with the gate-posts. Once in the meadow, they separated, and away they ‘em at the utmost speed of which their horses were cap- @. No n had been more surprised or astounded at this sudden turn of affairs than Dick Turpin him- self. He sat up in the tree with a dim, vague consciousness about him that he had escaped by a hair’s breadth from a dreadful death. He peered as well as he could through the branches of the trees, and presentty made out the form of the horseman that the officers had mistaken for him. Dick did not wonder at the error. The figure did in many respects resemble hims@& Nor was he at any loss to recognise the rider. It was Tom King. After the officexss had entered the meadow, Dick re- mained in the same position, watching vigilantly and full of anxiety to learn the result of the chase. To his great disappointment, however, 'l'om King be- came suddenly lost to view behind a large clum9 of trees. He watched to see him reappear from them. But in vain. Then did his concern for his old comrade redounle. He felt pretty certain that Tom King had no idea the officers were so close behind him. On the soft sward their horses’ feet would not make noise enough to reach his ears. ‘© He has been well hunted about the country, that’s cer- tain,” Dick muttered to himself, “and now he believes himself in safety. Tom to one he will stop among those trees for rest and shelter; and if he does his position will be an awkward one, for the officers will absolutely be upon him before he is aware that they are at hand.” Dick watched the officers until they, too, could be seen no longer. Then he turned to a consideration of his own posi- tion. fhe guard and driver of the mear-cart had also stood watching intently until there was nothing more to be seen. Then Diek heard the tatter exclaim: 4“ Well, eome, old fellow, I think we have icitered on oar jo long enough. The horses .nust make up for #, though—it will not do Aor us to arrive lat?” “No, certainly not.” c&.” ; ‘he guard, as, with the soshcnes in his hand, he jumped out af the cart—“‘one momen Ti just Fave ithia uae bese for the say-so of the thing, avd after that I shail be y to go with you.” These last words fairly took away Dick’s breath when te beard them, they came upon him so unexpectedly 'fe had congratulated himself upon being out of davu,”er, *« Weil, then, w ‘il be “In one moment,” safd BLACK BESS; OR, A eT ROR Be en ce ee we ee ! | glowed with crimsun. wher now he suddenly found himeelf in the same im- mineat peril as before. via Tke only question that now arose in his mind wes whether he should et once reveal his presence in the tree It would be a very different thing to deal with these two men, only he fancied indeed he shc uld be able sue- cessfully te cope with them. Ha gave one keen, rapid glance ia the direction the officers had taken. To his great joy, he found they were still out of sight. “ Jim,” said the driver of the mail-car t, as Soom as the guard had ceased speaking, “don't make @ fuol of yous- self 1" ‘“‘ What do you mean ?” “Well, not exactly what I said. But don't try to bo «a bigger fool than you are, for that’s quite needless.” “You be blowed !” “ Very well; but I just tell you this much: I am going, and if you like to come with me, well and good; if not, stay where you are, and you can fire up those trees till doomsday, if you like!” With these words the driver gave his horses a smart cut with the whip, and the animals, who had been chafing under their restraint all the while, now started off ata capital speed. ‘‘ Hi—hi!” roared the guard—* stop—stop |” The driver slackened his speed. “ Are you coming ?” “ Just this one shot!” A) Da On, Bat the guard was determined not to be baulked im his whim, so, hastily raising his piece, he pulled the trig- ger. He did not wait to see the result of the explosion, but ran off down the road as fast as his legs could carry him, bawling lustily to his comrade to pull up. He was out of sight in a few moments, and then thers was a slight rustling in the tree. It was caused by Dick Turpin taking off his hat. He looked at it, and through the broad brim he saw a large jagged hole, which would admit his finger easily. ‘A close shave,” he muttered. ‘ But a miss is as good asa mile I’ve heard say. Confound the fellow, he’s been the cause of half my troubles!” Dick felt himself carefully all over to ascertain that he had received no other hurt, and, having satisfied himself on this particular point, he paused to look around him on all sides before he ventured to make his descent. No human being was in sight, nor did any sound break the silence, save that which the wind produced. The moon was again hidden by clouds, and Dick felt rejoiced at it, because he knew how much it would favour his escape. Rapidly, then, he descended from bough to bough until he once more stood on the firm earth. Then he shook himself thoroughly, as though by thas means he could rid himself of all the disagreeable car- cumstances through which he had just passed. “T have had some close touches,” was his muttered remark. ‘But no matter! There’s much before me that I must attend to—besides, the hour is much later than I could wish. As all is so quiet I will set forward at once.” See He carried out this intention without delay. He knew perfectly well that he could be at no very great distance from his destination, but yet he had tc consider for some moments before he was able to gay positively in which direction Somefield lay. ~ Having at last decided upon the point, he took his course in a straight line, disregarding the obstacles that continually placed themselves in his path. In this way he had not proceeded long, before he per- eeiyed before him a bright, ruddy gleam of light. It increased in brilliancy with a rapidity truly mar vellous, and soon the whole horizon was lighted up. The dense clouds lost their former sombre look, and ‘A fire,” said Dick, after he had gazed in silence for some moments at this spectacle—“ yes, surely a fire! And how fiercely and rapidly it rages !” In a few more minntes he was su close to the scene of conflagration as tv behold the huge columns of smoke ae (E(o) ,JOOKS (E (0)