Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

1510 is possessed of rare intelligence. It would take too long to repeat one half of the stories I have heard, but doubtless there is only a slight foundation for them.” ‘Not so slight as you imagine,” said Maud, witha glow of joy, for she was delighted at seeing this prospect opened out before her of testifying her grati- tude to her new friend—‘ not so slight as you ima- gine,’ she repeated. ‘At various times I have seen strange things done. She would obey his every word, but I fancy will attend to no one else.”’ “It is very likely.” “Still,” she continued, with fresh animation, “if you will allow metotry I shall gladly do so. You must not forget she is so disguised that even I should not recognise her, and it might be that this would prove sufficient to attract the people.” Smithini evidently thought so. The proposal was one that recommended itself to him in every w:y, but yet he hesitated. Maud, however, insisted upon carrying out the course she had suggested. Black Bess was brought, and she endeavoured by imitating Dick’s manner toinduce her to perform several tricks which she had seen. The experiment met witha success that exceeded their most sanguine expectations. But having succeeded so far, an obstacle now ob- truded itself which threatened to be insurmountable. To perform these tricks it would be necessary that Maud herself should appear before the audience, a thing from which under any circumst ances she would have shrunk. But now it would have been dangerous in the highest degree for her to do so. Among the many eyes that might be upon her, there would be a strong probability of her recognition. “T have it,”’ said Smithini, in a voice of exultation— “[ haveit; ourfortunes are made, ‘The Masked Lady,’ that sounds well, doesitnot? It will make agood Jine, too : ‘The Masked Lady and her Matchless Steed, W hite Diamond, will give their unrivalled performance,’ ”’ “Yes,” said Maud, “I could wear a mask, and then there would be almost an endtodanger. Atany rate, I will run the risk.” Even then Smithini hesitated. He thought of Dick, and wondered in what light the highwayman would look upon the affair. He was no stranger to the fact that Turpin placed a priceless value on his mare,and should any accident befall her—should she be recognised, what could he say then? But for Maud’s determination, he would at the last moment have abandoned the idea; but she was firm, and resolved that it should be carried out. The next step was to make the inhabitants of the town aware of what was going to be performed, and this task was executed as well as the shortness of the time at their disposal would admit. *I don’t care,” said Smithini. ‘ Let only half a dozen come the first time, and I shall be satisfied. When they have seen this performance they will pour a glowing account of it into the ears of everyone.” Rather late in the afternoon a second performance was given. It was rather better attended than the first; but it was evident they had been induced to come by the representations that had been put forth respecting the Masked Lady and White Diamond. The moment for Maud’s appearance at length came, and, dizzy and confused, she rode into the ring. She was received with a loud burst of applause, and alllooked on with the greatest excitement and eager- ness at the strange spectacle of a masked performer. Trembling for the result, Maud then uttered the words of command that Dick Turpin himself had used, It would really seem that Black Bess understood the nature of her position, for never before had she ap- peared so docile—so intelligent. Kvery command that Maud gave was obeyed witha promptitude that produced unbounded applause. The experiment was a complete success. W ben ali was over, Black Bess was led round the ring, and all admired her matchless shape and prop: rtions. Never had their eyes rested on such a steed, BLACK BESS; OR, But little did they dream what steed it was. Smithini. in the character of manager, announced that a repetition of the performance would be given that evening, and then the audience departed. The words he had made use of were prophetic. Those who had witnessed the performance of White Diamond gave so glowing an account of it that all who heard determined to attend, especially when those who had paid the visit on the first occasion de- clared their intention of going a second time. To the joy of Smithini and his troop, long before the announced hour of opening, a great crowd be- sieged the entrance to the tent. In they rushed, in one continuous stream, packing themselves into the closest possible compass. The canvas erection was crammed to its fullest extent—it would not have been possible for another person to have found standing-room., Thus the time passed on until the hour for Maud’s second appearance, Her success was even greater than on the previous occasion. Still, there remained outside a crowd of persons sufhi- ciently large to fill the tent again, and, by the gener- ally-expressed wish of all, a third performance was announced, although the hour was then so late a one. Fortune was at last smiling upon Smithini., The money rolled in so fast that he could scarcely find places in which to stow it. It happened thus, that the hour was long past mid- night when Maud again appenred. Again was the performance a complete success. But before it was half over, a loud, appalling shriek was heard, It was foilowed by another, and then from the throats of all issued the one word “ Fire !” There was an instantaneous rush, and then, as though to make the calamity complete, the seats, which had never been designed for the accommodatiou of so many people, suddenly gave way on one side. There was a hideous crash,and the next moment the people were lying on the ground in aconfused and bleeding mass. Asthe seats all depended upon each other for sup- port, those on the other side fell also before those seated on them could succeed in making an escape. Then followed a scene of such appalling horror that no tongue could describe it, and the fearful nature of the scene was enhanced by the rapid progress of the flames. They spread with a rapidity truly alarming. Something might have been done to check them, it is true, but there was no one who could take that direction of affairs upon themselves at the right mo- ment, and so the fire raged on. By twos and threes, the bruised and burned people rolled out on to the open ground. Selfishness reigned paramount. No thought was given by anyone to the sufferings of another. Inthe midst of the confusion aman appeared, whose arrival was unnoticed in the general excitement. It was Dick Turpin, who had seen from afar the conflagration, and who, on coming close enough, had found that it proceeded from Smithini’s circus. He did not know at that moment that Maud was in the very centre of the building, hemmed in by mad- dened, furious people. But he dashed on at a venture, looking everywhere for her. He saw her not—he saw no one of whom he could ask a single question. He felt certain, however, that if he raised his voice she would recognise it, and give vent to an answering cry, which would enable him to proceed to her rescue. There was danger about this course; but at such a moment as that such danger was not to be thought of. ‘ Maud,” he cried —‘‘ Maud—Maud! Where are you? Speak, that I may hear your voice !”’ He fancied that the roaring of the flames and the shrieks and cries of the populace beat down and drowned his words. GO JOOKS'