Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

ye gration—-a spot that was only a few yards distant. ie thought just they too, of Black Bess, and wonderet . she was in the mids of the scene of riot. Just then his eyes ell upon a man, begrimed with _ gmoke, and with his cl. thing badly torn. Nevertheless, he cee gnised him. _ “ Maud—Maud!” Dirk exclaimed, as he seized hold of nim. ‘“ Where is she—where is she ?” __ Smithini answered only by a groan. _ Alarmed beyond expression, Dick repeated his inquiry, Ry ula so furiously that Smithini was terrified into a > reply. “She's there,” he said, pointing to the semains of the _ ¢ircus—“ she’s there, in the very midst of the wreck, and _ black Bess is with her!” 4 , ” 1 ~ 4 — ire oe + 94 ' . i y ae} y ‘3 ere r ¥ ‘wre CHAPTER CMXXVI.. DICK TURPIN IS MUCH HARASSED BY THE FOLICE OFFICERS. Upon receipt o. this intelligence Dick Turpin ciasped both his hands over his face, and uttered a deep groan. But he banished the emotion quickly, for he felt that & was the moment for deeds, not for grief. How he was to make his way through the fighting, struggling throng, and gain the centre of the circus he had no idea, and it was fortunate indeed even at that dire moment that he should maintain sufficient presence of mind to be aware that any attempt to mix himself up with the throng would prove fatal. His mind at the same instant grasped another idea. Smithini had said that Black Bess was with Maud, and tiat reminded him that he had the power of calling Black Bess to his side. | There was a possibility—just a remote possibility—that Mand might come with Black Bess if he gave utterance to the signal. The experiment was worth trying, and almost without reflection he whistled shriply. There was an answering neigh, and then the confusion on the spot where the circus had stood was redoubled. With a furious rush and frantic, terrified bounds, Black } Bess came galloping over those people who chanced to be in her way. Dick could scarcely summon up his course vo look and see whether Maud was with her. Tremblingly and in great fear he raised his eyag, and then, with acry of joy, sprang forward. Maud was there, seated upon Black Bess, and to all ap- pearance quite unhurt. In another second she was in his arms, and pressed tightly to his breast. “Safe,” she said—“ I am quite safe and unhurt! you, too, have escaped ?” “* Yes—yes!” said Dick, whose heart was now light- ened of a terrible load—“ yes, all is well. And Bess— what about her?” “She, too, I think, is quite unharmed, or if she is hurt it is only in a very trifling degree.” At this moment Smithini came hurrying towards them, and by the expression of his face it could be seen that some fresh calamity had befallen him. ‘“‘ All is lost!” he said, when he came nearer. “My bad luck clings tome! I thought I had got the better of it for once, but no, I have not. Iam nowa ruined man in the fullest sense of the word!” Dick thought he referred to the fire, but in tais ne was quickly undeceived. “ The receipts have been stolen,” continued Smithini— “all the money taken at the doors has been carried off by the mob. I had no means of placing it in safety, and it is gone. I have not now a shilling ip the world!” “No matter,” said Dick; “you remembs my pro- mise. I will be as good as my word.” “‘ Hush—hush !” said Smithini, suddenly—-~ 0% thore, Dick—look there !* He pointed to a And Spot eicse to the scene of coniia- “Officers,” ejaculated Dick—“ officers, ag I live! I must retreat at once; perhaps I shall be lucky enuugh te escape unseen. Come, Maud, up qui¢ékly—quickly !” siaud was trembling violently, and weeping, for she 5 4a9 not yet overcome her last excitement. Jj 4 arad toes, +a A Jk beet ft OU’ S Mina li’, + s* . arate | tr i} ‘ ’ THB KNIGHT OF THH ROAD. = lath Se we Le Bick, however, in this moment of fresh danger wae oaim and steady enough. Keeping his eyes fixed upon the officers 50 ag not far @® mement to lose sight of their actions, he placed Lis hand upon the saddle and swung himself easily into his seat. : It was {ust then that a voice cried out in loud, shrill tonve: “Here he is—here he is; I have him now, and ne mistake.” While these words were uttered, Dick felt his leg suddenly seized by some one, and the jerk given was such that it almost unhorsed him. Luckily, he kept his seat, The officers answered the cry witha loud shout, and came hastening towards them. With a sudden shake Dick managed to gat his foot partially free, and before the man who had seized it could save himself he received a tremendous blow in the mouth from the tip of Dick’s heavy riding boot. He relaxed his hold and fell back with a strane i On, Bess,” Dick omed—“ on, my lass—your best speed is wanted row !” Whiis he spoke the words a dropping, irregular volley came from the pistols of the officers. But the bullets sped past him harmlessly, for the short stumpy pistols that were at that time carried by the police officers were more for show than use, and if they struck an object aimed at it was by accident merely. But Maud uttered a loud cry, and at first Dick thought she had been injured. She quickly assured him, however, that all was well, the cry had been wrung from her lips by terror. There was something truly alarming in the furious rate at which Black bess took her way across the rough, uneven piece of waste ground on which vhe circus had been erected. It was of considerable extent, and some time elapsed before its further boundary was reached. At length they reached this point in perfect safety. Gut Dick had left all to the sagacity of his mare; he had made not the slightest attempt to guide her, for he knew well enough she would be better able by this means to avoid any obstacles that might be in her path. The officers, however, were not so fortunate. The horses of the two foremost stepped suddenly into a hole only a few inches deep, but yet such was the jar produced that they stumbled and fell, oarrying their riders with them. The others were so close behind that they could not stop themselves immediately, and thus a scene of the utmost confusion took place, a confusion which lasted for several moments. This was an opportunity that Dick improved to the utmost. ‘‘ Allis well, Maud,” he cried, in @ reassuring voice— “all is well! Fear nothing! the officers are in the humour for a good gallop to-night they whall have it; but I promise them they will get nothing for their pains.”’ Black Bess seemed in excellent condition, and, so far as could be judged, quite overjoyed at thus again meeting with her master. A broad, tolerably-straight and well-kept cross-road was before them, and along this Dick allowed her to proceed at full gallop. Coming, then, to a spot where the road was intersected by another, he paused. He had not listened more than few seconds before he heard distinctly behind him the sharp clatter pro- c“aced by the hoofs of the officers’ horses striking the hard road. “They're after us at full speed, Maud,” said Dick; “but you have no cause to fear. We have the advantage of them now. When they riach this place they will have great difficulty in determiazing which way . Lave one.” ini And which way shall you ta'te?” Dick paused «a moment be.ore he replied, said: | ‘ This one to the left.” He turned Black Bess’s head down it while be mgoka, and again urged her te pat tucim ber utmost puwseu oh ¥ won (E(@) ( (OM) im 0 (00) KS4(eC)