Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

BLACK BESS; OR, =s~—~— consent. Not ove felt inclined to run the risk of leaping over it. ‘Quick!’ said the one in command. “Speed will do it now, after all. Get your cutlasses and cut away these branches. It won’t take a moment to make a gap large enough for us to pass through one ata time. Now, then, set to work!” Long before he had finished giving his directions, one of the men had alighted, drawn his cutlass, and com- menced an attack upon the hedge. His weapon was sharp and his arm strong, and it #as surprising to find what havoc he madeamong the elesely- yrowing twigs. { ' A gap was soon made—not exactly large enough for the horses to walk through, but still sach a one as they could leap over easily; and as soon as this was the case, the one in command cried: “ That will do, Parker—that willdo now; up into the| saddle, and all of you follow me.” He set the example of making his way through the gap, and the others followed without loss of time. Tom King was not a little disconcerted when, on turn- ing round again, he found that the officers had so easily overcome the obstruction. He had hoped that they would be obliged to ride along the hedge until they came to a part low enough to allow them to leap over. Still he did not despair, for he had a pleasant piece of country before him, and he did not doubt that in the long run he should tire out his pursuers. Nevertheless, he wished to get the chase over as quickly as was possible, and so urged his horse to the utmost, for he was fearful that the animal would in a short time be- gin to feel the effects of his fall. Yet it was vexatious, and in spite of all his exertions and efforts, the police officers kept about the samo distance in the rear. They did not gain on him in the least, nor did they lose ground. e There was a dogged obstinacy about this chase which made Tom King feel rather uncomfortable. _ It was so palpable that the officers were determined to hold on in pursuit until they effected his capture. For nearly as far as he could see the country round was as smooth and level asa bowling green, not afford- ing him any chance of doubling upon them, or to put into execution any manceuvre whatever. He was thus compelled to resort to his original expe- dient, namely, that of making the best speed in his power. It was while things were in this unsatisfactory state that Tom King suddenly found on the other side of a hedge before which he halted the broad turnpike road. Looking to the left, and seeing a white gate only a few yards off, he walked his horse towards it, preferring to do this rather than run the risk of another leap. The difference in time was really not very great. He closed the gate behind him, remounted, and then looked up and down on the opposite side, hoping to find a similar means of ente1ing the next field. Nothing of the kind presented itself, however, and as it would not do to linger, he turned in the direction that would lead him awayfrom London, and continued his hasty flight, resolved, however, that the moment he caught sightof agate that he would pull up and pass through it. To his annoyance, however, he failed to see any gate whatever. The officers finding that the object of their pursuit was hurrying along the high road, changed their course slightly. ) Instead of riding direct for the gate through which Tom had passed, they took a diagonal direction, which would serve to cut off a very large corner indeed. It didso; and Tom shortly afterwards bad the addi- tional mortification of discovering that the officers had gained very much upon him. He saw a gate, but he felt it would be madness to sop now and attempt to pass through. There was no resource save that of continuing his wild flight along the highway. All at once, passing round a bend in the road, he per- ceived before him a small covered cart, the driver of which carefully drew out of his way. Upon arriving at the hedge they pulled up by common =~ . Little did Tom suspect that in this cart was seated old companion Dick. Had any immortal being whispered such a thing ia his ears he would have received the intimation with incre- dulity. : Agia the clattering sound produced by his horse's feet on the hard road, Tom fancied he distinguished another suaund like a cry of startled surprise. But he had no time to think about this, but bent all his energies to urging forward his horse at his utmost speed. But as he was now out of sight of his pursuers, and as he could perceive betore him a gate, Tom gradually re- laxed his speed, and then dismounted. The gate was locked, but a couple of gocd, smashing blows with a heavy stone that lay close at hand, demo- lished the padlock, and allowed him to pass through. Tom crossed this field, and then the next, then paused. Ye looked behind him. so his: .rprise, he no longer saw his fess, and at this circumstance he wondered greatly. He little knew the service Dick had rextisreda him by sending the officers across the country in the wrong direction. But although the officers were not within sight, Tom did not feel satisfied to remain so close to them, and con- tinued on his way until he was again brought to a steno by a tall hedgerow. ) He paused when near it, and at the same moment he heard a voice exclaim: | “TL ere he is—there he is, over in the meadow! Quick —quick! Run on and open the gate! We are close upon him !” . Now, these sounds were not a little bewildering to Tom King, for, of course, he imagined that these words were uttered by one of the officers who had given him such a long and persistent chase. But the tact was, as the reader no doubt surmises, that these pclice officers were those under the immediate command of Jack Marshall himself, and whom Dick had left disputing with each other at the junction of the four cross roads. At the first sight the officer who had called out had taken Tom King for Dick Turpin, which was a thing not unfrequently done, owing to the general resemblance there was between them. Tom caught the alarm, and, turning his horse’s head another way, began his flight afresh. He was now growing terribly alarmed; he could not conceal the fact from himself. Already his horse had had a long and wearying gallop, aided to which he had met with a severe fall. Now he was close to his foes again, all his previous _ exertions had gone for nothing. It did indeed seem a disheartening state of things. But Tom ouly gave way to this depression of spirits for abouta moment. . Drawing a long breath and giving himself a good shake, he braced himself up, so to speak, and prepared to meet this fresh danger with which he was assailed. The only thing which troubled him was the strange- ness of the fact that the officers should be so close behind him when he believed them to be at a distance, for, strangely enough, the thought did not strike him that it was another party altogeth®. Fortunately for him, the meadow he was now crossing was of unusual extent. lt was very level, and divided from another almost as large by a narrow, winding stream, or rather brook, His horse leaped over this without any perceptible ex- ertion, and Tom—by means of his voice, by doubling up the reins and using them as a whip, by spurring vigo- rously with both heels—endeavoured to stimulate his borse into making still greater speed, although the gallop he was then going at was of truly an alarming character. CHAPTER CMXXXYV, TOM KING UNEXPECTEDLY BUT OPPORTUNELY ENCOUNTERS AN OLD FRIEND. ONCE again, while going at this headlong gallop, Tom King turned his head over his shoulder and looked behind him. | He was then iv ne small degreo rejoiced to fad that be G . dug se ae haat 2 re td tal comicbook: { o= - > Oe. Bi ee CO eS ae PN