Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

1536 These answers were given with so much calmness and presence of mind that the officers were quite deceived. To Tom’s inexpressible satisfaction, they rode away; but before the summit of the dell was reached, ome ef. the officers who rode nearest to Jack Marshall said: “* T hope, sir, you do not pay any particular atteurion to what those fellows said; they will tell more lies in « iiinute than a hawker could in a day.” ““T don’t believe them, as a general thing,” said Jack Marshall, thoughtfully, ‘but yet they would know better than deceive us iu such a case as this. Rely upon {t, he nas galloped past.” ‘But where has he gone?” said the officer, glancing eround him, for by this time they had reached the level of the meadows. “I can see fora long, long distance, but there’s not a trace of him.” Jack Marshall was silent for a moment or two, ard then he said: ** ‘These people are cunning.” ‘t Very,” assented the officer. '* hen we will mect cunning with cunning. Half of our number, headed by yourself, shall remain here. Scarch well. {r ‘the meantime I and the rest will keep up the pursuit.” ‘“* Agreed !” was the reply. “Andif heis hidden any- where about here, Mr. Marshall, rely upon it I shall be the one to unkennel him.” As Jack Marshall elected which men should accompany him, there was no difficulty nor delay in making a sepa- ration, and really without any particular loss of time one- half were going at full gallop across the meadow. Now, had not these remarks been overheard by the gipsy who had so befriended Tom, our fricnd’s position might have become critical. Yet even now he was in a very dangerous predicament. The gipsy was aware that only half- the officers had *axen their departure; but then he doubted much whether the highwayman was in possession of that knowledge, «nd he remembered also that he had forgotten to give Tom a caution not to move until he came to tell him all was well. Thoughtfully and silently the gipsy made his way down into the dell again, and having reached the bottom, he began to give orders that the whole troop should get ready to depart. He gave the command in a loud voice, then toid his companions in an undertone to make as much fiourish or display as they could over their preparations, but by no mcaus to depart hastily. This, of course, was done for the purpose of mislead- ing the officers, and it produced a very tolerable effect, for the one who had remained in charge of this second party began to fancy, after all, he was mistaken, and that Jack Marshall and the rest would have the credit of a capture. Accompanied by much shouting and talking, the horses were caught and harnessed to the different vehicles. The tents were pulled up, the canvas folded, and, in a word, every preparation made for an immediate start. This had been going on for more than half-an-hour, during which the officers had been looking keenly around them, when the one in command said: “Tam not satisfied about these gipsies yet. Come with me; let us go down. We will make a thorough search al] through the dell.” His orders were obeyed immediately. Some muttered discontented grumblings, for the fact was the officers who had to remain were very much an- noyed at the event, they would have much preferred following Jack Marshall and the rest. The gipsies affected to be surprised when the officers returned. “Look here,” said the one in command, “we are determined to stand no nonsense! We tracked oar man close to this spot, and he has here most mysteriously dis- appeared. Now, we believe you to be in the secret ; if 3, and if you are wise, you will tell us at once, otherwise the consequenccs will be more serious than you think of.” “Tho Zingari haz spoken,” said the gipsy, “and you are welcome to search. In a few more moments we shall all have left the dell.” The officers began to search about in al] directions, yet, as they did not come near the waggon, they found nothing gf a suspicioueg charector SD BLACK BESS; OR, But Tom King began to feel decidedly uncomfort- able. That confidence which he had felt in the gipsy had altogether departed, and most unquestionably, had there been any means whatever of making a dash from his hiding-place Tom would have done so. But as the heavy waggon was backed up against him this was an impossibility, and so he had to remain quite still, na prepare himself for what was about to happen. No place was left unsearched by the police, and at length they came to the covered waggon. They looked around it; one even climbed up and steod on the shafts while he pulled aside the canvas flap im front and looked within. The light of his lantern, however, rested only on the water-proof covering, for the opening at the back was ccncealed by the two flaps of canvas at the tail of the wagzon, which were drawn closely across and tied to- ether. ; If the officer had entered the vehicle and puiled aside these flaps, Tom King must to a certainty have been dis- covered. But he did not do so. The thought that Tom King might be concealed be- nipd neve oace occurred to him, nor was it likely that it should. They moved off to a little distance, and then the gipsy, seizing Sebel by the arm, whispered in his ear: ‘‘ Crawl into the cavern and ask the stranger whether he thinks he should be able to creep into the waggon and to drag his horse in after him. [If so, tell him all will be well. By that means we shall get him clear of the police officers, who, if I mistake not, intend to linger about this spot till daybreak.” The boy gave a nod to show that he understood thorevyzhls the purport of the hastily-uttered words, and gliding noiselessly away in the darkness, hastened to deliver his message. CHAPTER CMXXXYVI. THE POLICE OFFICERS KEEP A SHARP LOOK-OUT UPON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GIPSIES,. THE gipsy who had so well befriended Tom King con- tinued to stand watching the movements of the police officers. After a brief whispered conference together, they quitted the dell; but did not go far away from it. “You may say what you like,” exclaimed one, “ but I am more than ever of opinion that the man we want is not very far from here.” ‘“ Well, but where is he 2” The officer who had just spoken shook his head sagaciously, while at the same moment he pointed towards the gipsy encampment. “It’s my settled belief that those fellows yonder could answer that question if they liked, and if you would take my advice——” “ Well!” ‘It would be not to leave off searching around, but at tlfé same time to watch with all closely the movements of those varmint yonder.” “That is precisely what I had already made up my mind to do, so you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your advice for once in a way has been taken. Now, my lads,” he added, “search around, and I will watch the gipsies.” The officers, however, set about their work very coldly. Their failure to find any clue at all up to the present moment made them feel doubtful whether the hizhwayman was there at all. At any rate, they considered that those who had galloped off with Jack Marshall stood by far the best chance of making a capture. In the meantime the boy Sebel had crept under the’ waggon and delivered his message to the highwayman, who said: ‘‘T suppose, Sebel, he means to carry me away in the’ waggon 2?” ‘Just so.” “Well, it is a plan as likely to serve me as any thet f cau think of, so I will make the attempt. Do you ksow whether the officers are far enough off to make it safe 74g me to try 7” cComicboo S (E(o}