Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

reed 1 tiene nS i. he + i i eas 4. Ph ee tis FM NLC Oe oda Mo NaN EL verelVepe sr wm LP Oe Fe >" Pe a + . (er) ' ie’ is ~ ay Ni 4 “thas was your act,” said Ton. ‘destroyed. But come, I have no time for talk !” “Oh, papa,” said the other voice, though this time ‘Tom could teil that the young girl was struggling with her tears, ‘ac give bim the money—it can make litle dif- ference to you !” “Te does oct.” was the reply. this, and be content! I have resisted you as well as I auld. I would have done more, but, like a fool, I trusted msyeelf with one brace of pistols only, though, if I had ammunition with me, rely upon it you would rot have got off so easily.” While these words were spoken, a purse was tossed with a disdainful action out of the carriage, Tom dexterously caught it. Thanks,” he said—“*thanks! I have what 1 require! { daresay you will find it rather awkward with three horses, but you have only yourself to blame for that. Had you complied with my demand at first, all this would have been saved !” “Oh, look—look!” cried another voice, which Tom King had not yet heard—“oh, look—look! Here are officers close at hand! Help—help—oh, help!” The last word was pronounced with a shrill, sharp in- tonation. Tom was quite surprised to hear it, for he had fancied that the carriage was tenanted by two persons only. The fact was, a lady was present, the mother of the young girl who had spoken, but at the first approach of danger she had either fainted or pretended to do go, re- covering only just at the moment when she saw succour at hand. The officers she had seen were those who had been go long in pursuit of Tom. They had kept resolutely upon his track, and just then emerged from the shady entranve to the lane. They had approached very gently, having made their minds up only a moment before to give up all further thoughts of making Tom a prisoner. The lady’s voice aroused them, and one glance enabled them to comprehend the position of affairs. Tom King knew well enough what had occurred, though he could not see the officers, the carriage being between himself and them; and, not waiting another moment, he wheeled suddenly round, and tested the quality of his new horse by putting him to overleap a rather high wooden fence. The obstacle was cleared in beautiful style. “Over the palings yonder!” shouted the gentleman, leaning out of the carriage window, and addressing the officers. ‘‘There he goes at full speed over the mea- dow ‘” “We'll have “Ajj right!” cried a voice, in reply. bhim—we’re bound to have him!” “Nothing of the sort,” ejaculated the gentleman, with a rattling oath—‘‘nothing of the sort! The rascal is mounted on the very best and fleetest horse in my stables, and will defy such animals as you have underneath ou!” The officers paid but little attention to his words, though, with surprising boldness, they one and all at- termpted to clear the fence. Only about half their number succeeded—the remainder fell] ignominiously on the other side. The manner in which the grey horse ha? cleared the fence let Tom King know what he might expect from such a creature, and, taking all things into account, he had really matter for congratulation, since he had been greatly the gainer by the exchange that had been mae. On looking back, he saw to what a small number his pursuers bad been reduced, and so, with a loud, defiant ery, he waved his hat, and the next moment was burry- ing along at the ctmost speed his new h-**2 was vanable of making. For the othcers to atsempt to keep up the cnase was quite ridivulous. Success could not be hoped for. Their horses were much jaded wy the long journey they bad perfurmed, while Tom’s, was so:aparatively fresh. in a much shorter space of time than he had dared to believe possible, Tom King found himself once again clear of his troublesome foes, and this time he truated to - Femain 80. Yt al Pratipa ts % THE ERNIGHT OF THK HKOUAD. “My own horse you “ Rere, fellow, tuke "Rg “Bravo!” he said, as he patted the magnificent steed upeo the neck—“ bravo! If you only turn out accord- ing to my expectations, I shall consider you not far in- ‘erior to Black Bess herself !” Tom King had been speaking in J light-hearted, joyous tone, but as he proceeded the accents of his voice changed entirely, and when he ceased speaking « cry of pain es- caped his lips. The way in aterm he eneric’ his hand to his ieft orm told eloquentie Wiret wus uso cause of By “T bad forgotten my arm,” be said—“ quite Zorgotten it unti! now! Well, that must be a sign that the injury is by no means so great as I thought at first But, oh! this pain! It is more than I can bear !” The bandage still remained in its place, though it had become deeply tinged with blood. ‘‘T should have attended to it earlier,” he continued. “But no matter! I seem to be quite alone.” He raised himself in the saddle while he spoke these words, and took a comprehensive glance around him. He was enabled to do so tolerably well, for, mingled with the faint, sickly-looking moonlight, came the first beams of a new day. So far as he could see, no living creature of any de- scription met his gaze. His eyes rested at length upon a large, smooth sheet of water, the surface of which was not broken by the tiniest ripple. Towards this he bent his way, and, having reached ite margin, dismounted. His horse drank eagerly at the pool, and Tom then slowly and carefully removed his temporary bandage. As he did so, a dreadful feeling of faintness and giddi- ness came over. him. He tried to struggle against it and overcome it, but in vain—he felt that all things were sliding from him. The ground slipped suddenly from beneath his feet— he felt himself falling, but he knew not where. Just then came a blank, for, ere he fell at full length. beside the water, he was quite insensible. How easy a prey the highwayman would have been just ¢bex: had the police officers been a little closer! He could not have offered the slightest resistance to them. But Tom was oblivious of all things, and so, of course, being in danger was one of them, and he lay there calmly and peacefully enough until the first rays of the rising sun shone upon his face. OHAPTER CMXXXVIII. TOM KING UNEXPECTEDLY MEETS WITH A STRANGE ADVENTURE. WirH a harried start, and with a sensation of great pain, Tom King recovered possession of his faculties. Slowly, and with much difficulty, he raised himself slightly, and looked around. A kind of misty film was before his eyes and before his memory, so that some time elapsed before he could make out hy wLat objects he was surrounded, or by what train of events ne had reached that spot. At length all became clear, and, creeping forward, he stooped down, and drank heartily of the clear water. Its beneficial effects were immediately apparent. _ New life and vigour filled his frame, while the fever of delirium that had gathered partially about his brain was dissipated also. He gave another and clearer look around. No human being could be seen—nor, indeed, any living creature whatever, save his new horse, which was grazing peacefully enough at a little distance. Taking off his coat, Tom next preceeded to ascertain as well as he could the precise amount of injury he had received. He was terribly afraid a bone had ssen fractured, but he was not long in coming to the conclusion that this. fear wag unfounded. There was a very ugly wound, however, in the fleshy part of his arm, which from his wrist to his shoulder presented a very red and inflamed appearance. But the bleeding had almost ceased. And now he set to werk to bathe it well in the abxaz r rand Dabo. Ghbiookssco | (E(@)