Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

YALA He soon felt the benefit of this treatment, and having remained as long as he thought prudent for his safety in that place, he bound up his arm as skilfully as he was able, and resumed his coat. When he tried to stand, however, he became more fully aware of the extent to which he had teen weakened. He staggered, and could scarcely save himself trom falling. By one of those powerfal efforts of the mind which will at times entirely control the corporeal functions, he succeeded in banishing this deathlike sensation. He hastened to his horse, but the animal hearing his approach looked up and then moved off. Evidently it had no desire to be caught. Tom’s heart sank again when he noted the vast extent of the meadow. He knew it would require far more strength and en- durance than he possessed to recapture his horse. For a little while he was almost inclined to give up in despair, which circumstance will show better than any- thing else how much loss of blood had reduced him. Advancing slowly and with caution, and using such soothing expressions as he was able to think of, he again crept nearer to his horse, and at length succeeded in taking hold of the bridle. To mount was a difficult process, but he accomplished it, and then hesitated as to the way he shou!d take. Shelter and rest somewhere he feit were more than ever needed. Surgical assistance also was required, though where he could obtain any of these he had not the slightest idea. ‘‘] must trust to chance to guide me,” he muttered. “‘T have no better counsellor at the present time. I must congratulate myself upon having so well got rid of the police officers.” : As he uttered these last words he set his steed in motion, following the course which he had taken in fly- ing from his pursuers. A ride of rather more than a quarter of an hour brought him to the sumunit of a hill, from which a to'ler- ably extensive prospect could be obtained. Ons habitation, and one only, was in sight. This was a large, substantially-built mansion, whose very antiquity gave it an air of the greatest picturesque- ness. : Ivy and other parasitic plants had taken possession of nearly every wall, and around it were many stately trees, every one no doubt many hundreds of years old. The loud cawing of some lazy-winged rooks alone dis- turbed the silence, but this sound oniy served to make the general air of peace and quiet that reigned around the more apparent. Tom King stopped his horse in order to gaze upon this structure, and as he gazed he sighed. It may be that the sight of it brought back to his recollection some memory of the past, or it might be that he thought how welcome a shelter would those substantial walls afford. Be this as it may, however, it is certain an intense longing came over him to make his way towasds that dwelling. Strangely enough, he felt a presentiment that he had only to present himself at its portal to be made wel- come. This and other fancies came crowding thickly upon him, but he shook them of as one might shake off the recollection of some dream, and prepared himself to look the difficulties of his situation fairly in the face. Not for another moment aid he contemplate the idea of making his way anywhere in the direction of that mansion. fe turned his horse’s head, indeed, in sach a dirsction that it was quickly lost se view. After a brief space he tound himeelf close co the side of a narrow but weil-kept road. « A thickly-planted hedge alone divided him froin 1t. Before venturing to pass this obstruction, Tom thougut &% would be no more than prudent to lister, In his present position be could not be over cautious, for he was now unfitted for a long, fatiguing ride. Pausing, then, he listened with great intentness, and BLACK BESS ; OB, soon had good cause to congratulate himself upon the course he had adopted. Scarcely a second elapsed before the faint but per- fectly clear and distinc. sound of horses’ feet reached him. He continued to listen, and as the sound grew louder he could tell that a single horseman was approaching. From a single horseman surely he had nothing to fear, and so he might have continued on his way. But, then, it was important he should keep out of sicrht, and so he resolved to wait until this traveller had passed by. His patience was not put to a very severe trial, for the approaching horseman came on ata sharp pace until he got within a few yards of where Tom was concealed, and then he gradually checked his horse. The hedge of which we have spoken was so high and grew so thickly that Tom felt perfectly certain he had but toremain stooping down in the saddle in order to be perfectly invisible to any person who might pass y: This, then, was the position that he took up, thouch, nevertheless, he was able to obtain a tolerably good view of the road beyond. Peering through the interstices of the hedge, he quickly saw &@ man dressedin a kind of livery make his appear- ance. He was mounted on sa splendid horse, and over one shoulder was a strap, to which was attached a large leather bag. There was an expression of cunning and villany in this man’s face that Tom perceived at once, and, in consequence, he felt a deep snd immediate interest in alk this man’s proceedings. ~ He continued to rein-in his steed un‘il he brought it te a standstill at a spot not many yards distant from where Tom was hidden. This done, his next proceeding was to draw the sleeve of his corduroy coat across his face. “Tt seems all quiet enough,” he muttered, half to him- self and half aloud, ‘“‘and yet I heard something, too; but it must have been my fancy—yvs, yes, my fancy. [I wonder what there is I could hear to be afraid of ?” He looked around him with a half-defiant expression, which was strange enough to see, and which greatly increased the amount of curiosity and interest the high- wayman already felt. or did the man’s succeeding actions serve in any degree to diminish these feelings. Allowing the reins to fall upon the neck of his horse, he carried one hand to the leather bag that has been men- tioned, and brought it round until it rested on the pommel of the saddle. When it was in this position, Tom could see it plainly, and had no doubt whatever as to its character. It was such a leather bag as would be used for the purpose of carrying letters to and from a post-oflice. The man hesitated, and seemed to tremble. Then, with a quick fmovement, he thrust his fingers into his waistcoat pocket and produced a small key. He gave another suspicious glance about him before he ventured to introduce it into the lock. A sharp click followed, for the key turned with diffi- culty, as though it was a false one, and then the bag was opened. PWacene and rapidly, the man drew forth a handful of letters. He glanced at them quickly, and selecting one, placed the others back again in their receptacle. “That's it!” he muttered, glancing at the superscrip- tion of the one he held—“I would swear to the hand- writing, although so many years have passed away since I saw him last. Curses on him! He shall rue the day when he first made up his mind to interfere with my designs.” He placed his fingers near the seal, then listened onca more and glanced about him. The silence that prevailed reassured him, and the next moment the letter was torn open. His eyes glanced rapidly over its contents, and as they did so such an expression of evil came over his forb:i-ling countenance es made Tom King shudder to gaze upon. With the same evil, throatening look, he thrust the Eomichoo ) <SiGO