Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

Ack. hat + z fee ott " isd ie . .. re a he sudden surprise bereft the murderer of all his _, &trength and presence of mind. | He became immediately as helpless as a child im the highwayms2’s hands. Yom picked up the gun, in which he felt strangely in- _ terested, and with the other hand twisted tightly into the thick neckcloth of the under-steward, he dragged him forcibly in the direction of the spot where the wounded stranger lay. Foe bitterly Tom regretted not being in time, for his heart told him who this stranger was. Most certainly it was the baronet’s eldest, disowned gon, making his way back to entreat his father’s forgive- ness. . Now he had been cut short by death, or, af teast, ‘Tom feared so, for the distance was so short, and the steward’s facility for taking aim so great, that it was scareely pos- _ gible for him to have escaped a fatal injury. . Yet this was a point he resolved to ascertain without delay, and so, as we have said, he dragged his prisoner after him. The plantation was only separated from the lane by a hedge so low that Tom had not the least difficulty in stepping over it. _ The steward tried to step over it too, but he failed, and was scratched rather unpleasantly by the thorns. Ae “Down on your knees,” said ‘l'om, as soon as he - reached tho middle of the lane—‘‘down on your knees, villain, and if you make a single movement it shall be _ your last! Mind that!” Tom produced his pistol as he spoke, then bent down over the cloaked figure. Tom did not perceive it just then, but a remarkable change now came over the under-steward’s countenance. Absolutely it seemed to stiffen with horror, His jaw __ dropped, and his eyes assumed a strange, glaring stare, his fingers worked convulsively, and he seemed as though he was struggling to gasp out some word. He bent forward, too, as far as he was able, and in his anxiety to catch a glimpse of the stranger’s countenance he evidently forgot his own peril—forgot everything. But the stranger having fallen to the ground upon his face, Tom was under the necessity of rolling him over. ~ This was quickly done, and then his features were clearly revealed by the light of the clear, shining full moon. The countenance disclosed was that of a young man, | probably not more than five-and-twenty years of age, but upon whose face there was the mark left by long days and nights of dissipation, and although all the features were now in calm repose, the face was a most unpleasant one to look at. An awful wringing cry coming at this moment from the under-stewerd’s lips made Tom start up, then, looking at him, he noted the change we have described. The murderer fought madly with his hands ; he strug- gled and tugged at his throat as though there was some- thing there that impeded his utterance—something that he could tear away. At last, after many ineffectual efforts, he dragged him- self forward on his knees for a few paces, and flung him- self upon the inanimate body. “‘ Alfred—Alfred,” he cried, in tones that were truly awful to listen to—‘‘my boy, my son, look up! Do not remain so still! Surely you are not dead—you must not, - cannot be! Awake—awake! Oh, what wild. foolish folly 7 was it that brought you to this spot to-night? Speak— ~ make soms slight movement—show me that yox are yet / alive!” But no movement followed, nor could the anxious man A detect a breath. g With trembling, unsteady fingers he undid his son’s _--— apparel, and endeavoured to place his hand above the « region of the heart. | This revelation, so awful, and made so unexpectedly, atilast. ‘“ You are sure it is not the baronet’s son ?” Uhe under-steward looked up at him wildly, and with his face convulsed with anguish. He seemed as though about to speak. a had for a moment or so the effect of paralysing Tom King . completely. | He could only stand quite still, gazing on without soaud or motion. . “Then this is not Roderic ?” he, managed to exclaim ze. THR ENIGHT OF THE ROAD. 1549 Whether such was his intention cannot be knowr. but ” just then thor were interrupted by the sharp clatter of a horse’s feet. it Tom King was ou ghe alert instantly, and an ejacula- tion of annoyance escaped his lips. The last thing he wanted was an interruption. But the sound rapidly increased in loudness, and then, ae a up, Tom perceived a single horseman come into sight. : At the same time it was evident this new-comer saw something unusual was taking place in the lane, for he checked the speed of his steed somewhat abruptly, as he - called out: ‘‘ Hullo there! What’s the meaning of all this ?” While speaking he did not discontinue his progress, but came on at a more gentle rate. The under-steward crouched down and endeavoured to conceal himself from observation. “Surely,” thought Tom to himself, *‘ this is the baronet’s son. Had he arrived a little sooner that would have been his fate.” He glanced at the body of the under-steward’s son while he spoke, then looking up and raising his voice, he exclaimed : “AmT right, sir, in taking you to be Mr. Roderic Cromer, the sldest son of the baronet up ait the hall yonder P” “Yes,” was the answer, given in pleasant, cheerful tones, “that is my name. How came you to know it 2” ‘“‘T merely guessed it,” was the answer, ‘ Congratulate yourself upon your narrow escape from death.” *‘ Death ?” ejaculated Roderic. “Yes,” said Tom. “Give me your attention for a moment, and I will endeavour to explain all.” Then Tom, in as few words as he possibly could, made ~ Roderic acquainted with all those particulars which the reader knows already. : His revelations were listened to in mingled anger, surprise, and incredulity. , While speaking, Tom had a good opportunity of gazing at the young man’s face and figure with attention, and he could not help remarking to himself how great a contrast he afforded to him who now lay so motionless on the dusty roadway. Roderic’s countenance was open, manly, and had such a cheerful expression upon it as won all hearts, and attracted everyone towards him. No traces of cunning, villany, or debauchery could be seen there. “ And it is you, Peterson,” Roderic ejaculated at length, dismounting from his steed as he spoke—‘“it is you who have contemplated this dreadful deed! Well, the retribu- tion that has overtaken you, though terrible, is no more than just.” ‘Tam in doubt,” said Tom, “‘whethe the young man is really dead or not; it may be that he is only wounded.” Peterson looked up, and shook his head slowly and sadly. ne so doing his face was revealed, and Tom King started with surprise when he perceived how great a change had been wrought in it. i It seemed, indeed, as though in the space of those few mivutes he had grown at least twenty years older, and sech an aspect of suffering was visible that the heart - would have been hard indeed that did not melt at the sight of it. ‘6 Ho is dead !” he moaned, wringing his hands—“ quite dead--dead by my hand! Let me go! I ama miserable, wretched man now, and this sorrow, which I shall carr to my grave, is surely punishment enough for what have done! Let me go, and I wiil confess all—I wil tell you everything !” sik Tom King did not offer to speak, but left the decision with Roderic. | He, on his side, hesitated, for he scarcely knew as yet in what relation ‘om stood to the whole affair. “Do not refuse me!” pleaded Peterson— grant my request, aud I will tell you something well worth your knowing—wi!l confide in you a secret which otherwise shall never pass my lips. Let me go, and let me take the body of my poor boy with me! That is all I ask, end you shall never see me again in life,” (E(0) 0)(0\0) =) a (C(O) <S