Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

1390 —_ « Well, then, you must take him to Newgate yourself, Sir George.” “T'll be d—d if I do.” “But I say you shull,’”’ shrieked Sir Marmaduke. “Don’t think I am blind to the partiality you have all shown for him !—I take it as the greatest of all insults to myself. But you will repent of it ere long, mark my words if you don’t!” oe The huntsmen smiled rather derisive.y, and, to tell the truth, they were by no means sorry that a pretext had arisen for turning away altogether from their arro- gant, pragmatical neighbour. Now they had very good cause for refusing to meet him anywhere, and they resolved that whenever another meeting took place he should not be one of their number. ‘©Qome on,’ cried Sir Marmaduke; “if you choose to take him prisoner you must hand him over to the officers of justice. Come on.” ‘No, I would much sooner remain here and simply keep guard over him. Lam notso fond of police officers as to be ambitious of emulating their doings.”’ ‘‘Tt is such men as you who bring their authority into disrepute,”’ retorted Sir Marmaduke; “ but a proper re- presentation of this affair shall be sent to the proper quarters, and you will then see what will be the result of it.”’ “So we ghall if we live long enough,” returned Sir George; ‘but if I knew there was anyone with such vindictive feelings as Dick Turpin has against you, I should feel doubtful about existing much longer.”’ It was easy to see that, in spite of his boast and swas- ger, this idea alarmed the baronet greatly, for he again turned very white. “Tf you would keep guard over him,’ he said, at length, after a pause, ‘I would quickly put an end to the matter by riding off immediately, and returning with a body of police officers.”’ ‘Then why don’t you do it?” ‘*‘ Simply because I know that as soon asI turned my back you would allow that rascal an opportunity to escape, and he would avail himself of it in a moment. Ah!” he cried, in quite a changed voice, and throwing up his arms with great exultation. “ Now we shall soon see the aspect of affairs altered, How fortunate, to be sure ?P’’ Raising his voice to its highest pitch, he bawled : ‘‘ Robert—Robert! This way quick! D—n you— make haste!’’ The others immediately turned their heads, and saw at no great distance the form of a man dressed in the attire of a gamekeeper. He was evidently well known by Sir Marmaduke. On hearing himself called thus, Robert came running forward, gun in hand, at great speed. ‘Yes, your worship,’’ he replied, as soon as he recog- nised Sir Marmaduke—“ yes, your worship? /¢*’hat is it you might be pleased to want ?”’ ‘The baronet smiled triumphantly. ‘You will take this horse,’ he said, “‘ mount if, and ride off with all speed to the nearest place where you can make sure Of meeting witha body of police officers. Bring as many as you can, and tell them that we have Dick Turpin here a prisoner.”’ The gamekeeper looked round him in great sur- rise. < But Sir Marmaduke checked him abruptly. ‘‘ Here’s the horse!’ he cried, ‘‘ Mount—ridce off at full speed, if you break the horse’s neck and yoar own as well! Every moment is of consequence !” Robert dared not refuse—he knew that, in spite of the confusion of his intellects. So, without another word, he scrambled into the sad- dle, and off he went. Sir Marmaduke watched him depart with eager inte- rest, and so did Dick Turpin. Through the latter’s brain many strange thoughts were passing with wonderful rapidity. is « He took, in the first place, a rapid review of his posi- on. If he waited until this gamekeeper returned with a body of police officers, his chances of escape would be remote indeed. On tie other hand, among all the huntsmen he believed there was only one, and that was Sir Marmaduke, who BLACK BESS; OR, —_—— would oppose his departure if he wade a bold run to escape. This course he would most certainly haye adopted but for one consideration, and that was the effect it would be hikely to have upon Sir George and the others, who had shown themseives inclined to be bis friends, He had a tolerable idea of the amount of power such a man as the chief magistrate of the county would pos- sess, aud he was also aware that the punishment for aiding and abetting a felon was severe, and would be inflicted upon Sir George and his companions just the same as upon anyone else. Now Dick was far too generous in his nature to at- tempt, by running away, to make hia escape, and sodraw down upon the huntsmen the consequences of this act. Moreover, he felt inclined to trust in Sir George, although he had not much faith in human nature gene- rally. Yet that gentleman, by his manner, seemed to imply that it would be wise for him to resign himself for awhile to his fate. At last this was what Dick resolved to do—not only on this consideration, but because he all at once recole - lected a little circumstance that in the excitement of the moment had quite slipped his recollection. This was the locket that nad been given him by the lady who was surrounded by so many mysteries, not one of which Dick had been able to pierce. From the moment he had received it until the present he had never attempted to make the least examination of it. : Yet as the recollection of all the circumstances came into his mind, a great degree of confidence sprang up in his breast. “Surely,” he thought, “‘ she would never have been so anxious to make me this present if she had not been fully aware of its efficacy. Yes, yes—lI feel that I can trust her, and that this locket will be the means of ex- tricating me from my present perilous predicament. She told me not to make use of it until in the utmost extremity of danger. I will not, for if I can see any opportunity of escape without having resort to it, I shall most certainly avail myself of the chance. Yes, yes— that is my determination. And now for a little while I will content myself with being merely a calm spectator of events.”’ Having come to this conclusion, Dick grew quite calm, and again folding his arms, looked around him with an easy, self-satisfied air, which elicited the utmost admira- tion of the huntsmen. Suddenly a loud and joyous cry burst from the lips of Sir Marmaduke, aud all turned their eyes in the direc- tion in which he was gazing. They then perceived, at several fields’ distance, a large body of police officers, whose large-buttoned scarlet waistcoats made them conspicuous objects. ‘hey were all mounted on strong, powerful steeds. Sir Marmaduke waved his hat, and they took off theirs in response, and accelerated their speed. * Hore they come,” he cried, in the utmost exultation —‘‘here they come! Now we shall see a little change in the posture of affairs! He looks very bold, and has carried things off with a high hand up to the present ; but it has been because he has not been in danger. have come face to face with criminals before to-day, and I’ll warrant you that no sooner does he find himself sur- rounded by officers, than this loud-crowing cock will show the white feather! Aha!”’ CHAPTER DCCCXLIX. IN WHICH DICK TURPIN IS HANDCUFEED BY THB POLICE OFFICERS, AND THE JOURNEY TO NEWGATE IS COMMENCED. Dick TurRPIN just glanced at the approaching police officers for a moment, then, turning round, addressed Sir George. ‘Of course you are aware,” he said, ‘‘ that there is a reward of a thousand pounds offered for whoever shall apprehend me, I believe that is how the bills ran—ap- prehend merely. Itis not necessary that my conviction or execution should follow to entitle you to that amount, Now it would gall me exceedingly if] thought those Eomichbooks €o