Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

n their ears. A blind of many colours had been drawn down over the window, yet so carelessly as to leave a place through which the highwsymen could pesy and take a glamse at the <nterior. , ' Vhey saw rather « sarge, comfortable-looking room with a huge fire burning on the hearth, the flames of which shot up to a tremendous height, and lighted up the room with a pleasant, cheerful glow. This was, indeed, the only kind of illumination bat it in & most uproarious voice came _ Was amply sufficient for those who were present. Seated around were several persona, who, by theh ap- pearance, evidently were inhabitants of +e village cr the surrounding parts. “hat looks cheerful and welcome, dees it not, Claude ?” whispered Jack. “Yes, very. Let us enter—I feel unwi ding to remain in the cold a moment longer.” ‘‘ But shall we go in there, or ask for 2 rrivate room ?” “Whichever you like.” “Nay, which would be best ? “Well, Iam for entering and maxing one of this yood company. We shall be stared at when we first enter, be- yond a doubt. But we shall be able to find some shady corner, as there is no other light than comes from the fire, and after a time we shall be unnoticed.” ‘‘ And be able to hear all that goes on as well.” “Yes, certainly. That may be an advantags. Let us enter.” With these words, the highwaymen drew their hats ithe over their foreheads, and pushed open the front oor. They had no difficulty in finding their way to the room they had taken a peep into the interior of. A burly-looking man was in the midst of one of those :ong old country ditties. He did not stop when the two strangers entered, and so they were enabled to sit down in the corner near the chimney without attracting very much notice or remark, though searching glances were cast upon tiem by many. At the conclusion of the song, the landlord entered. “A cold night, gentlemen,” he said, addressing our friends—“ such a uiglt as makes a seat by the fire-ide most welcome.” * You are right,” replied Claude, ‘and therefore we have entered to partake of such hospitality as you may offer.” “You can have anything you like to ask for, geutle- men,” was the reply, “aud that of the best.” The order was given, and very soou a most tempting- looking repast was laid before the two highwaymen, who did it ample justice, listening all the whilo to the conver- sation of those around. In this, however, they found little to interest them— the subjects were those which, for the most part, they were unfamiliar with. During a brief silence that al] at once came upon the assembly, a sound was heard betukening tne a cival of another traveller. One and al] turned their eyes towards the door, which soon after was pushed open, aid a tall, military-lookiag wan, Wrapped in a ojoak, made his appearance, ‘Good evening, friends,” he said, with a slight incli- nation of his head. ‘I am chilled to the bone, and greatly fatigued. Perhaps you would allow me a seat in front of the fire.” One was immediately offered him. are sat down, and stretched out his feet towards the ALS. “It’s a bitter cold night,” he said, “or else I feel it more severely than usual, I’ve been used to rough weather, too, in my time.”’ A glance at his countenance, now plainly revealed by the ruddy beams of the fire, would have been emple warrant for this assertion. Apparently he had ordered brandy of the land@tord before he entered, for just then that indiyidzal came in, bearing a tray before him. . “ Mix it, landlord,” he said—“ plenty of sugar, and don’t be too liberal with the water; and while you are doing go, just tell me what confounded place pou call that aver yonder.” ; a Ph Se aM rad oe Bee Sf oo GRD WEES Beta Ee as ee ni i a See > 7h OE y bP Game,” EE TA ait, oa y| an Ve te eR, ‘ t ) ay Lear ke a) aed ; :* f > i hy ¥ , ae : ; THS KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. AREA THT ersten rn Stee Parl ct et) 1a) “ Which place ?” asked the landlord, in some surprise. “ Why, those ruins.” ‘Oh, of the old castle !” i “'Yoa, now you come to speak, no doubé it ig the remains of a castle.” At these words, Sixteen-String Jack and Claude could not help exchanging glances Nevertheless, the next moment they assumed as much indifference as they were able, while, in reality, they waited with breathless eagerness for the next words that might pass the stranger’s lips. “Well, does anyone live there?” he inquired. “ Live there?” ejaculated the landlord. ‘' Heaven for- bid! No one would dream of such a thing!” “Then how was it that I saw a light there a short time since ?” ‘A light!” was echoed simultaneously by every voice. : “Yes, sertainly! But bless me, what’s the matter? Why, you all look scared to death !” The landlord handed his guest the brandy-and-water while he exclaimed, in a trembling voice: “You don’t mean to tell us, sir, that you have seen s light among the old ruins to-night ?” “T most certainly have. The fact is, I lost my way among those confounded winding lanes that you have got in this part of the country, and as I seemed to be doing nothing else but bend round about first one way and thon another, I resolved to take a short cut across the meadows, in the hope of finding some place of shelter.” ‘Well, sir?” “ Well, I thought it was well indeed, for in a short time I caught sight in the distance of a faint glimmering light, such as might proceed at the present time from your win- dow. I galloped towards it, and at length found mysclf close to @ ruined wall.” There was a breathless silence while the stranger went on. “Then, to my intense annoyance, the light suddenly disappeared. I looked around, but could not see it, and the place certainly appeared as though it had not beer visited by anyone for years. ‘Directly afterwards I heard a laugh—a wild, mocking taugh—which echoed and re-echoed among the ruins te such a degree that I could not for the life uf me make out from whence the sounds at first proceeded. I searched hastily, but without result, then, feeling tar from comfort- able, I turned my horse’s head in the direction of this village. Now, Mr. Landlord, don’t look so terrified, m:n —just tell me the meaning of what I have seen and heard.” The landlord shook his head to and fro sevoral timos, and waited so long before he began to make his reply that the stranger fairly lost his patience, “Sir,” he said, at last, “ be thankful—be rejoiced that you have escaped to tell this tale!” ‘‘ Biscaped ?” exclaimed the stranger. ‘I had no diffi- culty whatever.” “It seems incredible,” said the landlord—“ quite in credible. But let me tell you that for hundreds of years that ruined castle has been haunted by a spectre !” ‘Bah !” said the stranger, contemptuously. ‘Strange sights have been seen ere now, such as lights flitting to and fro, strange noises heard, as of rumbling thunder underground. Tbere are some who have de- scribed how tlicy have seen the spectre. Ior those there was no hope.” “What do you mean,” exclaimed the stranger, half angrily—" what do you mean? Why do you not speak out fairly and clearly, not keep alluding to things in that fashion ?” “Tf you wl listen,” said the landlord “I will tell you all.” JHAPTER CMLV. SIXTEEN-STRING JACK AND CLAUDE DUVALL FOLLOW III MYSTERIOUS FIGURE. Cu..uDE Duvau and Sixteen-8tring Jack were beyund all doubt more deeply interested in this little episode than ane. other persons present he first thing they did was to congratulate themselves EONNICLO@@ (O) SS (E(o)