Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

1588 cs EE ee “for you must understand that if you follow this high- way for about eighteen or twenty miles, it will bring you out upon the London Road, which it crosses. You will then only have to turn to your right, and your destina- tion Hes before you. And the road is as good every inch of the way asit is about here, so you cannot deny but what it is the best route.” ‘Yes, so it is,” said Blogden, “only it 1s such a con- founded long way. Yonder is the direction to London. Is there no road by which we could take our way across the country, and so cut off that tremendous corner? It’s quite out of our way to ride straight on for ten miles and then turn round.” “ Well, there is a road,” said the landlord, ‘and that’s the shortest; but, understand me very distinctly, it is by no means the best.” *‘ What’s the matter with it ?” “Well, then, it’s a cross-country road, and I daresay you know what that means. In some parts it is bioad and level, and as good as this, but in others so narrow that only about two of you could ride abreast, and with the mud so deep that it will take those who are walking up to their knees.” ‘‘ Pooh—pooh !” said Blogden, “not after such a sea- son of dry weather as we have had! Theroad may be muddy, but it is not so bad as you would make it.” “ Well,” said the landlord, rather huffed, ‘ perliaps you know best.” “Well, but how much shorter is this road ?” persisted Blogden. “If we go that way, how many miles shall we save? That’s the point I wish to arrive at.” “Well,” replied the landlord, “the road is not very direct-—it winds and curves about a great deal, but yet I should say you would save ten or a dozen miles.” “Half a day’s journey!” ejaculated the officer, in as- astonishment, for he did not expect that the difference would prove to be so great. ‘' Why, that’s the road for us, by all means, Gven though it should not be quite so comfortable underfoot as this.” ‘You ought to be the best judge of that,” arswered the landlord; “but if I had a good nag beivre me, I know which one I shoulda prefer.” ‘No doubt,” said the officer. ‘ But just tell me wnere- abouts this road branches off ?” “ About three-quarters of a mile further on. You will see an old finger-post up there, which shows you the way. ‘I'he entrance is dark and narrow, but after you have gone a little way you will find it wider and the ground much improved.” “Thanks!” said Blogden. ‘ That’s the way for me, and for you too, my lads! Ishould think you are not so fond of walking that you prefer tc go a dozen miles further round.” The officers assented at once. “Well, then, as we are all ready,’ will start. Good-bye !” With these words he mounted his horse, drew his cut- lass again, and assumed the same attitude as before. Ife looked very sulkily and angrily at Tom King, and 60 did the men, for he was considered to be the cause of the present arrangement. Tiowever, the cavalcade set off without any grumbling being heard. The cross-road was found with an old battered finger- post at the corner of it, just as the landlord had de- scribed. But the entrance was dark and narrow, and, after going a few feet down it, they came to a kind of slough or quagmire caused by the waters of a rivulet that flowed across the road, but which at the present time was almost dried up, leaving its so[t, oozy bed exposed. Through this the officers with difficulty floundered, and when they emerged on the other sido the boots of those who were on foot presented a very dirty, disagreeable ap- pearance, for the mud was green and slimy. However, they marched onward, hoping ere long to reach an improved part of the road. Here again the landlord proved to be right. Without the occurrence of any particular event, they continued their slow march. Tom King began to feel his head ache terribly, owing to the number of bumps it had from the hard plank. This might, too, be partly ascribed to the ale of which be bad partaken, and if so he felt content, for he judged ’ cried Blogden, “‘ we BLACK BESS; OR, it would not be without its effect upon his captors, ns matter how well seasoned their stomachs might be. Of course, his mind was still intent upon making his escape, though how this was to be effected he could not at present decide. When changing bearers, the officers generally paused for afew minutes, placing him, or, rather, the plank, up against a tree, or fence, or whatever might come nearest to hand; and for these brief periods of rest Tom was . inexpressibly grateful. Iie was chiefly occupied on these occasions in watch- ing tne countenance of Joe Blogden, which had again changed, and now presented that peculiar, hungry, anxious look that he had before observed upon it, only that this aspect seemed intensified. There was one question, however, which Blogden and the officers recollected they had omitted to ask the land- lord, and this was, what inns they should meet with upon this road, and how far they were apart. Now there seemed to be no chance of obtaining this knowledge, for they had not met with or seen a single human being of any description; and it did not appear as though this cross-road was much travelled, for, as a rule, it was overgrown with grass. In fact, Blogden began to think that, after all, in his auxiety to save distance he had made a great mistake, and heartily wished that he had taken the landlord’s advice and proceeded by means of the high-road. It was too late for this now, and therefore useless to regret, so he continued to urge his men onward, whose erumblings row began to male themselves heard, and which quickly increased in loudness. The hour of noon ayproached, and when it came, the oflicers found themselves still upon the cross-road, and to all appearances no nearer to an inn than they had been for many a mile. So weary did they become that Blogden was compelled to allow them to pause. 3 Tom King was put down, and the officers rested them- selves by sitting on the grassy embankment upon which the hedgerow was planted. “T'll tell you what Ill do,” said Blogden, addressing them. ‘I don’t want to remain idly here, so I’ll leave the prisoner to your charge while I gallop onward fora few miles and ascertain whether there is a pubtic-house anywhere close at hand.” ‘To this proposal the officers raised not the faintest ob- jection, ard accordingly Blogden sheathed his cutlass, struck spurs to his horse’s side, and was quickly out of sight. Now Tom King could not help considering this a favor- avie opportunity, and yet he was unable to see by what means he could avail himself of it. ; He had satisfied himself by repaated trials that the ropes were so firmly tied about him that it was quite out of the question for him to unfasten them without the aid of another person. He was forced to admit that he was perfectly helpless and powerless, and that all his captors had to do to keep him secure was to fix their eyes upon him from time to time, Yet he did not despair, and his brain was busily at work devising schemes, when all at once he heard the clatter of a horse’s feet, and, looking up, saw Blogden re- turning with satisfaction beaming from his countenance. “Up with him again, my lads,” he said—“ put your shoulders to it; there’s a capital inn not much further along the road, where we shall be able to make ourselves comfortable for a little while. I nave ordered something eood to be prepared, so that it will be nerly ready by the time you arrive.” These words had a very inspiriting effect indeed upon the police officers. | They picked up their burden with right geod will, and trudged it manfully. Nevertheless they were all so fatigued that they had ts change repeatedly, even in going the short distance thet intervened between them and tke ian. At length they came in sight of a poor, wretched-look- ing dwelling, from the exterior of which a truss of straw was suspended in the place of a sign, and this, indeed, was the only token there was that the house was one ol yublic resort. : 3 : A little farther on they perceived a luca “#hecs SS}