Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

L394 BLAOE replied Turpin. The chief officer paused, and looked irresolutely at Sir Marmaduke, who, being a magistrate, was ef course ex -, ;| they would seize it immediately, and as a@ matter of course pected to nave the supreme command, “ Yes,” added Sir George, ‘‘ take off his handcafis: *kero will be no difficulty then,” ° “Don’t you wish you may get it,” replied Sir Marma- duke. ‘No, no, my fine fellow, I have heard too much of your narrow escapes and your cleverness to think of allowing you to be any less safe than you are now.” ‘ But,” added Sir George, “what difference can taking eff the handcuffs make? You can sit here, all of you, with your eyes upon him, and could prevent him untying the ropes, and if he did not do that, wherever he went he would have to carry the chair with him.” There was a silence. ‘*] insist that this shall be done!” said Sir George. “You have no right, and duty does not permit you, to re- fuse this man something to eat.” The chief officer ventured to nudge Sir George, and he whispered : “T think it might be as well, your worship, to let him have his own way; we can keep a good eye upon him and see he does not untie the ropes; it will be the way to avoid all bother.” Sir Marmaduke also thought so, and therefore Dick was for a time released. But before removing the handcuffs they took good care to see that all the ropes were perfectly secure. Now, the reader may imagine that it was not altogether from the waut of food that Dick made this request, though along time had elapsed since he had . tasted any- thing, and he felt faint in consequence. ' A good mea] would, he knew, endow him with fresh strength, and place him ia a better position to make an effort for freedom. A plate was brought and placed upon his knees. But it was a difficult matter to eat, owing to the man- nei in which the rope was bound round his body and secured to the back of the chair. Dick Turpin fixed his attention so entirely upon what he was about, that the officers in a short time grew tired of watching him, and looked after what they had on their own plates. ™~ CHAPTER DCCCLI. iN WHICH THE POLICE OFFICERS CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY TO LONDON WITH THEIR CAPTIVE. As for Sir George, he was, to tell the truth, very much astonished to find a man in so perilous a position as Dick Turpin eating a meal with so much relish and cool- ness. He certainly appeared to be more at ease than any other one of the party. But although it could scarcely have been gathered from nis countenance, Dick’s thoughts were very busy in- deed. He began to see pretty plainly that for the presené his attempt to escape must be abandoned. The least movement of his towards untying ene of the many knots by which he was secured to the chair could not fail to be seen by some of the officers, and then they would all be immediately upon him. His ankles were also tied very tightly, and he moved his legs about a little in the hope of being able to loosen the cord. But this he found was impossible. Whether or not he would have another opportunity allowed him before he arrived at Newgate was a very doubtful matter. He was inclined to thmk that when the storm cleared off, the officers would make a start, and by travelling gently, endeavour to reach London before nightfall, and without making another halt on the way. If this was the case, what was the next best use he could make of his hands while they were at liberty? for ke knew his captors well enough to feel certain that as goon as his meal was over the handcuffs would be “4- placed. His tnougnts were still runmag upon the lockes which he knew be had secure in one of the pockets of bis waist- oar OR, “Fast take off these handcuffs and I'll soon show you,” | it would have been a great source of confidence & . ‘ ‘ ' * J f - By tt ® him could he but have opened it and glanced at what ii — contained. This was not to be thought of, for if the officers saw is he would never catch sight of it again. This brought to his mind the fact that, should he be © carried as far as Newgate, the officials, when searching in his pockets, would be sure to find it, and he would bea deprived of it. | Then bow and in what way could he conceal it so as to Keep it safely ? This was a point upon which he bestowed a great amount of consideration. 7 The only plan that he could think of that seemed at ai} feasible was to watch an opportunity to take it secretly oat of his pocket and convey it to his mouth, keeping it there until alone in his cell. He had arrived at this conclusion by the time he had noeren his breakfast, if so substantial a meal could be so called. And without further hesitation he put his thumb and finger into his waistcoat pocket at a moment when he believed not one of the officers had his eyes fixed upon him. The locket was there, and he drew it forth eagerly, holding it between the tips of his fingers. Its size was small, and it was evidently composed of the purest gold. The inclination then came over him to open it and take a glance at its contents, for had it not been for the pos- session of this, Dick would heve tried harder for freedom, even if he lost his life in the attempt. But he was putting great faith in the word of a stranger, and it might turn out after all that the trinket would not prove efficacious. Just then, however, the storm passed over, and the sun broke forth, sending a few watery beams into the apart- ment. As soon as he caught sight of the sun’s rays, Sir Mar- maduke rose to his feet, crying: ‘‘ Now, my lads, the weather is fair again, and we have stopped here quite long enough. Secure your prisoner again, and have the horses brought round to the front, for the sooner we reach London the _ better I shall be pleased.” His word was law, for it was to him, it must be recol- lected, that the officers looked for the thousand pounds reward, provided the amount offered by Government should be obtained by Sir George. The officers, however, were one and all in excellent humour. What with the capital repast they had had, and the pleasant prospect there was before them, who could wonder that their minds should be occupied by a feeling of great self-complacency ? In imagination they could see dancing before their eyes the tempting sum of one thousand pounds all ready for them, and only waiting for the moment when they should choose to put forth tbeir hands and grasp their own share of it. But Dick, perceiving this sudden movement on the part of the officers, took advantage of it to slip the locke ‘ne his mouth. It was done neatly, for at the same time he pretet: «e~ to wipe away a few crumbs from his lips. Owing to the small size of the locket, he knew he should be able to retain itin his mouth and speak also without much difficulty. The officers having despatched one of their number to see to the horses being brought round, clustered very closely reund his chair, and had he deferred the execution of his project for another moment, he would unquestion- ably have failed. | The handcuffs were again placed upon his wrists, in spite of the objections that he raised to such 2 proceed- ing. The police officer shut one eye knowingly, and, aidress- ing the prisoner, said : “Will you give me your word of honour, Dick, that we leave you without the handcuffs you will go quietly with us to Newgate and make no attempt to e# cape ?” Dick’s reply was of course in the negatéve, so the offic» | added: €om (E CS JOOKS. GO i. DOs