Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

1592 and each one seized hold of a bottle, leaving one on tha tray, which, of course, fell to Blogden’s share, Tom King thought this circumstance poculiar; but Blogden evidently took no notice of it, for he picked up the bottle, and taking the corkscrew that was beside it, quickly tapped it. “Now, my lads,” he said, “follow my examyls. We must manage to get through this little business before the waggon comes. I am told we may expect it here in rather more than balf an hour.” The other officers willingly enongh drow forth the corks, then each simultaaeously, or nearly so, pcured him- self out a glass. ‘“A toast,” said Blogden—“ a toast. to the winner\* The glasses were drained. The officers exchanged glances. “Upon my word,” said Blogden, “it’s good! It’s many a day since I tasted wine, or you either, very likely. I should take this to be a good old sort. It tastes as thoughit had been down in the cellar a very long while.” The glasses were quickly filled and emptied, then, for the third time, the wine was poured out, but on this occasion the glasses were allowed to stand before them on the table. “Tt’s d—d odd,” said Blogden, after a pause, “ but I can’t think what’s the matter with my head. That must be uncommonly strong wine, or else it’s mixed with the ale. Ah! that’s it—a mixture don’t agree.” He carried his hand to his forehead while he spoke. The other officers seemed to be to a considerable ex- tent under the influence of the wine, for they one and all complained of the feeling they had in their heads. It was rather odd, but every one placed his hand to bis forehead, and then, leaning forward, allowed his elbow to rest on the table, so that they were all very nearly in the same position. Some time elapsed, but not a word was spoken, nor did one move. Tom King was overcome with astonishment. Then he began to grow alarmed, and finally hopeful. Yet he fancied that perhaps this was, after all, only a scheme to annoy him; perhaps they were pretending to be overcome by drink in order that they might have the pleasure of witnessin& his strugeles to get free. This consideration kept Tom King for some time quite still, but at last he muttered: ‘They are drunk—dead drunk, every one of them; it must be, I suppose, the mixture of the ale and wine, and yet I should have thought tkeir constitutions strong enough to stand anything, Now, curses on it ‘f I had not made that other futile attempt, [ could getfree! It is impossible now—quite impossible.” Nevertheless, Tom King tugged away at the ropes, but all the effect he produced was to cut his wrists and arms severely. All at once he stopped, for he heard a strange, faint tapping sound. He iooked up at once in the direction from which he imagined the sound had come. Evenixg was now drawing on apace, and already the room in which the officers were seated was plunged in considerable obscurity. The darkness had, however, come on so gradually that Tom scarcely noticed it until the present moment. He looked about him then and saw nothing. The tapping was repeated. : This time he felt certain that it came from the win- iow. He looked keenly, and then saw the face of a man. For a moment a wild idea that he was about to be rescued came over him; but immediately afterwards he dismissed iffas absurd. Nevertheless, with perfect fascination, he fixed his eyes upon the face at the window. Ife saw it move. An arm was raised, and then the casement was siowly and cautiously opened. The intruder listened for a few seconds, and whe& he heard the loud and deep snores proceeding from the aleeplug officers, he seemed to nod his head with satis- action. Here’s good luck Then, stepping lightly into the room, he trod on tiptoe rc ee nnn nnn enn nn neem eee - = — past the table, an2 paused as ae Pk Wak * ob ae! Oo Sol 2 Os ” . o vs * 7 . - > ga “ ” ‘4 aa Po L AY me SS ae Tie iy K! me ime Li « | BLACK B#S8; OR, een eee ee ee plank to which close to the Tom King was bound. ; “ Hush—-quiet !” he said. “ Are you all right ?” “ Bcaresiy,’’ said T'iom. ‘But who are you ?” “ Never mind just at present. Keep quict while I untte theso kncts.” “You could not perform a more welcome service. Put how is it that you, a perfect stranger, are willing to do this for me ?”’ “Ah! captain,” said the man, almost witha sizxh, “1 find you have forgotten me, and it is as well for you te- day that my memory is not so short.” ‘“T fancied I had seen you before,” returned Tom, - “but I behold so many faces, and it is hard to recollect every one.” ‘‘No doubt. Quiet—lie there; that Knot fs untied. Well, once upon atime you dealt liberally and kindly by me, and I am not the one to forget it. But I will explain mors in alittle while. How do you feel now ?” “ Better I think—better!” said Tom, faintly. V'he fact was, the loosening of the ropes removed the impediments to the frev circulation of the blood, and this being done somewhat suddenly caused a dreadful feeling of sickness and faintness to come over the highwayman. But Jack, the ostler, resolutely went on untying the knots, and really it was something wonderful to see the manper in which they came undone beneath the slkill of L'9 nimble fingers. “There, captain,” he said at last, ‘“‘you are free, Hullo! though, that won’t do!” To.n King had endeavored to rise, but he failed. His brain turned giddy, and he fell forward, and would have reached the ground heavily had not the ostler stretched out his arm and saved him, ‘* Gently—gently !” he said. “Just take hold of me round the neck, will you, and I will carry you out into the fresh air.” Tom had sufficient sense remaining to comply with this demand. Accordingly, he clasped his arms round the ostler’s neck, and that individual, by an exertion of the great. strength he possessed, hoisted him on to his back and carried him across tne room, through the window, and into tka yard. ‘‘Thore, captain!” he said. ‘Just keep your feef halfa moment, while I shut the window. ‘There, that’s it —eapital! Now come along with me.” Once again picking him up in a similar fashion, tke ostler carried the almost insensible form of Tom King across the yard to the stable. ; As soon as he was inside, he shook Tom roughly. ‘Now, captain,” he said, “ you must rouse yourself up. The next thing you have to do is to climb up yonder adder. I would carry you upif I could, but it’s rather too much for my strength. You go first, and I will keep behind you.” Tom was anxious indeed to make his escape, and his faculties were in just such a condition as to make him willing to obey the commands of anyone who spoke to him. Up the ladder he accordingly with great difficulty managed to climb. Reaching the top, he found himself in a rather spacious hay-loft. “Now, captain,” said the ostler, “there’s plenty of fresh, clean straw, and hay too, and all you have to do is to lie down on it, roll yourself in it, a1d you aro safe for some time to come. Stretch yoursel out, and have @ good rest. I will answer for it the officers will not troubie you just yet.” Tom King did as he was told, but he had not assumed a recumbent position many minutcs before he felt the | benefit of doing so. The blood, working more equally, circulated, and the dreadful arhing in his limbs to some extent subsided. “ Now, captain,” said the ostler, ‘just a wee drop of brandy—a wee drop, mind—will be the best thing you can have, and after that something to eat.” Almost mechanically Tom swallowed not uuch moze than a table-spoonful of brandy, which the ostler gave him from a small bottle he produced from his pocket. ‘Tom’s curiosity was greatly raised by the mysterious tain events had taken. “Never mind me,” replied the ostler to some of hig Gomichboo (C KS ree « e+) . ve J ’ a "4