Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 225: what you’re looking at

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

at) oie nn Pe eet Le >a te -« Waat, captain ?” Bit “If you could find me something to eat, and bring it | watched the workings of his countenance with some » ‘__~ tks dg = - a —- —_ hero unknown to everybody -'That shall be done, captain; nothing could be easier. ¥cu leave that to me; why, I was just about to propose it,” ‘Tom came closer towards the circular window, and iovked out. A fair, pleasant enough scene was spread before his ~ gaze—one of those pretty, rural landscapes for which England is so famous, and upon which the sye is never tired of locking. ‘You seem very quiet and lonely here,” was Tom's "4- mark as he turned away. “ Very quiet. Weare not much troubled by customers ; they seem to grow fewer and fewer every day, and if trade doesn’t alter I shall look out for a fresh place.” “T will tell you what you shall do,” said Tom King. “Such a service as you have rendered me shall not go unrewarded; I will take care to supply you with the means to enalle you to set up ig business yourself.” ~ “Thanks, captain, and then I shall indeed be deeply in your debt, yet I shall hope for the coming of the day when I may be able to repay you.” “ There—there, that will do.” “Well, captain, J’m off now—a fresh theught occurs to me.” ‘What is it ?” “ Why, the officers, when they come, will doubtless ap- proach the inn from the direction of London, will they not 7” * Almost certain.” “Well, then, a particular friend and companion of mine is at work ina meadow some little distance cif—-I my at work, but that’s hardly right: I expoct to nem him _ go by tue front of the inn every minute.” “ Well,” said Tom, ‘ what of that ?” “‘ Why, this meadow that he is in is near the top of a hill, and from it you can see for a very long way. He can be trusted, and I willtell him to keep a sharp look- out for police officers. If he sees any he is to come here and let me know.” “ That would be duing a good service indeed,” answered Tom; “I should feel much more content, because then } should have the chance of escaping.” ‘‘ Of course you would.” “‘But are you sure he is to be trusted 2” “T will answer for him, captain.” “ That is enough then.” “Pm off. Hark, Ican hear him—he always walks along whistling like that.” The sound of some person whistling a very intricate, unmelodious tune could aow be heard, accompanied by the tread of a heavy footstep. Jack descended the ladder prccipitately, and carried out his intention. . He also brought Tom King the materials of a rude ro- past, of whick the highwayman partook heartily. He was now tolerably at ease in his new quarters, for he trusted to having timely intimation of the police oflicers’ approach. “t Now, captain,” said the ostler, “don’t you feel won- derfully better ?” *¢T do indeed.” * Well, then, just let me have a look at the wound you spoke of; uo doubt it will be the better for a little bathing and fresh bandaging.” ** Yes—yes,” said Tom, “it pains me sadly." His hurt was attended to by the ostler, whe acquitted himself of the task in.a very creditable manner. When he had finished, he said: ‘““Now, captain, if you will only take my advice and condescend to be guided by me you will remain just where you are for afuw days. Rest and quiet are the only things you require, and if you have them you will be yourself again.” , om King felt tne full force and truth of these rv- marks. He had had enough of adventures during the few pre- ceding days to make him desirous of a short interval of quiet. He reckoned up the time that was still to elapse before the appointed hour of meeting, and having done so, felt that it would indeed be advantageous if he could remain in his present quartcrs until the time arsived. THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. 1597 Of this he said nothing to the ostler, who, however, anxiety. Having at last arrived at a decision, Tom said: “Well, then, my friend—for you have in good truth proved yourself to be such—I will follow your advice and remain here, unless the officers compel me to change my quartors.” “Don’t be afraid of them,” said Jack, almost con- temptuously, “it will be two or three days before they reach here, I'll warrant.” In such conversation as this, much of the time was whiled away. i The extreme state of weakness to which Tom King was reduced made him require an extra quantity of sleep, and therefore much of the time that would otherwise have hung most heavily upon his hands was passed in the unconsciousness of slumber. So soon as darkness set in, Jack the ostler, having ap- prised ‘Tom King of his determination, took up his quarters outside the inn with the intention of watching patiently until his friend the waggoner arrived. His impatience was great, although, as it turned out, he had to wait fora much less time than he had antici- pated. It was, indeed, rather before midnight that Jack’s atten- tive ears caught the sound of the revolving waggon wheels. ‘* Now for the news,” he ejaculated, rubbing his hands © briskly together, and starting up from tho horse-trough an which he had been seated—‘‘now for the news. Qh, ho i I wish [ could only have seen the joke out to tLe en ” At length the waggoner drew up before the inn door. Jack peered up at him, and fancied that his face had a scared, frightened look. “VWullo!” he cried, “ what’s the matter with you? Sha’n’t you get down ?” ‘Not if I know it,” was the emphatic reply. ‘’ Why not—why not?” “Why not?” echoed the waggoner. ‘ Because I never mean to come near this place again, if I can help it.” ‘Then why are you here now ?” “ Just to warn you.” “Of what?” if That you will be taken prisoner and transported for ife.” Oh, stuff—rubbish! I know better.” “But just let me tell you that I drove along, never thinking of anything till I got to London.” “And didn’t the gentlemen awake ?” Awake ? Not they !” “What did you do with them, then?” “Why, I followed your advice, and drove up to Bow Street. The officers were there, and I told them just the facts of the case. They came at once, looked into the wag- gon, and then burst out into a roar of laughter.” ‘Very likely,” said Jack, rubbing his hands more vigorously than ever. ‘Go on.” ‘Well, then they discovered that they were not gentle- men at all, as you had fancied, but really police officers; and what on earth could have induced them to get into that condition and give out such instructions they could not imagine.” “ What did they do?” ‘Why, they dragged them all out with very little cere- mony, and tried quite in vain to wake them up, then they wanted to detain me, for they said it was a sus- picious affair altogether, but I touk advantage of their indecision and drove off.” © And is that all?” said Jack, in a disappointed tone. “ Not exactly all,” was the reply. “ You don’t know how it worried me, for I was certain there was something ia the matter that I did not understand, so I made haste with what I had to do, put up my horses, and then re- turned on foot to the police office.” ‘What for?” *‘ Why, to make inquiries, to be sure!” “ And what did you learn ?” 7 “Why, that the officers had been recovered from their deep sleop, and they had declared that they had captured Tom King, the highwayman, but had been drugged at an inn whe’e they stopped, the people at which had assisted the high wayman to escape.” (E(0) JOOKS- GO =) a