Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

1588 “ Pooh—eammon!” said Jack. “ ‘They must have.been o drunk or dreaming !” “Well, whether they were or not, their story waa be- lieved, let me tell you that, and orders were given that a party of police officers should be sent out at once. ‘I'he only difficulty they were in was about the situation of _, the inn, and I heard it said that a reward was offered for the waggoner who had brought them. As it was, they suspected he was an accomplice, and, at all evenis, b» could show them the way to the inn.” . “ But you got clear off, didn’t you ?” asked Jack. a = a “Then thank your stars for that. You hava hada harrow escape, and, if you had been caught, woald have got into trouble.” ‘‘T knew that,” said the waggoner, sulkily. “I didn’t think that you’d be the one to serve me such a trick.” ‘You shall know more about it some day,” said Jack, ‘and perhaps you won't regret it so much, aiter all. But are you sure that officers were sent out to find this inn ?” ‘ Quite certain.” “'Then thanks for the news; I will make myself scarce, for should they return, they would, in their rage, do I don’t know what.” “‘ Very good,” said the waggoner, as he cracked his whip and drove off. ** Good-bye, Jack Ostler, for may I be blowed if ever I stop here again, or take up such a load another time as you supplied me with.” At as fast a rate as his horses would go, the waggoncr drove off, leaving Jack standing outside the inn, scarcely knowing whether to laugh or be serious. OHAPTER CMLXVIIL TUE POLICE G27FICERS MAKE THE OSTLER’S FRIEND A PRISONER. Tuts intelligence was duly transmitted to Tom [King, who, upon hearing it, decided at once to make a move. But he was overruled by the ostler, who assured him that he would have plenty of warning of the officers’ approach. And indeed, when the night passed away and the next morning dawned without anything of an alarming or unusual character having occurred, Tom King began to feel that in all probability he should be safer where ke was than elsewhere. That day and the following also passed away in quiet. Nothing had been seen or heard of the officers, which, if the information given by the waggoner was correct, seemed strange indeed. But the fact was the officers, when they had recovered from their stupor, could give only a very vague and, in- definite idea oi the situation of the inn whereat they had been so hocussed. They knew that it was somewhere on the cross-road branching out of the highway, but there were many such, and it was impossible to say which was the right one. Much time, then, was spent in vainly searching for the inn—unnecessarily spent, indeed, for the better plan would have been to go round to the inn where they had first halted with their prisoner, and from which they would have no difficulty in finding ther way. But this was many miles off; and the man to whom the command of the expedition had been entrusted was about the most obstinate, pig-headed officer that sve breathed. He had made up his mind to condnst the search in a certain way, and nothing on earth could turn him from it. At last, however, after going many miles, they caiue into an ili-kept, unfrequented road, which struck Blog- den and his companions as boing somewkat fa wv liar to them. “This is the place, 1 do believa,” be exclaimed. “J fancy, if we ascend to the summuit of yonder hill, we shall be able to command such a view as will decide the matter one way or the other.” This was agreed upon; but before they had ascended half-way, the eyes of the chief officer caught sight of the figure cf a man running hastily acrosa @ large, open meadow . ee : 7 BLACK BESS; OR, ED annem tment tment mmc aaa aces aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasaaaaamammmaaaaaaaaaaaaaamammmmmaaatm aati eee aaa a Va te BS oe pa, '“#@ 7 = ASD nk nates oo Ws ! - . be hi wat - a a? " A = —_—_———— eee companions, pnd then He pointed him out to his Blogden exclaimed : “T will lay my life we are on tho right track. That fellow has been put there as a scout; he will give warniug of our approach.” “Not if 1 cam help it,” said the chief officer. “Let those who have the best horses gallop at full speed in pursuit of him, capture him, and bring him back to me.” Several officers pressed forward at once, but there was one who, by the superiority of his steed, rapidly out-dis- tanced his companions. The man in the field had by this time gained the eross- road He heard the clatter of horses’ fect behind him, and looked back. The officer ealled to him to stop; but, paying no heed to him, ke began te run more swiftly than beiore. This man, as the reader must already bs aware, was tne one selected by Jack the ostler to give warning of the coming of the officers. It was not long, however, before he discovered that, let him run as fast as he might, he had no chance of vetting away from the well-mounted police officer. Panting and breathless, at last he stopped, and the very next moment the officer was upon him. With great suddenness and precipitation, he seized hold of him, and, in spite of all his struggles and entreaties to be set at liberty, he was dragged back to the remainder of the troop, who had followed on at a tolerably brisk pace. ‘‘ Now, then, rascal,” said the chief officer, “‘ confess where you were running to! If you refuse, or if you hesitate, or tell a lie, you shall be made a prisoner, and afterwards transported for life !” This was a threat that alarmed the country laborer greatly. His checks grew white, and his knees knocked together. Speak, villain !” roared the chief officer again— “speak !—tell me what you were about to do!” In broken, incoherent sentences, this man told the officers all tha% had passed betweon the ostler and him- self. He was caiied [upon by Blogden to give a particular description of Jack. He complied tothe best of his ability, and Blogden ex- claimed : “We're right! I recognise the villain now! Hoe brought in the tray of wine! No doubt he has got Tom King in concealment somewhere !” Upon receipt af this opinion, the officers all pushed forward with fresh vigor, and the unhappy laborer had the mortification of finding himself mado a secure prisoner. He had fancied that by confessing he should get him- self out of his scrape. Had he foreseen the result he spoken. ‘“‘ All that remains now,” said the chief officer, “is for us to approach this inn with due caution, and surround it. We will take prisoners everybody we find there !” No voice dissented to this arrangement. By some strange ill-luck, neither Jack tho ostler nor ‘om King was looking out at this time. They relied altogether upon the laborer, and the length of time they had remained undisturbed mado them careless. It would have gone hard with them, beyond all doubt, had nota voice suddenly exclaimed: “ Jack—Jack, you idle rascal, where are you? Can't you hear customers are cominz? Make haste, will you ?” 2 The voice came from tne yard below, and the voice was that of the innkeeper, who had by cr» ce seen a portion of the police officers riding towards his house. Jack came at once to the little circular window in the loft that we have so often mentioned, and no sooner did he peep ous ef it than he caught sight of the officers, scarcely more tha.. two hundred yards distant, He gave alow whistie ¢ alarm, and then, in a voico of tolerable composure, said : ; “ All right, master, I will be dows in a moment.” The landlord at once made his way to the front of the inn, there to be in readiness to receive & guests upey their arrival. would never have COMay(el eXexe) (¢ . (s ye a : - OP,