Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

- . . : ap é - fo". oe ey erate eS “ Reyer ee 2 ‘ é ~. * oO : Pret) 7 oe oe eee ee OS impressed also wi oP Seal * ae % - ____ tn imminent danger of his life, and therefore resolved to ___ pluck up his covrage, and make a bold rush and endearor to escape. _ -This was just what Dick had calcuiate? upon. Ro With a lozd shout, then, the constable turned rou.d, ee ee engs mere set to work to run across the ploughed Geld, : Dick cailed after him to stop, and made a feint of pur- suing him. ____ But the constable ran on all the more swiftly. 3 _ Deeper and deeper sank his boots in the soft, miry ground, until at Jast his feet came out of them en- het > va aie But, heedless of tais, he continued his headlong course, __ leaving them sticking up behind him. He staggered, stumbled, and fell; he rolled over more than once, and when, after many efforts, he succeeded in gaining his feet, he did indeed present a most pitiable peri SENECL... o _ Dick watched him for some time, then perceiving in the distance-that lights were moving about hither and thither, he guessed the alarm had been given, and resolved to lose no more time in taking his depar- ture. _ Nevertheless, he laughed so heartily at the con- stable’s condition, that he could scarcely scramble into the saddle, He tied all the articles of clothing np into the cloak, with the resolve to attire himself in them as soon as he had a good opportunity. The constable, floundering on, and, in his excitement, quite blind to all objects in his path; ran headlong into a ditch, and long before those who had been aroused by his cries came and helped him out of it, Dick had le the _ ploughed field a long way behind him. “Fortune favors me,” he cried, in an exultant tone, as Bleck Bess leaped over a low hedge into the high-roa4. “Aha! it has been a good joke! I felt in need of a good __ langh about something; but I shall take my success in this matter as an omen of what isto follow. Dressed in these things, I believe I shall be able to disguise myself - effectually.” This little adventure had, however, run away witha good deal of time, and so, as the firm, hard road was _lying beneath Black Bess’s feet, Dick urged his mare to a little better speed. _ While journeying on, however, he looked keenly about him in search of some place to which he could retire ar] make the requisite change in his apparel. In this matter luck again appeared to befriexr1 him, for before he had gone far he perceived a small, broken-down, ruined shed. So far as he could tell, it was empty and deserted, and here he determined to remain for a few moments, and don the constable's apparel. _ He listened, but all was still, and without further hesitation he entered the shed. He fancied he heard a slight movement, but was not eertain. Evidently, however, he did not consider it worth taking any notice of, for, untying his bundle, he put on first of all the huge waistcoat with its large flap pockets, - and after that the coat. The constable was so much stouter than Dick, that these articlos went on easily over the highwayman’s ordinary apparel, and when the cloak, wig, and gold- aoe hat were added, the metamorphosis was com- . plete. ae . In such an eminently parochial-looking inaviduz! as ___ he now appeared, no one would think of looking for the daring bighwayman, Dick Turpin. aa *- A ie? * : ae. att %; ‘Mell % iy BS, ri aul +t hey ® CHAPTER CMLXXY. _-‘§& WHICH DICK TURPIN PAPTS WITH Ble 84D, 2M : FINDS THAT HIS DISGUISE 18 PY NO ME&E® SKREZCY, _ _ Justas Dick had ftnished makimg these changes In his appearance, the slight noise was again heard, oxly this time it was more unmistakable. “Who's there ?” Turpin cried, tarning rouzd quickly. __ “§Speak—who are you?” | “ What’s that to you ?” said a growling v.sice. = <<: ’ Want ve fe Be ee =< h the belief that he was} ‘Who are you?” - ——_——_- “aoe 4‘ 2 ane Dick, again. “And beware how you trifle with me “You be blowed!” said the voice, again. “I should — just like to know what you have been togging yourself — up in those things for? Dark as it is, I seed you.” | se “Did you indeed ?” said Dick. “Then Plsee yorinre turn, though, if you have no objection, we will have a little light on the subject.” A hasty movement followe] these words. | As We Lave often stated, Dick took good care never to be without the means vf procuring a light. He had not been long in learning the absolute necessity there was for this. On the present occasion he quickly ignited one of the small pieces of wax taper that he always carried about him, and as he held it above his head it diffused quite light enough to illuminate the intericr of that ruined shed, Lying in one corner, covered over by a heap of rags and straw, was what beyond all doubt was a human being, though of what sex it was impossible to discover, though the voice had decidedly a masculine tone. “7 don’t know you,” said Dick, ‘‘and you need not know me. I thought I had the place all to myself. However, if you like to hold your tongue about what you have seen, and say nothing about it, you can have this for a reward.” : As he spoke, he tossed a guinea in the direction of the miserable object in the straw, and no sooner had he doxe- so thaa he turned abruptly on his heel, and mounted Black Bess as quickly as he was able. | “Confound it!” he muttered. ‘I am vexed that, after all the precautions I have taken, some one should actu- — ally see me assume this disguise ; and yet what have I to fear from such a miserable object as that was? Bah! the — matter is not worth another second’s thought !” oat But although he said this, he could not banish the re- membrance from his mind, nor could he help it making him feel decidedly uncomfortable. But soon afterwards his attention was diverted, for, happening to look along the road before him, he perceived the figure of some person on horseback. Tbe animal appeared to be a very spirited one, for it was prancing, and curvetting, and rearing in @ manner dangerous to any inexperienced rider, as the person on his back clearly seemed to be. “ He'll be off,” ejaculated Dick, after watching the movements of the horse and rider for a few seconds— ‘he'll be off—I know he will! By Jove, there he is!” Just while he spoke, the horse, by a sudden movement, succeeded in unseating its rider, who fell with a heavy, disagreeable crash to the earth. Luckily, tke rider’s feet were not entangled in the stirrups, ead, what was oddest of all, the horse, having, a3 one might say, accomplished his purpose, stood per- feetly still. All this appeared very odd to Dick, who, however, ac- celerated Black Bess’s speed in order to reach the scene of accident, and ascertain whether the stranger was seriously hurt or not, and in any case to proffer assist- ance. The horse appeared to view Dick’s approach with con- siderable distrust, and once seemed ready to start off at full speed. Dick noticed it, and resolved not to allow the animal the chance of doing so if he could help it, so, with con- siderable adroitness, he seized hold of the rein, and secured it to the branch of a tree. This done, he turned his attention to the stranger, who ~ etill lay immovable upon the ground, just in the same position as he had fallen. a Dick stooped down over bim, and then saw that the figure was slim, and the face young an“@ almost too deli- — eate-looking for a man’s. ' The costume of this young man was, ‘however, very rich indeed, and Dick concluded at once that he belonged to somes high family, for amccs th: epper rauks of society such an @ffeminacy of appearas-6 Bas by moO Means un- \ CUM MO. “Are you much hurt, young sir?” said Dick, bending down over him. ‘Do you think you will be able to rize with my assistance ?” Not a word was given in reply to thia speech, and Pek began to fear that this young horseman had met wika t¥ death, cComicbooks.com IG Ts ee ee te