Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

1612 ~~ wwe eee er Placing his hand at the back of his neck, however, Dick, by an effort of strength, raised him ‘o a@ sitting posture. As he did so, the cap worn by the young stranger was removed, and then immediately a quantity of hair showered down, covering at once his head and neck, and falling far on to the shoulders. This surprised Dick not a little, and the ejaculation that he gave utterance to upon making the discovery seemed to have the effect of arousing the straager, who, in a low, faint voice, said : ‘“‘ Help—help—oh, help me and save me!” The tones of this voice were inexpressibly »weet and touching: and if Dick had required any farther proof than the abundance of hair as to the sex of this stranger, the voice would have been sufficient. “JT will help you,” said Dick, in a reassuring vwoiste, “and save youif Ican Do you remember your horse threw you ?” ‘6 Yes—yes,” said the young girl, for such, in truth, she was; “JT remember all now, and 2 She started, and even in the semi-darkness Dick could tell that her fair, pale countenance was suffused by a deep blush. Dick affected to take no notice of it, and he spoke as though he had not guessed the stranger’s secret. ‘‘] trust, young sir,” he said, “that you are not very dangerously hurt. Do you think, with alittle aid from me, you would be able to remount your horse ?” The young girl exhibited many traces of agitation, and endeavored to rise to her feet. By Dick’s assistance she was enabled to do so, and then she limped slowly and painfully towards the spot where he had fastened up her steed. ‘“‘T am a little hurt,” she said. “I feel bruised and shaken, and my ankle is sprained, I think, but nothing more than that. Many thanks, sir, for the services you have rendered.” “Tt is not worthy of a thought,” said Dick. ‘ But do you not think you are runntmg considerable risk by re- mounting that spirited creature? He seems to me far be- yond your strength.” ‘¢Perhaps he may be,” was the answer; “but he will probably be calmer now—at any rate, I bave no other re- source : I dare not linger here.” : The young girl tried to mount whe she spoke those words, but it is questionable whether she would have succeeded but for the aid Dick afforded her. ‘Many thanks, sir,” she said again—“ many thanks !” “Here is your hat,” said Dick, picking it from the ground; “you had better put it on.” She took it from him, and was about to place it on her head, when she stopped suddenly, for she had discovered that her hair, which she had so carefully concealed be- neath it, was flowing over her shoulders. Tn the excitement under which she labored she had not notice this before, but upon making the discovery she believed that Diek must have penetrated her secret. She was overcome with confusion, but witha great effort she spoke: ‘You have behaved so kindly to me, sir,” she said, “that I am anxious to stand well in your opinion. How strangely you must think of me tosee me in this garb; but, believe me, nothing but the most urgent motives would have induced mo to set out thus attired, and even now I almost shrink from what I have to do.” There was a tone of deep sadness in her voice, which she endeavored to control. Dick simply bowed, and witl increasing hesitation ue young girl continued : “JT have known much sorrow and much suffering It has all been caused by one who—who I have come forth to seek to-night. I shall find him,” sne added, witha deep, long-drawn sigh—‘I know I shall find him; buat, alas! for me, [——” Unable to continue any 1onger in her broken communi- cation, she stopped with more suddenness than Dick had anticipated. However, she recovered, and looking uy to him, she said: “Farewell, sir—good-night; we shall never meet again; but still, I shall always remember the kind way in which you have treated and spoken to me.” Srwrcely had she finished speakin, these words than ae wachod her horse lightly with the spur. BLACK BESS, OR. darted off at The animal gave a sudden bound, then full gallop down the road. Dick stood for a moment perfectly still, gazing after the flying form. “This is odd enough,” he murmured, at length. ‘“ There’s a mystery there—a strange one too; I would xe much to unravel it. I will follow her. YWes—yes, will follow her; I may be able to render her some assistance.” Dick went a few paces in this direction, which «waa opposite to the one he ought to take. But he stopped and muttered: ‘‘No—no, hard as itis to restrain myself, § feel that this is not the time to look after an adventure; I have enough to do before me; besides, she has gone; I may not be able to overtake her—at any rate, for the sake ot poor T’om Davis I will not make the trial.” Having thus come to a determination, Dick turned Black Bess’s head round, and, dropping the reins upor her neck, urged her forward wich his voice. A few minutes soon took him a considerable distance from the spot where he had met with this strange adven ture. He was now drawing near to London, and, finding such was the case, he “relaxed his speed, for he was re- minded that as yet he had not come to any definite ar- rangement as to his proceedings. ‘Tt will never do,” he muttered, “to ride through London attired like this, and with Black Bess beneath me. N no—that will never do! Black Bess would be recognise beyond all doubt. Yet dare I part with her? and, if so, where could she remain ?” These were harassing and perplexing questions, and they cost Dick much thought and consideration before he could come to a conclusion with respect te them. But while cogitating, he happened to remember that near the entrance to Piccadilly was a small public-house, situate in a narrow street turning out of the thoroughfare just named. The place was one of a retired description, and he questioned very much whether the people there in whose charge he would leave his mare would recognise her. At any rate, Dick could think of no better mode of dia- posing of Black Bess, and so he resolved, without any more hesitation, to adopt it. When he rode up to the inn, he found that the front of it was in darkness. Over the gate leading to the stable-yard, however, a dim light was burning. He pulled away at the handle of the bell, and. after some little delay, a man appeared, who was so busy rub- bing the sleep out of his eyes that he could scarcely see anything. He winked and blinked like an owl. “ Here’s this horse,” said Dick. “I want you just to pay a little attention toit fora short time, and have j* ready when I call. Iam not going far, and if you serve me faithfully you will be well rewarded.” ‘All right, sir!” said the man, who was too sleepy to trouble himself even to take a second glance at the highwayman. In quite a mechanical way he took hold of Black Bess by the bridle, and led her through the gateway. The door closed heavily, and no sooner was it shut than Dick wished he had passed through along with his mare, and ascertained the spot where she had been be- stowed. This was now too late, and, moreover, he thought per- haps it was quite as well that he had remained outside, for if he entered he might confront some one else, and then there would be the danger of recognition. He felt if he remained lingering near the inn he should regret what he had done, and therefore, with a hurried step, he turned away. **T will soon be back,” he muttered, “or I will send some one for Black Bess, if I fancy there is any danger in going myself. ‘There’s plenty of time to think about that, though. I wonder how | look in my disguise? Dol resemble a parish constable, I wonder? Ithinkso. Ah, that will not do—no, certainly not!” While he had been speaking, Dick, in accordance with a habit of his, had stroked the lower part of his face, and in doing so his hand had passed over his moustache, which caused him to give utterance to the laat words. Gomicbooks Gcom