Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

1620 For a second it seemedas though he must inevitably fall backwards into the abyss and be dashed to pieces ; but by asudden movemcnt of the upper part of his body, Dick threw himself forward, and fell with considerable force upon the rough red tiles. © . But ne was safe,and that in a measure Compensated for all that he had gone through. He so far lost his consciousness in his feii as to Tet an fnclination to lie just where he was without moving a single limb; but the recollection that the officers were near to him enabled him to shake off this sensation of Janguor and depression. Rising stealthily, he looked behind him, and staddered again when he beheld the dark black gulf he Esd over- leaped. The police officers had by this time all passed threagh the trap-door, and were making slow and careful pro- gress across the housetops, for Dick had left no track behind him by which hecould be followed, and he was now at so great a distauce as to be out of the sphere of light afforded by their torches. These indeed were more hindrance to the officers than good, for one hand was constantly kept occupied, leaving only the other to seize hold cf the various projections in the roof. x - But Dick, although in comparative safety, was anxious to crawl away to such a distance andin such a manner that the officers should lose all trace of him entirely, and with this view he crouched down again, so that his form was concealed by a parapet, and, almost on all-fours, crept along the narrow, slimy gutter. Bending all] his energies to the task he had set himself, Dick kept resolutely on his way; but at length, having gone, as he considered, a sufficient distance, he pSused, and slowly rising to an upright posture, took a survey ground him. Although he was invisible to the officcrs, yet they were plainly to be seen by him, owing to the ruddy halo of light their torches cast around them. By their manner, Dick could tell they paused at the edge of the abyss over which he had leaped, and he fancied by their gestures that an animated discussion was going on among them as to whether he had really pasSed that way or not. ‘T'urning his eyes in the opposite direction, Dick per- ceived, several yards off, a dim, glinmering light. At one moment it would be tolerably bright, and then it would fade away so as scarcely to be seen. “That's from an attic window,” he muttered, efter a more attentive examination of it, ‘and I should imagine the light proceeds froma fire. I will creep towards it. Perhaps that will present me with an avenue of escape.”’ While these thoughts were passing through his mind, Dick set himself in motion. It took but a short time to gain this attic window, but he approached with the utmost caution, for of course he could not tell whether the chamber was inlabited by anyone or not. Reaching it at last, he paused and listened. A tattered curtain was drawn partially across the ec ee — window, but not so closely as to prevent him from taking a peep at the interior if he had chosen to do so. But Dick did not attempt, for the very instant that he paused the sound of voices came upon his ears, CHAPTER CMLXXX. PICK ONCE MORE FINDS THAT AUDACITY COMMANDS SUCCESS. Upon making this discovery, Dick’s first impulse was to crawl away as silently and cautiously as he had arrived, but the words that first fell upon his ears so interested him that, despite the danger of his situation and the urgency there was of immediately moving, he inyolun- tarily waited to hear more. Ths voice that Dick heard speaking was evidently that of a young girl, for the tones were sweet and low, elthough her words were interrupted by frequent chok-! ing sobs, and although there was such a tone of anguisa in it. “ Do not grieve so—do not weep so bitterJy,” che said. BLACK BESS; OR, was said, sidered might aid him to escape. A Ee ae nt Eesti tan Ly ep ae ee nN nk a Bet Ss & >>» ee Ve - . , na © > . S “ ° A : > 5 aN , are be, ay Po as - .* Saal ~ c / . "y x ary 4 > ? »* tug 4 = Me he could not escape. Do not weep, say again, but be of better heart, and find consolation in the thought that though he has been pronounced guilty by his fellow- creatures, yet there is One who, knowing all, will acquit him of this fearful charge.” The girl was silent, and iu the short pause that followed nothing could be heard but sobs szd cries of lamentation. ‘‘Girl,” said another voice, and this one was of a character altogether different to the first, for it was shrill and piercing, and was indicative of the utmost mental agony and suffering—”* girl, it is well and no doubt easy for you to preach, but such words as you utter bring no consolation to my breast ; they may console you, for you cannot feel for him as1do, for I am his mo®:er and ke is my only one.” “That reproach is unjust—most unjust,” was the quick reply ; “but you can render him no aid by thus abandon- ing yourself to sorrow. You know that now the trial is over there is not the shadow of a hope—he will be sent away, and we shall never live to see him more.” While listening to this conversation, Dick had managed to raise himself a little, so as to be able to peep over the top of the tattered curtain we have mentioned, and as he did so a sad spectacle greeted his eyes. The attic was small and destitute of nearly every article of furniture. In the small rusty grate a few sticks were burning, which gave out by far more light than heat, Crouching down on the floor near the hearthstone was the figure of an aged woman. She was much emaciated,;~although Dick could see scarcely anything beside her long, bony arm and almost fleshless fingers. Her gray hair was streaming in disorder upon her neck and shoulders; her face was completely concealed from view. The young girl was standing in an attitude of easy, natural grace against the chimneypiece; her e)Jbow was resting upon it, and her head supported by her nand. Her cheeks were wet with tears, which continually flowed over them. W hile azing upon this scene and listening to what ick had thought of something which he con- Be‘ore beginning to put his project into execution, he looked behind him once more, in order to observe the movements of the police officers. They had left the parapet where they had been stand- ing, and were busily engaged in dragging some appa- rently heavy object, but what it was Dick could not make out, nor did he particularly trouble himself to do so, for he had seen suflicient to make him aware that he might safely do what he intended. Raising his hand, he tapped lightly against the win- dow, and at the same time he placed his mouth close to a pane of glass which had been broken, and through which the sounds of voices had passed, otherwise he could not have heard so distinctly all that had been said. “Tam a friend,” he cried, in alow voice. ‘Do not be alarmed—lI have come to aid you.” Notwithstanding the assuring nature of these words, the two occupants of the garret both screamed, though, it must be said, only slightly. The young girl was the first to recover herself from her astonishment. With a quick step, she crossed the room and dasha the curtain on one side. ‘“‘OQpen the window,” said Dick, “and let me enter. Believe me when I te you Iam a friend, and will do you a good service in return for one that you can render me.” “ Alas, sir!” said the young girl, in sorrowful accents, as she unfastened the window, “if you look to obtain any service at our hands you will look in vain, for we © are quite helpiegs.~ “Not so,” said Dick, as he stepped lightly into the room—*“ not so, and [ will quickly prove it to you.” The old woman half rose up, and pushing the masses ci hair off her face, looked scrutinisingly into the coun- ‘enence of their mysterious visitant. ‘“‘T know the cause of your trouble,’ Dick said —“ it is “ Innocent though he was, yet you must have known what | Because one near and dear to both of you has been found would have been the result; he was so entangled that] guilty of a crime.” com (¢ JOOKS com