Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

ys ENIGHT OF THE ROAD. } 2 1623 y Never, under any circumstances, had a day appeared to | into a van or waggon along with tho rest of the hes Jag go fearfully as that. prisoners dsomed with him, and taken, most probably, to Fy coal Pe Dick thoupht the hours would never slip away. Greenwich, where he will be put on beard the convict es But, for all his impatience and restlessness, old Tima - ship.” : pursued his march without the least wavering or altera~{ ‘* Well, Matthew, what is to be done, and when?” ch: tion. © an “Sh, Dick! I cannot answer you that question; but Seat Noon came and passed; then, after a short period of | 1 can very easily te!l you what can not be done.” Gis a daylight, night began to close in. “And what may that be?” roe eas ‘To such a degree had Dick worked himself, that more “ Why, liberate him from Newgate. From what was eine than once or twice he was on the verge of issuing forth, } said at the eourt to-day, I fell sure that it is suspected “is _ in order to come 40 a conclusion earlier. that yoaand your comrades will make some attempt to ae It, was, however, as nearly six o’ciock as possible when } set him free, and most-certainly if you approach any- “f - old Matthew returned. where near the Old Bailey you will doom yourself te ro ___ By the look of his face, Dick knew that he was nos the | your own dostructivn.”’ bringer of good tidings. “So we may,” said Dick; “but for all that, Tom _“ Well,” he said, briskly, “I will not questiou: syau. | Davis must be set free.” _ Speak, Matthew, and put an end to this horrible suspense} ‘‘ He must,’ said Matthew, rubbing his hands to- - as soonas youcan!” — gether, while a pleased expression gradually stole over ___ “Well, Dick, the case came on the very first thing {ais | his face—‘‘ ho must. I quite agree with you Just at __ morning, and occupied the court up to within a short | this moment I thought of the means by which, in all eae of my leaving.” probability, it can be done,” “And the result 2?” | i ae ts just what I expected—or, indeed, not quite so © What is it, then ?” CHAPTER CMLXXXII. «Why, I must tell you that a dead set was made again% | que pronss BEHIND THE CUPBOARD, IN WHICH DICK _ Tom Davis, and the attempt made to render what ho had| joppmy 1g HIDDEN, IS DISCOVERED BY THE OFFICERS. _ done a capital offence, so as to be punished with death. | © Se ck aye : : Luckily, by the efforts of the counsel I engaged, this was | “Do you mean it?” said Dick Turpin, with eager not successful.” earnestness—‘‘ do you really mean it? Come—quick! ; “But why not come to the point at once?” said Lick. Speak out—let me know your plan.” ay ye - Whatis his fate?” _ “Well,” said Matthew, with much complacency, it DP wenty-one years’ transportation.” is only a rude idea at present, but yet ib may be ela- _ &wenty-one years?” repeated Dick. ‘“ Why, that’s | borated into something very good Rdeed. Be: equivalent to transportation for life!” “Well, well, pass over all that. an ae _ “TItisindeed. But don’t chafe and fret so; wait until] | But old Matthew seemed rather to enjoy his anxiety, you have heard all, then we can talk over the matter, and | +9r ms tead of speaking directly to the point he went __ if possible come to a decision.” on: : rs “With all my heart.” 3 “ And, by-the-way, there is that young man. __ “TY shall never regret having taken the course I have,”| “Confound the young man ‘” resumed old Matthew, “for by the efforts of the counsel “Well, it isn’t very grateful to say 80. I mean that _ Mrs. Davis and Ellen have escapod—when I shy escaped, | young man that you promised to rescue. a that is scarcely what I meant.” * Well, well, what of him P f “They have been acquitted ?” _“ Why, I think my plan will enable you to set him at ___ **No, not that either, but sentenced to one month’s im- liberty at the same time as Tom Davis. . prisonment. Forthem you need not trouble; amonth| “Indeed!” said Dick. “ How sot will quickly pass away—then they will receive their] ‘‘ Can you not guess?” oe _ liberty in a legitimate manner.” “T cannot, nor do I intend to try; I am waiting for Jam gladitis no worse for them,” said Dick; ‘and | youto tell me.” : _ yet you have no idea how much I regret even that. Still, | _ “‘ Then I will dally with you no longer. The fact is, “as you say, they may be left; it is Tom Davis’s case | Dick, it occurs to me thatit will be perfectly possible for _ which demands our whole attention.” you and your three comrades to stop the prisoners’ van “« You are quite right—it is,” said Matthew. ‘‘ And the | while on ils way to Greenwich, or wherever the place may question comes, in what possible way can we contrive to | be, which I can easily find out and let you know.” _ replace him in possession of his liberty ?” _ “Good, Matthew,” cried Dick—‘ very good! Of course “tT know not—I am too confused to think,” said Dick; | wecan. I might have thought of it, it is so simple, and I TT must leave all reflection to you.” think so very likely to succeed.” “Well, itis certain,” said old Matthew, “ that if ho is “ Very likely,” said old Matthew—“ in fact, Iam certain, _ liberated by our aid he will have to leave England at | for if you only partially succeed, the prisoners will aid you - once—that’s the only course of safety open to him.” to the very best of their power.” And he will gladly enough embrace it,” said Dick— “Tt isa glorious plan, Matthew,” cried Dick, enthusias- _ T feel sure of that. Once let him be free, and I will take | tically and excitedly—‘‘a glorious plan, and one that " _ care that all three of them have the means of quitting | cannot fail of success—I feel sure of it, and a heavy load is this country.” taken off my mind. I can see the means by which Tom a “Well,” said Matthew, ‘‘ and if I may add a few words | Davis can recover his liberty.” “ 4 of my own, I think while you are about it, the best thing| ‘I am glad you approve of it so well. But now while tt _ you can do is to leave England too; you have run your| we are on the subject, let us come to this arrangement.” ms career quite Jong enough. Take my advice—be satisfied “Woll, go on. hy did you pause ?” eyes - with what you have done, and quit this land for} “Simply because 1 was considering. However, this can- | ever.” not be done at present; but leave to me the task of find- Dick received this counsel with a smile ing out when the prisoners will be removed from Newgate, _ We'll talk about that another day,” ho said; “1 have land to what place they are going to be taken.” - no humor to enter that discussion now.” “You can easiry learn that, [ should think, Mat- s a7 “Well, be it-so,” said Matthew, somewhat sadly ;| thew.” es _ “though, mark me, I should prefer that to Go the end} “Yes—very likely I can; but then, having done 8 : _ of your career.” the question is, how shall I make you acquainted with the i _. Dick drummed upon the table impatiently with sis } intelligence ?” hand. : , “That’s a point we must settle, said Lick. ‘“Sup- _ “Well, them,” said Matthew, “let us consider the | peso I should come here again ai the end of a certain _ Ways and means of setting Tom Davis at liberty. He | time?” 48 now in Newgate, where he will remain for sme] “No—no,” said Matthew, very siowly. “Iam glad ‘short period.” enough to see you, Dick—it delights me when I can - “ And after that?” asked Dick. catch sight of your face; but the less you show yourseii ad We hy, in the usual course of “ims, he will bs put | kere 1 am sure will be the better. Dox’t think of it” aa COMMICENOO SEO ia ma a rm > p% _“ Tz: or tigi mS! ee emt 4 . Neat i . : x ee Seto se Pee ee “ Vy ed ¢ A ay _— e Petts