Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

1680 BLACK BESS; OR, be able, by giving a good spring, to get the exds of his ficgers over the edge, He tried, and at the first trial succeeded. His next act was to draw himself up by his arms to su an extent as cnabled him to take a peep at the o#*“r Bide. 2 Owing to the darkness, however, he was not are to make out anything with much distinctness, therg he perceived rather a long range of low buildings, from a window in one part of which a light was shining. _ Here, he conjectured, he should find Black Bess; but it was a conjecture merely, for, as the reader will recollect, he was quite ignorant of the nature of the premises. It was, perhaps, about the only occasion on whick he had omitted to follow Black Bess to her stable in order to be familiar with its whereabouts, and now he bitterly re- gretted his indiscretion. But regrets were useless, and dismissing them frem his mind, he began to draw himself up higher and higher still above the wall, being emboldened to ¢o so by the perfect quiet which prevailed. At length, by dint of a little scrambling, Dick managed to get fairly astride the wall; then, crouching down as closely as he could, he crawled in the direction of the light. Evidently there was no one outside on the watch ; but this was not surprising, for the night air was too cold to make anyone wish for the job, and, moreover, they doubt- less considered that they should receive timely intima- tion of the highwayman’s approach. Dick found that he was on the wrong part of the wall to get anywhere near the lighted window; but he crept as close as he could, and then waited. It would almost seem as though the slight noise he had made in his progress had been heard, for a door was opened, and the ostler appeared. Dick sank down from observation. “It is nothing,” said the ostler, evidently addressing some one within—‘ nothing at all. Hverything is quite quiet.” ‘Then come in, will you, and shut the door, for it is confoundedly cold.” The ostler obeyed with alacrity. Owing to his elevated and awkward position, Dick \, as not able to do more than just get a glimpse through the _ doorway, yet that was sufficient to show him that the interior was fitted up as a stable. Most probably Black Bess was there, and the officers were watching near her. What else to do, Dick at the moment knew not. How to regain possession of Black Bess certainly seemed a greater mystery than ever. Dick felt it so, and chafed impatiently. , “Tt would be something,” he thought, at last, ‘if I could only find out how many I have to granpie with If no more than the ostler and the officer I saw, 2 will mek an encounter with tem.” Dick felt much relieved at having thus arrived at a decision, and he was not long before he devised the means by which he could make this important discovery without running any great risk kimself. Looking back a little way, he saw that the large bell he had rung was fixed to the wall just inside the gate, and was, he believed, in such a position that he could reach it without much trouble. A peal upon it, be thought, would not fail to draw inem forth again. At any rate, there could be no harm in putting euch a stratagem into execution. Dick seized hold of a@ piece of the wire and pulled it with all his might. The clanging was truly terrific, and he kept it up for some time, so as to induce a belief that whoever was out- side was anxious and impatient to get in. “That's him!” cried a voice, as the stable door was flung open—“ that’s him for certain! Comeca! Get all ready; but don’t show_vourselves till I give you the word |” * Hush—hush !” The ostler hurried to the gate, and as ke had not replaced all the fastenings, he flung it open in much less time than he kad taken before. And now most dec*dedly did the fickle gedaess Fortune favor the perplexed hig hwayman. It so happened that just as the ostler flung open the gate a chance pedestrian wrapped in a cloak was passing py. "The ostler no sooner caught sight of him than he uttered a ery. At the same time ke sprang forward, seizing the stranger by the throat. The cry was followed by the rush of footsteps, and then, from out of the stable there issued no less than seven police officers. Had any one of them chanced to cast his eyes up to the top of the wall, it is quite possible that Dick woald have been detected there. . But of this there was no fear. od All their faculties were engrossed by the strugcle which was taking place in the street, for the stranger, believing himself attacked by robbers, resented with right good will the attack which the ostler made upon him. The officers hastened to his assistance, and so con- vinced were they that the right man had been seized “nat they never troubled themselves to take a second glance, but with the greatest impetuosity joined in the fray. It was almost @ moment before Dick could properly comprehend what had occurred; but as soon as ever the actual truth flashed upon his mind, he said to himself, with great determination : ‘Now or never is the time! Such a chance as this is more than I could possibly have expected, and certainly such a one as will not occur again !” With these words in his mind, if not on his lips, Dick turned, jowered himself rapidly from the top of the wall, and dropped into the stable-yard. | He happened to alight upon some littered straw, so that nO alarm was given. The conflict was going on outside, if possible, with redoubled violence. Like a shadow, Dick flitted rapidly across the yard and darted into the stable. Here a light was burning. A cry of exultation escaped his lips. There, safe, and to all appearances unhurt, was his bonny mare, Black Bess. In an instant she recogniscd her master, and gave utterance to a sharp neigh. Dick caressed her while he untied her from the manger. Her trappings had all been removed, and, though he made a rapi4 searcn, ne talied to find them. He uttered an impatient ejaculation; but to linger would spoil all—probably bring on his own death or capture. ‘ ‘Tt must be thus,” he said, addressing Black Bess. ‘1 have ridden you bare-backed before, and can do so again. The halter shall serve me for @ bridle.” So saying, Dick led Pack Bess to the stable door. He sprang then into the saddle, for a kind of lull had taken place outside. The officars had just discovered that they had made a masy >d+culous mistake. The aan they had seized, and whom they had at last succeeded in overpowering, they found, upon examina- tion, to bear no resemblance to Dick Turpin what- ever. The clatter of hocfs upou .ne stones in the yard caused them to turn roun4a, What words can express -heir astonishment, rage, and fury, when they saw before them Dick Turpin sitting composedly on the”’” “3 of bonny Black Bess! CHAPTER CMLXXXVI. DICK TURPIN ESCAPES, AND PROVIDES “HIMSELF WITA 4A FRESH SADDLE AND BRIDLE. “@LEAR the way, there!” cried Dick Turpm, in a loud, ringing voice, for the officers had all fallen into immovable attitudes indicative of their feelinge—‘‘clear the way there! Let me pass!” This speech at once brought the offvers to their senses, Releasing their hold upon the bewildered stranger, thoy dashed headlong, pell-mell into the yard. But Dick was prepared for them. , “On, Dass!” he cried, exultantly. “ Horward, old lasai On—on! Down withthem!” ~~ | ‘comicbooks