Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

ve S aeee ee THE KNIGHT OF TH® wad. Sa aE ee = 40 1631 a Never before did Black Bess respoud sv gallantly or t When the ascent was almost accomplished, a horsemas — so promptly to her rider’s commands. he gave one tremendous bound forward—a bound which scarcely anything human coald withstand. The officers scattered before it jike so much chaff, and, without experiencing a shock, Dick Turpin found himself on the other side of the stable gates. The ostler was furious at this utter failure of his deep-laid plan. ‘Down with him!” he yelled. ‘ Shoot him—shoot him! Where are your pistols? Shoot him, I say! Shoot his mare—that will be better! Curse the brute! I can feel her teeth now! Lend mea pistol, somebody, and I'll shoot her !”’ These vindictive words produced a total change in Dick’s feelings, for they aroused all his strongest passiuns. Any injury meditated towards himself he thorght no- thing of—he considered that the officers had a fair right to shoot at him if they wished. But with Black Bess it was another thing altogether. Things which, had they regarded himself alone, he would have taken no notice of whatever, assumed quite 8 different aspect when Black Bess was cot.cerned. Therefore, when these words were uttered, he turned round with flashing eyes. In his hasty rage, he drew a pistol from his belt. Without reflection, and acting only upon ths impulse of resentment, he levelled it at the cowardl» usiler, and In the confined space in which he stood, the report seemed tremendous. The ostkr uttered a shriek, and, throwing his arms up above his head, fell back. Turning round again with equal suddenness, Dick hurled his pistol at his foes, and set Black Bess in mo- tion. His breast was still filled with angry feelings as he dashed down Piccadilly in the direction of the open country, though he experienced a savage satisfaction in the thought that the ostler had not escaped without re- celving some punishment for his meditated atrocity. ““So he feit your teeth, did he, Bess?” he muttered. |. ““T am glad of it, and I hope he will feel the pain till his last day! What was it, lass, that made you turn round upon him like that?” he added, aloud. y the way he spoke, one would have thought that he really expected to receive some comprehensible reply from his mare, and eertainly the odd, neighing noise which she made immediately afterwards seemed like an effort at articulation. _ Dick’s thoughts were now distracted by hearing unmis- takable sounds of pursuit coming from the rear. ‘No matter!” he said, as he turned round, and looked behind him with a disdainful smile. “ Let them come on—I can outrun them easily !” About this there cduld be little doubt, provided he had eclear course before him, for never had Black Bess ap- peared to be in better condition for the road. Certainly, while Dick had gone through so many hair- breadth escapes she had been resting quietly in the stable. The night was dark and inclined to be stormy, and, as far as Dick was able to see, there was no one on the road before them. @& Accordingly, he allowed the rope attached to the halter to fall loosely upon the neck of his steed. A gallop of a few miles placed him beyond all fear or danger of pursuit, and, such being the case, he gradually reduced his mare’s pace, as he never unnecessarily dis- tressed her by a hard gallop. He also found thet it was far from comfortable to ride so far without tuose useful appendages, a saddle anda bridle, ‘ . “J must make good this loss,” he cried, half aioud. “But that can be done easily. ] make no doubt---but the sooner the better, for all that.” Dick had not even now recovered his usual eyaanimity, and there was something angry and altogether unlike: his usual manner in the way in which he looked before mim in the hope of catching sight of some solitary traveller. But no one appeared in sight. A long stretca of rising ground was before him, and wp this he allowed Black less to proceed at a walking ~ suddenly came into view on the brow of the hill. “There is the man,” was Dick’s remark. “Be has got what i want, and he had better surrender it to me ouietly, for I ain in no humor to be crossed.” The new-comer’s horse seemed somewhat exhausted after making the ascent on the opposite side, and go ft was allowed to pause a little while to recover its wind. Dick rode forward at the same steady rate. The sharp ring of a horse’s footsteps caused the horse- man to lock before him and endeavor to pierce the dark- ness. “ He was not loug in making owt the forms of the high- wayman and his steed. Dick kept unwaveringly on his way until breast te breast with the stranger. Then he stopped with great abruptness. “Good evening, sir!” he said. The salutation was so courteous a one that the stranger could not refrain from returning it. But evidently he either had his suspicions of Dick, or else he avoided making acquaintances on the high-road at night on principle, for he gave his horse a sharp slash with the whip, intending to set it in rapid motion. But this intention was prevented {rom being carried out by Dick, who, with much promptitude, stretched out his hand and grasped the rein. The horse swerved and pranced, almost unseating his rider, but Dick maintained his hold. “Not so fast, sir,” he cried—“ not so fast! We havea little business to settle together before we part.” “You mistake! I have no business with you. pass! I will not suffer to be molested thus !” “You cannot help yourself,” said Dick, gently but firmly, “and if you possess half the amount of good sense I give yow credit for having, you will listen in patience.” “Well, sir ?” “It is not very well—in fact, very ill! Iam in o Kittle difficulty, and you must help me out of it!” ** That’s cool, I must nay !” “Very !” responded Dick, imperturbably. “Come, sir,” said the stranger, impatiently, “ I dort feel inclined to be trifled with——” “Nor I either, sir!” ‘What do you want 2?” That is a sensible question, and I will answer it with out delay. Doubtless you perceive, sir, that I am unpro vided with a saddle and a bridle.” ‘“*T do perceive it. But what has that to do with me ?’ “Much, or else I am greatly mistaken.” ‘“‘ How so ?” “Why, sir, I must trouble you to favor me with yours, they will just suit me.” ‘“* My saddle and bridle ?” “ Exactly |” **And you would have the unblushing impudence sit there and ask me quietly to surrender my property *4 that fashion ?” ** Exactly |” “Then damme, sir!” cried the stranger, furious with rage, ‘let me tell you that you have got the wroug man ey A ps with! I won’t stand anything of the kind! Keep O ” ‘““ My dear sir——” “Oh, d—n——” “De you see this? It is a pistol. One of excellent make, I assure you! Hark! Did you hear that click? [tis now on full cock! The muzzle is within eighteen inches of your breast Now, be good enough to tell me whetne: you prefer to pa.. with your saddle and bridle or your life, for I am determined to have oue og the other, or both ?” There could be no pqssibility of mistaking Dick’s words. They were terribly in earnest. . They produced a palpable effect spou tho stranger, for he shrunk back from before the muzzie of the pistol, and when he spoke again there was e marked difference in his tones. “Putthat pistol ua, I beg! moment—accidentally, you know. Put it up!” “ Anything to oblize,” said Dick, quietly. ‘And now, sir. since I have graated your request. grant mine.’ Let me It might go off at any Vhs x Hi ray coy Lie te ta tt. -% xy, pans" ae UN Sa ) ‘a . rely Lp - we tee : x a ey MS A : Ay ay * . (EO ANNIE OOO KS (E(@) =. sr vas 5