Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

{¥ WHICH DICK «A _ en A joe FN * ALAS Cee mn ie, » ? - j i ~ ar a Mel od yA ata = & is ‘ ied ?632 “* What is it ?” “Let me recommend you to dismouut without making fuy more fu aa, and, with what speed you are capable of _ maeking, div est your horse of his trappings.” «wo wut if I give you my saddle and bridle, what the devil am I to do?” ‘Jet another.” “ Why don’t you ?” “T am about to.” Curse it, but you know what I mean. My herse has got a backbone that sticks up, and it’s as sharp as a nail to git on, I assure you.” Dick could not forbear a smile. _ “All that produces no effect upon me whatever, sir. But come; words enough and to spare have been wasted already. Dismount and off with the saddle at once!” The stranger appeared to hesitate. Dick carried his hand to his pockct in which he had carelessly deposited the pistol. The gesture was sufficient. With an execration which, if not loud, was deep, the stranger slid off his horse. “I don’t mind confessing to you,” said Dick, “ because IT suppose you suspect it, but I am a highwayman, I have had a close brush with the officers, and you can supply the loss of a saddle and bridle with infinitely less trouble and risk than I can. So make no demur—I ecan- not tell how soon my enemies may make their appear- ance. Be guick!” Upon hearing this, the traveller looked anxiously down the hill. While he did so he fervently wished that he might be so fortunate as to catch sight of a troop of police officers approaching. CHAPTH? CMLXXXVII. TURPIN HAS A VERY ODD ADVENTURE WITH A VERY ECCENTRIC PERSONAGE, “Curse it !” said the traveller, under his voice. ‘ Who- ever knew of officers to be at hand when they were par- ticularly wanted ?”’ “What are you muttering about?” asked Dick, who had noticed the rapid glance, and partly caught the half- attered words. “Nothing, sir—nothing! be content. bridle ?” “T must—I cannot do without it. this halter in exchange.” The stranger ground his teeth, but another glance assured him that no help was near, and so he surrendered the bridle. Dick had Black Bess caparisoned with these fresh trap- ‘pings in a moment, then lost no time in vaulting into the saadle. *‘ Now, look you, sir,” he said, “ there is little occasion -to make so much fuss. The loss you have sustained is such a one that you can easily repair You ought, in- deed, to think yourself most lucky.” “Lucky ?” repeated the traveller, sardonically. “Yes, lucky in getting off so easily ; and I should ad- vise you to part company with me now, or I may take a fancy to whatever money or valuables you may be carry- ing about with you.” Hearing this, the traveller gave a great start, and hastily mounted his horse Hither this idea had not occurred to him before, or else he carried about his person some objects he was by no means willing to part with. “Good night, sir!” said Dick, with a politewess that made the other furious. “A pleasant journey to you!” What the traveller said in reply was inarticulate, but he struck his spurs sharply into his horse’s flanks, and set off down the hill at a pace that must have caused bim great inconvenience if his horse’s backbone was anything like so s&uarp as he had declared it to be. » Dick ‘furpia laughed heartily at the adventure , ndeed, he was so amused by it that those angry feelings which had heretofore filled his breast were vanished. “Now, Bess,” he exclaimed,- “let us have another gsHop, and that willgofar towards taking us to our _eumey’s end, wren, I doubt not, we shall find many Here, take the saddle, and Surely you would not deprive me of the But you shall -have BLACK BESS; OR, SS SS Ce ta, Soe: “= Chis 4 ) tia nie wwe hd ata ¢ y sf Oras <o fai 2y ¢- - — ee 1 mp “Ss 2 _ yes, ar ta eS the, RO ev ‘ St ee ete oF we . yy ~~” 3 ' ye) AN et r .. ¥ «| . = “93% a i a anxiously looking for our arrival. Forward—forward, old girl! It seems to me that we have the read wi} ty ourselves to-night |” Se Slackening the reins while he spoke, Black Bess broke out into one of those long, stretching gallops which get over the ground with so much rapidity, and which she seemed to perform with so little fatigue to herself. Ere he had gone far, however, Dick began gradually to draw her in again, for his quick ears had detected the approach of another horseman on the read. It was more upon impulse than reflection that he re- duced his mare’s rate of speed, but having done so, he paused and began to think. The sound made by the new-comers horse’s hcofs be- came now much more audible. “What shail I do?” Dick asked himself. “This little adventure seems purposely thrown in my way. Shall I neglect it? It goes against the grain to do so; and besides, in the carrying out of the little enterprise I have on hand a good supply of money will be absolutely ne- cessary.” | He had no further space for deliberation, for just then the traveller’s horse came into sight round the bend in the road. An ejaculation escaped Dick’s lips. He reined Black Bess in with great suddenness. Then he flung himself from the saddle with an amount of precipitancy that looked dangerous in the extreme. The cause of these actions is easily described. The horse which came round the bend of the road at so violent a pace was riderless. Or rather, at a first glance he appeared to be so. The highwayman’s keen eyes, however, discerned that this horse was dragging at his heels some large, dark object. What was it? Dick recognised it with a shudder, and that was why he dismounted so precipitately. It was the body of a man— Evidently that of its rider, who by some means or other had fallen to the ground, and in doing so one foot had remained entangled in the stirrup. The manner in which he was dragged over the rough, hard road was truly terrible to behold. There was a groan and a faint cry for help. But Dick was ready. He was standing cool, calm, and determined im the middle of the road, and when the horse came thundering up he sprang forward and seized it by the reins. But he almost lost his footing in his attempt to curb the speed of the terrified animal. Clinging tightly, however, he ran forward a few yards, and then brought it quietly and gradually to a stand- still. The animal exhibited every sign of intense fear. its mane seemed standing half erect, its eyeballs were expanded and glaring wildly, while its flanks were covered over with white foam. Few understood better how to treat a horse than Dick Turpin, and it looked magical to see how quickly he suc- ceeded in taming and calming this frightened creature. This much being done, and keeping tight hold of the rein in order to be guarded from any other accident, Dick turned his attention to the stranger, whose condition seemed to be desperate indeed. He lay now without exhibiting the least sign of anima- tion. Not without some trouble, Dick succeeded in releasing his foot from. the stirrup-iron; but having done so, he led the horse to the side of the road, and well secure) it to the low-lying branch of a tree. Here he knew it would be safe, and require no further attention, thus leaving him free to devote ali his time to the injured stranger. ‘“Can you speak, sir?” asked Dick, as he bent over him. ‘If you can, tell me what I can do imorder to assist 4 A very faint groan was the only reply Mick got to this speech ; but yet it contented him, for his object in inquiring was merely to ascertain whether the traveller was alive or not. Finding that his injuries had not yet caused death, Dick hastened to the side of the road where ke bad noticed — GOMIE 90 Ok: « alttle brook was flowing. : _ > de a > ae - = *. x > = Sw - — Gt ae . ' * aot: Or’ => - 4 hs ne te fe Ole ee La » eres a CC