Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

. aly 7 pe | ~- < tl or ¥% >. 2 s , ~~“ %. ~ - 4 , we tet _ a % \. itn —. mt 2 > RL i er ae 3% a CHAPTER OMLXXXIX,. _ SAUDE DUVAL AND SIXTEEN-STRING JACK COMVEL THE _-—s- & ~-*TWO BAILIFFS TO DISGORGE THETR GOLD _ ERE long, our two friends were able tu catch the sound _ of horses’ hoofs on thw roadway before them, and imme- diately u,z> mal'~~ tha discovery they gently reined-in their horses. a | When their paces bed subsided to a canter, Claade and Jack perceived the forms of the bailiffs before them _ By their manner, it would seem as though they nad heard the highwaymen’s furious approach, for they had _ drawn as close as they could get to one side of the soad in order to leave a free passage. Not for a moment, however, did they guess what Fate had in store for them. It was, then, much to their astonishment and dismay that they found the two new-comers ride up to them, pistols in hand. ‘Now, you rascals,” cried Jack, in a somewhat excited voice, ‘“ we will come to a bit of a settlement!” * Settlement ?” ejaculated the one with the gruff voice. “What do you mean, sir? I[ thought all matters were perfectly settled between us ?” “Then ali I can say is,” returned Jack, “that you _ have made a very great mistake !” “Yes,” added Claude. ‘ Hand over every farthing you have about you, or, as sure as you are rascally tipstaves, these pistols shall make an end of you!” “ But we have nothing—absolutely nothing, except the money we have just received, and surely you would not tob us of that? hy, it would be our ruin!” “T can’t help that!” said Jack. ‘It would have been ruin to that poor gentleman if you had dragged him off _4o prison. But that made noimpression upon you, so you “annot expect any different conduct from us.” ‘‘ Drop that!” cried Claude, with great suddenness, and st the same time that he pronounced the words he struck one of the bailiffs a heavy blow upon the knuckles with the butt-end of a pistol. ‘ A roar of pain followed, and the man’s grasp rela, Jg, allowed the pistol which he had drawn stealthily from his pocket to fall to the ground, where it immediately ex- loded. : Fortunately, no danger was done either to our friends or their horses, “You thought my eyes were off you, did you” ex- claimed Claude. “ Take my advice, instead of making ar 7 foolish resistance, hand over the cash!” “ But, gentlemen——” they began, expostulatingly. “Silence !” roared Claude, at the top of his voice. ‘Hand over at once, or we will blow your brains out first and then empty your pockets afterwards, which will be quite as troublesome and disagreeable to you a *@ us, I can assure you !” With a heavy sigh one took from his pocket a érown- piece and dropped it into Claude’s hand, who asked imme- diately : i ‘* What is that for?” “*T assure you, sir, it is all T have——_” — “Bah!” ** All I have of my own.” “T see there is no help for it,” saia Jack, deliberately cocking his pistol while he spoke. ‘“ They woa’t listen to reason, Down with yours!” “ Jim—Jim!” yelled one, as soon as Jack levelled his pistol “Give up the dubs! Don’t beafool! I wen’t sit here and © chot—no, not for ten times a hundred ound |” E Findizg that the highwaymen were terribly in earnest, the other bailiff most reluctantly plunged his hand into - aninner pocket, from which he drew forth a large and apparently very heavy bag. Jack snatched it away from him in a moment. “We're ruined,” they both cried together—“ razed ~ . ru t ; completely! What can be doue?™ “ Why, rejoice to think you have vot off so lightly.” ‘Hurray !” cried the one with the grutt 72ice, and _ gbruptly changing hismanner. ‘Hurray! _ Highwaymen az? thieves! Help—help!” This sudden oatcry took the highwaymen slightly by surprise, but turning their heads in the direction the a bailiff Was looking they perceived a small troop of horse- Help—help ! THS ENIGHT OF THE ROAD. we Ng 1 a ‘ 1637 men approaching who looked suspiciously like police officers. “Off and away, Jack,” cried Claude Duval. be satisfied with what we have. folly to remain any longer.” ‘‘ Follow me then,” was the reply. vehicle on the road before us.” So saying, Sixteen-String Jack made his horse face the low-growing hedge which dividea ona side of the roadway from a green, undulating meadow. His horse leaped the obstruction easily, and so did Ulaude’s. Nothing but soft, springy tut: being beneath them, they urged their horses onward wt the utmost speed they were capable of. The sharp report of a pistol and the sound of many voices made them aware that the officers hadin good earnest begun the pursuit. The discharge of the pistol was a foolish act, for though the highwaymen were not far off, yet they were out of range. Nevertheless, it made the highwaymen turn their heads and look behind them. To their unalloyed gratification, they then perceived that nearly half the officers had come to grief in attempt- ing to overleap the hedgerow. But those whose horses had succeeded in keeping their footing commenced the chase with a great show of ani- mation and courage. Well mounted as the highwaymen were, however, it quickly became apparent that the officers had not the ‘“ Tiet us It would be worse than “Ff can hear some ghost of a chance of overtaking them unless some un- . looked-for accident should occur. But yet it was also beyond doubt that they would be able to hang on in the rear of the two friends until they met with some additional assistance. This Claude and Jack determined to prevent if pos- sible, so they did not scruple to push their horses on- wards to the utmost of their power. In a short time, then, they had the satisfaction of find- ing that the distance between themselves and their foes had visibly increased, and after the lapse of another quarter of an hour they could not, when they looked back, detect any signs of them. “All right!” cried Claude. “ Pull in, Jack; don’t you see there is a village or town before us? If we ride through it at.full speed we shall cause such a prodigious clatter that all the inhabitants will be aroused.” The highwaymen had quitted the fields and entered upon what seemed to be the high-road. Claude’s advice was too good to be neglected, so Jack pulled up at once. ; “We will go at a walk,” he said, wiping the perspira- tion from his¢face. ‘It will enable our horses to recover themselves a little; we have pressed them hard.” This was a palpable fact, for both animals showed un- mistakable signs of being greatly exhausted and dis- tressed. Quite at a gentle walk, then, the highwaymen ap- proached the village. A profound silence prevailed in the long, straggling street—not a light was anywhere to be seen. The in- habitants had been doubtless fast asleep for many hours. Thev passed on without exciting the least cbservation, but just as they were about to pass out into the open country again, both heard distinctly a low cry of anguish or sorrow. It was so dark around that for some moments they could not perzeive from whom the cry proceeded, but a repetition of it enabled them to discern a dark figure that was crouching down near a doorway. Whether nfiile or female it was not possible for them av that distance to say, but as if actuated by the same im pulse the highwaymen drew nearer. é : Aroused probably by their approach, the figure quitted its crouching position and stood uprig™* ¢ They then found it to be a female. ; ; She was still entitled to be called youug, out her tace was hollow and pinched, and her scanty clothing disclosed how much her person was einaciated. She held what seemed to bea bundle of rags in hex arms, and but for a faint wailing cry which at this mo- ment broke forth, the highwaymen would no dowbi have considered it to be nothing else. (E(0) 0)(0\0) AMG 0) 6S (E(0)