Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

1688 —= ee ee kindly voice, “ what can you be doing here in the street at this lonely hour of the night ?” For a moment there was a silence. Then, in a husky voice. the woman replica: “ Alas, sir, I am destitute—nothing to eat—nowhere to lay my head —nothir.g for ‘his poor little vue, who is half dead with cold and hunger. I have knocked and rung repeatedly at this door, and cannot gain admit- tance.” The two highwaymen looked up at these words, aLé then they noticed that they were standing in front of a large and gloomy-looking building. ‘What place is it?” “ The workhouse, sir” was tae answer given, reluctantly, as though from shame. “And do you mean to tell me,” cried Sixteen-String Jack, “that, at, this place, erected purposely for the relief of the destitute, you cannot gain an entrance? auld they leave you here to perish on the very thres- old ?” ‘“‘T fear their hearts are hard enough, sir. The beadle, who seems ‘in command, appears dead to } ity. He cursed me for disturbing his night’s rest, and finished by telling me to move off, as this was not my parish. Then he slammed the door, and I, faint, sick, and broken-hearted, sank down here, unable to proceed another step.” No words of eurs could possibly express in any degree the amount of indignation which these words excited in the breasts of the two friends. “Tt is monstrous—abominable!” Sixteen-String Jack managed to say at length. ‘ But they shall repent this harshness! Where's the bell ?” He slipped from his horse while he spoke, leaving his companion to take care of it. A very brief search indeed enabled him to find the be?l- handle, Seizing it tightly, he pulled it up and down with the full vigor of his arm. While doing sv, it seemed to him as though his anger was finding au outlet. Most ass “lv uever such a peal had beeu rapg upon that bell since a clapper first hung witaa‘S The clangor was tremendous. Then, becoming more accustomed to the darkness, he perceived a massive iron knocker. This he grasped with his left hand, and pounded away with all his might, while the clanging of the bell seemed to grow louder and louder. Very soon there were signs that the inmates of the workhouse were alarmed. Tien came the sound of the opening of a door, accompanied by a heavy footstep and a flash of lig} t. ‘* Hullo, there!” said a thick, wheezy voice—" hullo! What the devil is the matter? [Us the place afire? D—n it all, I say, what’s the matter ?” Just as these words were pronounced a little wicket in the centre of the outer door was thrown back. The averture which it disclosed was strengly barred with iron. Ou the other side of this grating appcerxi tte fturid countenance of a mar, who rejoiced in a huge carbuncled nose and a dirty red woollen nighteap. “ D—n it all!” he said again, as he held ap vhe Keht. “Did I speak. or did the wind blow, eb? What’ the matter ?” ) : The woman hearing this, to her, ali-dreaded voice, shrank back in fear. “Can you asx whatis the matter,” said Jack, sternly, ‘when you knew so well? Why, a Luman being, @ fellow-creature is dvivg at your gates of cola and starva- tion—that’s whats the matter.” “Good *‘Evvings!” ejacifated the beadle, drawiug a long breath. “To think that I should live to hear such words! A pauper! Oh, aml alive? Well, curse your impudence! Stuy there till you rot, and be d—d to oul With these words the parochial functionaxy shat ie little wicket again, and stalked back with a heavy, and what he fully believed in his own self-conceit was a Majestic step. Sixteen-String Jack was so completely -aken aback by this reception that he stood for a moment after the beadle had retired more like a man in a dreani tliex awake and in full possession of his sensox. BLACK BESS; OR, rer ee se “My good woman,” said Sixteen-String Jack, in a: ‘Can Lils be pussivie?” he at last ejaculated. ‘ Con- found the rascal! the doorway. tone.” ‘‘ Alas, sir,” said the woman, ‘itis quite in vain for you to trouble yourself. He will not let me in.” | “ We will have another word or two to the bargain, then.” With these words, Jack once more seized upon the bell — aud knocker, and, if such a thing could be possible, plied them mor’ vigorously than before. “It is quite useless, Jack,” said Claude, with difficulty making his voice heard. “He will not attend to you again, or H he comes, it will only be to repeat his former insolence.” Jack felt the truth of this, and knew, besides, that he was losing time—moreover, it was most impolitic on their parts to ge up such a disturbance, and so bring people around them. oe But, for all that, Jack said ; ¢ “T must get him to come out once more, and ee he docs, if I dm’t give him pepper, call me a ool.” “But what can you do while he is on one side of the gate, and you on the other?” “You will soon see.” “Oh, gentlemen,” cried the woman, much alarmed, “pray take my advice and go away! You cannot do me any good, and you will only get yourselves into trouble.” But Jack paid no attention whatever to her supplica- tions. Claude looked to see what he was about. To his surprise, Jack had taken his powder-flask from his pocket, and was busily occupied in placing it upon the ledge of the wicket. He found there was just room for one measureful of powder in between each bar. “ There,” he said, as, having finished, he restored the powdzr flask complacently to his pocket. “I only hope he will put his ugly old nose as close to the bars as he did the last time. If he does, I’ll warm it for him!” ‘ What do you mean to do, Jack 2” “Can't you see ?” ‘“Z ou had oetter come away.” “Not just yet. Here goes again !” Jack thereupon begun tolling away at the bell at such arate as would make it quite an impossibility for anyone to remain in the house and listen to it. As he fully expected, before he had been going at it long the beadle again made his appearance. His wrath now was something terrific. Ile flung open the door of the little wicket, and peered through the grating. ‘Well, d—n your impudence!” he exclaimed. end of the world has come now, sure enough! curse you—-be off! I'll call the watch, and have you locked up! You’re druunk—mad drunk, both of you! \Vhat do you mean by disturbing me at this time of night, oh?” “ Because,” said Jack, ‘a woman happens to be dying at your gate for want of sustenance.” “Then let her die, aud rot, and you and all! cap bear some one coming! Now we shall have an alteration, I'll warrant. Here, watch—watch, I say !” There was certainly some ene approaching from the village, the inhabitants of which had doubtless been aroused by the unusual clamor. But the beadle, little thinking of the trifling retribution that was in store for him, pressed his face close to the bars of the wicket, and bawled with all his might. ‘This was the opportunity Jack was waiting for. Already he beid in bis hand a lighted thieves’ match, such as the highwaymen always carried, though, owing to the manner in which he ‘eld it, it was anvisible to the beaelle. The latter, in shouting out, view away some portion oi tlxa gunpowder, but not much. Jack touched some of the black grains with the match. There was a brilliant flash, a puff of white smoke, and afterwards what scemed to be a double darkness. The beadie uttered one of the most awiul yells that ths I wish I had him on this side of I would quickly make him alter his ‘“ The Be off, Ah! I imagination of man can possibly conceive. a: com (C JOO! ~