Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

- place by daylight. a a. ~ - Gelp—help ! - peorched! Where am 1?—where are youall? ~Whers's a “Qh, murder—fire ! I’m blinded and ‘At first he was deprived of sight. “ Fire—murder!” he screamed Ten thousand curses ! ; 4) the door? D—n it all, can’t nune of you speak ?” The agony and pain which the beadle endured was certainly terrible, yet no more than he deserved, for all his life he had ever been readiest in inflicting pain upon others. “The village is up in arms!” said Claude Duval at this moment, ip a low voice. ‘Come, Jack, we must be off ? ° } “Right! I'll be with you in a moment. Here, my good woman,” he sdded—“‘here is gold. Taka care of it, and procure what you require. Farewell!” Jack then sprang quickly on to his horse’s back After doing so he gave just one glance behind him. Then he saw approaching a dense crowd of persons armed with weapons of every possible description. Many carried lanterns. “ There will be a slight commotion in the willage after this, depend upon it,” Jack said, as he set his steed in motion. “On, Claude! We will leave the beadle to ex- plain matters to the best of his ability.” Claude did not reply, but, spurring his horse, followed his friend. When they drew rein again, it was at a considerable distance from the village. “‘[ think we have had enough for one night, Claude,” exclaimed Sixteen-String Jack, as he looked around him. “ What say you ?” *The same, for I can already see the coming ot the dawn.” ‘Then we will make the best of our way to the old eastle. At this hour, ten to one if wesee anyone. Are yoa willing ?” “Quite. We ought never to venture to approach the If we are careful in this respect we may remain concealed there for along, long time. CHAPTER CMXG. TOM KING AND MAUD HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY ADVEN- TURE AT THE RUINS. PRECEDING the two highwaymen in their return, we will narrate the events of that same night as witnessed by those who had been left behind at the ruined castle. These, as the reader will scarcely need reminding, con- sisted of Maud, Tom King, and the new ally of our friends, Jack the ostler. A more useful fellow than the latter the highwaymen could not possibly have met with; but what was most important was the fact that his fidelity had been wel) : tried, and there was little fear that they would suffer be- trayal at his hands. After the three highwaymen had departed upon their excursions, he took up his station at a point which en- abled him to command the most extensive view of the surrounding country, and there remained patiently on the watch waiting for their return. As for Maud, it was with the greatest depression of ania thet sho witnessed Dick Turpin take his depar- e. A thousanu reara thronged into her mind, and, strive as she would, she contd got banish them. She stood watching his retreating figure until the trees hid him from her sight; then, with a heavy sigh, she made her way to the underground chamber, there te .count the moments until his return. The presence of Tom King she was most thant!ul for. In her present state of mind she felt that selituie was a thing that sbo could least of all eudure, Tom’s weand, thongh better, was still most trouble- some. The fact is, he stood in need of proper skilful treat- ahah -yast the very thing be could not possibly ob- ‘Sime might bring him round again; but on this varticular night he felt extremely weak, and he was sonscious that he was by no means out of danger. The conversation with which Mand and himself whiled away the time until close upon the hour of midnight was THE KNIGHT OF THE VAL 1639 not sufficiently important to be worthy of record; but at the time just mentioned they were voth startled vy the rather hurried entrance of the ostler. They could tell by his wanner and the expression of his face that something 4 @ amiss. “What is it, Jack?> asked Tom King. ‘Speak Guickly.” ‘There may be no cause for apprehension, but——" “What have you seen ?” Why, afew moments ago, as the air was se very stil‘, I caught the sound of carriage wheels. I soon founé the vehicle was approaching, and then it was stopped under the shadow of a clump of trees close to the castle boundary.” ‘A carriage ?” echoed Maud, inquiringly, and in grea amazement. ‘ What kind of one?” “A close, shut-up one—a regular gentleman’s car- riage.” “ What next ?” asked Tom. --i erept closer, and saw descend from it a tall, power- fui-looking man; but I could make out nothing else, owing to the darkness and the long cloak he is wrapped up in.” “Then,” said Tom King, rather languidly, for the ex- citement which had lent him a temporary strength soon abated, ‘I do not see that it much concerns us.” ‘Well, captain, it may not, but I thought it my duty to let you know of it; besides, the gentleman came walking on as though he intended to pay us a visit.” “Then itis more serious than I thought,” said Tom King, arousing himself. “We will watch his move- meuts.” ‘‘T am sure it will be best to do so, captain.” “Go on, then. I will follow.” * And I as well,” said Maud—‘‘I as well. I could not bear to be left by myself in this dreary, underground place.” Tom King did not say a word by way of objection, so she followed him closely. The open air was soon reached, and then, with much caut*on and stealthiness, Jack the ostler directed their footsteps towards a crumbling wall at some little dis- tance. This wall was pierced by a dismantled window, and it was frum this poiut of espial the faithful fellow had ob- served the stranger’s approach. Certainly there was something strange and highly pro- vocative of curiosity in the fact that anyone should be about to pay the ruins a visit at such an hour. It was, then, with great eagerness that all peered through the dilapidated casements. Their ears gave them the first imtimation that some one was at hand, for they caught the sound of a voice, and immediately afterwards the unmistakable rustling sound that was produced when anyone walked through the rank, luxuriant grass with which the ground in and around the castle was covered. “Hush!” said Tom King, in a faint whisper. uot speak or move, either of you, on any account. listen to all with the utmost attention.” The fears of the three watchers suggested that those who were approaching were persons who, by some means or other, had scented out their place of retreat, and had now come to reconnoitre preparatory to an attack. But this notion wu. at once dispelled when they saw come into view the stranger that the ostler had deg- cribed. tie was still shrouded in his long roquelaure cloak; but ws, the ostler had not mentioned, and what at once raised their interest to the keenest point, was the fact that he led by vue haxd a little child, which proved to be a girl. Her age could not have exceeded eight years, at the most—pernaps s* was not so old, for she was tall and slender, though full of gra 2 Above all, however, Tom noticed her fairy-like appear unce, and the manner in which she giasped her come panion’s huge hand with both her own tiny ouem wag touching to see. Tom thought what a loviug little creature it was, and a strange longing sprang up in his breast to have such a little child to love, cherish, and protect. After the pair came in sight Was a pauce in the “Do But EMNMICE OCC) | @ 6S (E(@)