Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

iF ‘ Bat, rapid as she was in her movements, she found +» Ay +g that by the time she returned Tom King had managed to open the door. He took the light Zrom her hand, however, and held it above his head, so as to light up as well as possible the place into which he was about to enter. It was lucky that he took this precaution, for he stepgid back with a cry of horror. “ What is it 2” asked Maud—“oh, what is K ?” “Not so bad asI thought,” answered Tom, who ty this time had taken a second glance. “I thought the flooring of this place was many feet below the level of this ground, but I see now it is only a few inches.” Tom might wel) be excused for making this mis - take. The fact was, however, as he had stated. There was one step down from the door sill into this chamber; but he found it rather a steep one. He descended at once, however, and the first thing that met his gaze was the little girl lying at full length on the damp flooring, to all appearances utterly bereft of e. Again surrendering the light to Maud, he stcoped down and picked up the insensible burden in his arms. So light and fairy-like was she, that he carried her almost without being sensible of her weight. With a quick step Maud led the way, and in a few seconds the subterranean chamber was reached. The girl was at once placed down before the brightly-- burning fire. - ** Does she live ?” asked Maud, bending anxiously over er. _ “She does—I believe she does. But look! The poor little thing has injured herself in her fall.” While ‘om spoke, he pointed to a slight gash in the girl’s forehead, from which the blood was slowly ooz- ing. Both now in good eernest set themsetves to work to re- store her to consciousness, and after a time their efforts were crowned with complete success. ) The child opened her eyes and looked around her—at first with signs of fear, and afterwards of wondor. When she saw the two anxious faces bending down over her with kindness visible in every linexment, her apprehension vanished. | “Tam dreaming,” she said, gently, as she closed aer eyes again. ‘ Yes, surely only dreaming. I méght have known that nothing half so terrible could possibly be true.’ Tom made arapid sign for Maud not to speak. He was aware that before long the little girl would tho- roughly recover possession of hersenses, and that until a it would be by far the best to leave her to her- self. In a minute more, during which profound silence was preserved, the little girl opened her eyes again. _ She glanced around, and the strange appearance of the place in which she thus suddenly and unexpectedly found herself affected her much. Again a look of terror overspread her countenance, and she cried : “Oh, what placeis this? WhereamI? Alas—alas, then it was no dream|” ‘‘ Compose yourself,” said Maud, bending down nearer to her. ‘“ Do not be afraid—there is no occasion for fear. You are among friends—friends who will protect you and stand by you to the last !” “‘ Yes—yes,” said Tom—“keep calm and still, and cn- deavor to compose your thoughts. I repeat that you have nothing to be afraid of now.” The assuring words, and the gentle tones in which they were spoken, produced a due effect, andit was truly touching to observe the great efforts the little shild made to recover something like an ordinary amount of calm- ness, She grew bettex rapidly, and even, ventured to 1 ise herself upon one arm and look around her. As she did so, her eyed expanded in silent wonder, It was evident that never before had she been the in- mate of so strange a place. “Tell me,” she said, as, after looking well around, she eank back into her former position by the fire—“ oh, tell me where lem and what has happened ?” @see back in order that Maud might renlw. — ’ enter - _ — THE KNIGHT @F THE ROAD. 1648 ————— (AS rr wero “T can only tell you that you are with those who will keep you in perfect safety.” “My uncle!” The words were pronounced in evident fear, and accompatied by a fearful glance around the subterranean chamber. ‘Even he cannot find you here, and harm you.” “Oh, it is terrible,” the child said, with a shudder— ** 80 ee that I can searcely think it anything but a dream !’ “Tt is no dream,” said Maud; “but asad reality. But tell me—your name is Ruth, is it not 2?” “Ttis. But how could you know it” “T heard your uncle call you so.” “In the ruins ?” “ Yes.” sut he told me we were quite alone.” “He thought so, but was mistaken. We were concealed, and witnessed all.” Ruth began to weep and sob bitterly. ee was, in fact, beginning to comprehend her trues ition. **Oh, what shall Ido?” she moaned. become of me? Where shall I go?” “Do not trouble yourself about that,” answered Maud, quickly. “Forthe present you must remain here with us. When you feel better we will consider what is to be done in the future. If you could sleep now it would be so much better. Rely upon it we will guard you well, so do not be afraid to close your eyes in slumber.” Ruth listened dreamily. She was greatly exhausted mentally and physically, and no wonder, after all she had gone threugh. Moreover, the warmth of the place was enough to draw her into a slumber. It was not long, then, before her eyes closed and she became lost in the unconsciousness of sleep. For some time Maud and Tom King remained silent, fearful if they spoke that the sound of their voices should disturb her. “The night is going fast,” said Tom King. “Surely before long we shall hsar something of the absent ones.” Maud started, for she had become so deeply interested in the fate of the poer orphan that for a time the recol- lection of everything else was driven from her mind. “Yes,” she said, with an anxious sigh. ‘Let us hope they will return in safety.” “ T have little fear of that.” ‘But how surprised they will all be when they see this little stranger among us.” “They will. But what I chiefly hope is that the ostler will be ablo to follow that carriage to its destination. If he does so—-no matter at what personal risk to myself—I will take such steps as will unmask the uncle’s villany ! No doubt he now rejoices in the successful accomplish- ment of his heinous designs; but he shall be awakened from his state of false security!” ‘ He is a monster in human shape!” said Maud. ‘ None other could perpetrate such a deed. Look at her now, and ask yourself what kind of a wretch must the man be who would harm her!” “TJ feel with you, Maud” “ But think wiwta refinement of cruelty it was to work upon her feelings with such a specious tale as he did, and then doom her to a lingering death by starvation !” ‘That is where he made his great mistake, and, surely, Maud, if this little heiress»is restored to her rights by our instrumentality that will be a kind of set-off against our other deeds against society.” Maud, at these words, was abov’ to speak—te give utterance to a thought that had loag been topmost in her mind-—but she hesitated, and when she made up her mind again the oppertunity to speak was lost, for a faint tapping from without came upon thoir ears, ‘ “That is some one returned,” exclaimed Tom King, springing to his feet. ‘Remain here, Maud, and watch. I will soon bring you word who it is. For greater safety, the entrance to the subterranean apartment was always secured on the inner side wkeu occupied, so that no one could enter from without. “ Who is there ?”’ asked Tom. ' “Claude and myself,” was the reply. ‘“ But where ts the ostler? How is it there ia ne ome Oh tho watcm 2” “Oh, what will Gomicbooks (E(@)