Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 279: what you’re looking at

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

_ ward! - that. a Enough.” “You cleary anderstand, and unhesitatingly ayres to the terms ?” ‘ST do,” Then no mor ased be said. Let us bo off at once. [ am ready whe..cver you are.” Dick's confidence made the stranger somewhat uneasy ; but he strove to calm his mind by thiuking thet it waa more brageadocio on Dick’s part than aught else, “How shall we arrange to start at the same mo- ment ?” ‘“*Hasily. You see the moon yonder ? It is just emerging from behind that dark cloud. When it perfectly breaks forth make you start.” “ Acreed!” said the stranger again. He slightly shifted his position as he spoke, so as to be just abreast of the highwayman. They had not to wait long before making the start. The moon came completely out from behind the cloud which had for so long obscured her radiance. The very instant that the whole of her silvery disc was exposed, the stranger cried: 4 “Off now and away !” At the same moment he gave his horse so vicious a dig with the spurs that the animal cleared a tremendous distance at one bound, and then went tearing along at a speed which could only be characterised as terrific. But Dick adopted no such violent means. Simply dropping the reins upon the neck of Black Bess as he was in the habit of doing, he cried: “Now, old lass—forward—forward! Let us see what you can do to-uight! I have staked my life on your powers, old girl—don’t forget that! Forward, now—for- That is it!” It was truly beautiful now to see the manner in which Biack Bess covered the ground. Her gallop just resembled that of the greyhound—being composed of long, swinging, graceful bounds. But the horse upon which the stranger so prided him- self was of no every-day kind. . The start that it gatned at the first it preserved well, and Dick found before he had gone far that Black Bess would have to tax herself to the utmost-to beat him. The stranger pressed his hat tightly on. his head, and from time to time looked back behind him with the greatest exultation. But Dick took if very easy, making no further effort to increase his mare’s speed—in fact, he had hit upon a capital mode of proceeding. About her competency to outstrip the horse in front he had not the least doubt. He had tried her too often for It is true he recollected how well Sir George’s horse had kept behind him on a former occasion; but ‘then Black Bess was wounded and weak from loss of blood, while now she was in the best possibie condi- tion. Going at the furious pace they did, it was uot long be- fore Ealing came into view. At this time the two horsemen were almost level with each other. But there was this difference to be noted between them. The stranger was spurring his horse at every step, and making the most frantic efforts to urge him onwards at a more rapid rate. Dick, on the contrary, was sitting quite at ease, letting Black Bess have all her own way. It was not until within a quarter of & mile from Haling that he made the least effort. Then all he did was to say: “Sir, you have lost your race." } That was all that reached the strange. eara, for at the very moment that he pronounced the words Dick slackened the reins still more, and gave utterance to that strange sound so well comprehended by Black Besa, and which meant that she was to put forth her very utmrt powers. She responded right gallantly, for she dashed past the bay horse like an arrow, and at 2ach stroke of her huofs the distance could be seen to increase Letween them. Although he must have seen that it was totally impos- sible for his horse to win, the stranger was so exasperated at his defeat that he continued to goad the poor creature in 3 most fearful manner, ~ THE ENIGHT OF THE ROAD. ~~ TT AS 165] — _~ Dick drew up with some suddenness in front of the Horns. “Bravo, Bess!’’ he cried, exultantly. “I knew you would not fail me. Bravo, old lass, you have belived yourself right gallantly and well! Ah, here ho coines!” ‘hese words were called forth by the clatter of hoofs, for oe stranger came thundoring along like a whirl- wind. He pulled up, however, a moment aftcr in front of the inn, where Dick was waiting for him so calmly. The stranger’s horse was covered from head to foot with white foam, and now that it had been brought to a stand- still it trembled in every limb. Black Bess, on the other hand, though breathing rapidly, showed no other sign of distress. Her flanks were a little wet, but nothing more, “T told you you would lose,” said Dick; “bat I hepo yvu are satisfied that all was quite fair ?” The stranger was silent. “ Don’t be disappointed, man,” cried Dick. ‘it is no disgrace to your horse that he has been outrun by Black Bess. When I staked my life you might have guessed what would have been the result. Don’t think any the less of your horse either for this defeat, for I question much whether there is another that could have done to- night what be has done.” ‘‘ fe is beaten,” said the stranger, ‘‘that is enough. He has now lost all value in my eyes.” ‘* Nay—say not so.” ‘‘T do say it, because I prided myself upon possessing the fleetest horse in England.” ‘And I repeat that it is no depreciation to him that he has been outrun by Black Bess.” But the traveller would not look at it in this light. Attracted by the noise made by their arrival, several persons sallied forth from the ins, which was only waiting for the stage-coach to pass by to be closed for the night. Among these were the landlord and ostler. The latter came close to Dick, who beckoned him to ap- proach still nearer. Then, in a low voice, he said: “ Be quick. I want you to bring mea quart of orandy ---the best, mind—in a stable bucket.” The ostler opened his eyes in amazement. “A quart of brandy in a bucket?” he ejacuiated “VYes—make haste! The sooner you are back the sooner you will see what I intend to do with it.” Struck probably by the force of this remark, the csiler hurried away. ‘‘ Now, sir,” said Dick, addressing himself to the stranger, “let us settle our little affair before we go any further. I cannot spare any more time, I assure you.” For his honor’s sake, the stranger could not refuse com- pliance with this request. But, nevertheless, it was with the very worst possible grace in the world that he thrust his hand into his pockets and produced—first a purse, then a pocket- book, then a watch, and lastly some rings from his fingers, and jewellery from various parts of his apparel. This operation occupied some little time, however, and while he was thus engaged the ostler made his ap- pearance, carrying a bucket in one hand and a quart measure in the other. “You are sure you want the brandy in this here bucket 2” “ Yes—pour itin. Be quick, and then fill it up with water.” The ostler obeyed, indulging the while fa vague specu- lations as to whether the gentleman was going to drink a bucketful of brandy and water fcr a wager. ‘Here it is sir,” he said, as soon as he had added ths water. “ Just give it my mare, then.” Tke ostler’s astonishment reached its culminating ofnt. ‘drandy-and-water to a horse! such a thing. But Black Bess, knowing full well that the compound wus intended for her, began drinking away at it at a rate that left no room for doubting whether she liked it or nol. {t was just as Black Bess drainod the lest drop, that the ranger said ; Ho had never heard of a et ee ee eee CE TT roe 6 OF eee ee me i ee, A tt et en 3 —_— Lc ne CO EORNICLOOKS (C (E@)