Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

~ » > Te . ’ ‘ 4% , ° . si fy > ce 7 > —“FIiOLo te a _abrief pause had taken place. hg th ee Pe 7 - } to* ey" < fy iY 4 = 5 Sai a ~ 4 , ve - a ts if, ee tee ee Ho ‘tise ie yt PON ot a .. ie ig Be ae aint » er . ea, WS coy im — me ~ - of ey ee ; _ co. ae ar oe * ma <i wae a! Y. Bs yy ine mys % what I may be tempted to do!” You mean-spirited wretches, aa martial address was, however, provocative,st asic ect. " Either the male travellers were sadly defivient in courage, or else they felt that they did not carry about with them enough of this world’s wealth to make it worth their while to run any great risk in ordex to retain it. “Very good!” responded Claude, in a Jeep voice, after “The lady speaks well. Just be good enough to let me know whether you intend to deliver up quietly what you have, or whether you in- tend to fight it out—I shall know then what to do.” OHAPTER HM. CONTINUES TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CLAUDE DUVAL AND SIXTEEN-STRING JACK. THE travellers quickly came to a decision. The hat was once more passed round. By this time Claude’s eyes had become much more familiar with the dim light which pervaded the interior of the waggon. At first the obscurity was so great that he could scarcely distinguish the outlines of the people. Now he could see them quite plainly, and, moreover, was able to make out all that they did. The contributions cast into the hat were now of a much more valuable nature than before. Every time a fresh object was dropped in, Slaxde nodded his head approvingly. Presently the hat was placed in the hands of one who immediately attracted Claude’s notice. This was a young girl, upon whose thin and pallid features the marks of premature old age could be escried. | She was attired in deep black, which made the _ ghastliness of her countenance seem more apparent. By the peculiar cap she wore, she was proclaimed a widow. She gazed at the hat for a moment, as Claude thouchi, with tearful eyes; then, with an audible sigh, she pro- duced from a little reticule she carried a small bead purse. There was another moment of hesitation—another deep sigh, and the little purse was dropped into the hat, which was passed on to the next passenger. When it again reached Claude’s bands, he found the weight very much increased—indeed, the booty was quite as much as he could have hoped to obtain from such a source. , To be sure, if he had searched the travellers one by one the booty would have been increased, but then Claude Duval infinitely preferred his present mode of managing the affair. . Emptying all the valuables into his capacious pockets, he made ang.her bow, and said: “Ladies aad gentlemea, I have the honor ats®.the pleasure of wishing youa very good-night.” “ Hark ye {” said the man who sat nearest to Olaude. “ You have carried things off with a very high hand, and doubtless you are mightily satisfied with what you have done; but let me tell you I have in the meantime had a very good look at your face all this time. Your features are so imprinted upon my memoiy that I shall never tor- get them, and no matter when or where I see you agaiz, I shall know you. And what is more, should you ever be captured, as no doubt you will be, I will make my way to the court and swear this little job on to you, which will be quite sufficient to insure you.a hempen colle« xt Tyburn.” “Thank you!” said Claude; quite calmly, thovgh inwardly he could not help feeling a good deal of annoy- ance— ‘I am much obliged to you for your candor, and ran. . “ey Sag ate AF Rae 4 af VF ent? 4 3 : GHT .OF THE ROAD. eS ee! se od elf to utter any threats or resort to any | you again ee Ne eee ‘4 —— 1663 (nce more, good-night, ladies and gentle- sasures; but, unless I ain treated betters J can- | men!” The last words particularly were pronouzced with a ~~ * Oh, you paltry villains!” cried the lady wite the , moat unrufiled demeanor. shrill voice. “‘ How I wish I was a man, that { might give you an example of what a man’s conduct ought to bein an affair like this! either give up what you have and let us go on cur way in quiet, or else stand =y for your own, and fight & out like men !” ‘At the same moment, he turned his horse’s head and tue away. Perceiving this 1sovement, Sixteen-String Jack dis- continued the guard ke had beer ‘Qoviug ever the wag goner. asor* vrive on,” he said, ‘‘ and be quick !” The waggoner smacked his whip; but before hia meavy team had fairly got the cumbersome velhicis in motion again, the two highwaymen were a long way off down the lane. “Tit be hanged, Claude,” exclaimed Sixteen-Siring Jack, ‘‘if I did not think you never meant to bring that adventure to @ conclusion! What on earth were you about to be so long? I shall expect to see a capital booty.” “You will have little to grumble at on that score, my friend. But the incident altogether was such a comical one, owing to the number of odd people who rode in the waggon, that I could not forbear lingering over it.” “7 heard a great deal that passed, and could not help laughing heartily myself.” ‘You ought to have seen as well as heard,” replied Claude, laughing at the bare recoliection; but suddenly the sounds of merriment died out, and his countenan‘te assumed an unusually grave appearance, ks At the same time, very much to the surprise of his comrade, he reined-in his steed. ~ Sixteen-String Jack of course did likewise. Then, in a voice the tones of which well expressed his wonder, he exclaimed : 3 “ What on earth is it, Claude—what is the matter ?” “T did not tell you, Jack,” was the slow reply—‘“ I dia not tell you there was one seated in the waggon with the rest, whose years were little more than those of girlhood, who was attired in widow’s weeds. Her face was palc and deeply marked with careworn lines.” _ “ Well,” said Jack, interrupting him and speaking some- what impatiently, ‘“ what of her ?” “Why,” said Claude, huskily, for the saddened face rose up vividly in his mind, “‘she seemed half dead with fright ; and when the hat was handed to her she dropped a little bead purse into it, and as she did so she gave a heavy sigh. I do believe, Jack, that was all the wealth that she possessed.” ‘Why did you take it?” “] know not; but now I bitterly reproach myself for having done so. Poor thing! I'll warrant she has had trouble enough already, without any of my causing.” ‘Never mind, Claude. Oome on—it is past and done for.” ‘No, no, Jack, [ feel that 1 cannot come on.” ““ Not come on ?” “No. Although I have taken the poor widow's ali, it is not too late to make restitution.” ‘Restitution ?” repeated Jack. “ Do not think of anj- thing so foolish.” ‘** Foolish or not, “Think of the risk! time perhaps F “Jack, it is quite in vain for you to urge any such con- siderations; I cannot—will not listen tothem. Risk o1 no risk, that purse shall be returned.” He thrust his hand into his pocket while he spoke. ‘“¢ Think again !” “ Never, for fear I might change the resolution I have come to, and which I feel to be aright one. If you do not like to accompany me in my return you need not. Stay where you are until I return.” it ‘Nay, Claude, I can tell now that you are offended. “No, but if you do not like to come——" “Where you go i go too; if I did not, { should be x worthy of your comradeship.” “ That sounds more like yourself, Jack. Come on!” As he pronounced these last words Claude Duval turned I mean to take back her little purse.” We got off safely, but by thie his horse’s head in the opposite direction and rode swiftly after the waggon. At the rate he went, it was clear he would not be lonp in overtaking it. On the way vo farther words were exchanged, aj;nougt - “when 1 am captured, I hope to have the pleasure of seving ; Uizteen-Stricg Jack kept breast to breast with him. (eo) 0)(0 0) (G SA(Ele) : - TER ttt Oe TF ele: CAS AS ie awe Mecaind Ee y Pe Pee SRE ty CARE Ree TIS ee a SFT ar eam Oe tea ie fo “~ F - AY IS a Me DAES aT ws ae) ’ “ t 3 > 7* ee ~~ : be . ey. oF at atx Ao, ; : vay ee Ss , re [Fas af . Phy ny OS *.! <s