Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

IGE6 (a_i me 8 tee « Nevertheless,” answered Jack, “it would be best not to make too sure” “ Decidedly.” ‘Then let us penetrate still further into the wood. We shall not be so exposed to the storm which I feel gure is about to break out, and we shall not be in s0 much danger of being seen by our foes.” 7 Claude turued round without a word, and led the way into the recesses of the wood with as much confidence as he would had they been thoroughly well known to him. The space between tke trees was narrow, so Jack had to follow at his heels. At last, having as they believed gone far enough to answer their purpose, Claude said : ‘‘ We will tether our horses here for awhile, Jack. It is a quiet, retired spot, and it will take them some time to recover from their late exertion.” ‘ And in the meantime we can shelter ourselves from the storm.” “ Just so.” The wind still blew with great fury among the tree- tops. but no rain fell. Suddenly Ciaude Duval gripped Sixteen-String Jack tightly by the arm as he said, in a low whisper, which the angry blast made almost inaudible: ‘ Look—look! What is the meaning of that? Do you see? Yonder—look—look! Surely they cannot ave tracked us so quickly and so well !” ‘* What—what ?” exclaimed -Sixteen-String Jack, who was slightly taken by surprise—“ oh, what is it ?” ‘There—there! Surely you see now ?” “That light ?” “Yes.” Sixteen-String Jack now observed that a faint light was at some distance glimmering through the trees. He gazed at it attentively, and so did Claude. To both the light appeared to flit about in a most ex- traordinary fashion. At one moment its light would seem to be absolutely brilliant—then the next moment it almost died away. - « What do you make of it, Claude?” asked Jack, at length. ‘J am unable to form any opinion. My firs: idea was that it proceeded froma lantern carried by some officer.” ‘No, no—I scarcely think it can be that.” “ Nor I now.” “Then you confess yourself puzzled” ido.” “T have only one idea about it, which is, that it must bs some will-o’-the-wisp. You have heard of that, have you not ?” Ce “Yes, and seen one; but this light seems altogether different.” “Tt is getting further and further away.” “Tt has that appearance.” © T am sure of it.” “Shall we follow it?” “If you like—we have nothing else bettey to occupy our time just at the present moment, and I Jook upon it as in some sort our duty to look closely into everyshing we cannot understand.” “ Decidedly.” t¢ Come on, then.* Yes—but be silent. There is no fear that we shall be overheard, still it is always wisest to remember to be cautious.” With these words the highwaymen crept forward with stealthy steps. In good truth this seemed like a superfluous amount of caution, for the wind was, if possible, blowing with greater violence than before, and the noise that it created among the tree tops was sufficient to drown completely every other sound. , Sixteen-String Jack happened to be first as they stood, and so he led the wey, his comrade keeping lose upon his heels, for the way between the trees was not wide enouch to allow two to pass. The mysterious light—for it had good claims ta this | designation—-continued to flit about in a very remarkable and ecceatric manner. Sometimes it would cisappear altogether. When tne next moment tizey would see it abini’ g some distance off. BUACKE BES2: oe + LL I As they pushed still deeper and deeper into the recesses of the wood the curiosity of the highwaymen in- creased. Nees Suddenly the wind droppex. ~ At this instant a scud of rat:., shat actually seemed to have been held in suspension by the gale, fell with great violence to the earth. [t lasted only for about a couple of seconds—then the wind, as it rested by its short lull, began to blow more furiously than ever. It so happened that the countenances of the two high- waymen were turned in such a direction that the mass of rain dashed upon them, and such was the suddenness of it that for a moment or so they were half blinded. The effect was as though a quantity of sea spray had been da shed into their faces. But when they had succeeded in removing the moisture from their eyes and took another glance around them, the light was nowhere to be seen. At first this occasioned them but slight surprise, and they continued to gaze around, expecting to see it start out again in some fresh quarter, ™ But they were disappointed. They waited for what seemed to be a long and weary time; but they perceived no signs of the light, ‘‘ How vexatious!” cried Sixteen-String Jack. ‘Tt has gone now for certain,” replied Claude. begin to think it was a will-o’-the-wisp after all.” ‘‘Can you form any precise idea of the spot where it disappeared ?” “J think so.” “Then let us push on. Perhaps when we reach there we may be able to make some fresh discovery. It galls me to be baffled thus!” Accordingly they advanced. Before they had gone very many paces they found themselves in a small open spot that was not more than ten or twelve feet in diameter. It was thickly surrounded by trees, which cast a deep gloom upon it. “A strange place,” remarked Vlaude, as he glanced around. | “Yes, and, if I am not very much mistaken, this is just where the light vanished.” “But where can it have gone ?” ‘‘T know no better than yourself.” “ Hilloal Why, there it is! Look! it?” ' Yes—quite plainly.” ‘Then follow it.” The light had indeed most strangely reappeared among the trees. e, The highwaymen quickly quitted the enclosure; but before going many paces Claude stopped. “Why do you halt ?” asked his companion. “Why, look! Can’t you see the light is actually ap- proaching us?” A second glance satisfied Sixteen-String Jack that thig was indeed the case. “That is very odd,” he ejaculated. know now the solution of the mystery.” ‘‘ Tt seems like it.” The light most unquestionably advanced, and it was apparent thatit burnt more steadily than before, although it occasionally vanished and reappeared ; but this might be caused by the interposition of one of the thick-trunked trees. “Stand back,” said Claude. “The light is manifestly coming nearer. If we conceal ourselves here, we may watch it closely as it passes by.” ‘A good thought,” replied Jack, as he at once con- cealed himself among the dense vegetation. Both now bent the whole of their attention upon the approaching light. After looking at it very steadily for some time, during which it came closer and closer, Sixteen-String Jack whispered: ‘As I live, Claude, I do believe that it is some one carry- ing a lantern, after all.” “ T should think so but for the odd, fantastic manner in which it has flitted about. What on earth object could anyone have in turning and winding about among the trees at this hour?” “Tt ia very strange.” sj Can you see ‘We shall soon (EO) MIG Ss) JOOKS'.EO