Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 297: what you’re looking at

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

they did not find ~~ ance; but _-_—_—s secure the trap-door in ‘ts place. ad f ~ J. he ~ A + ee 7 c<> eet ye ae : Fo hae Ee ete Sane ox bo ee ne Ee ee AF 5 ee ae ? Sek a riety Kea} > "‘~_~>' nad already noted. On the opposite side, however, they vame to & crevice in the wall, that was protected by a door, «2% so far in as to be at first invisible. “Now, then, Jack,” cried Claude, “the lign’!” The door yielded to a touch. Orossing the threshold, the highwaymen fourd them- selves in another cavern, much smaller than the first, but stored up with a great number of small packages, duaht- less containing articles of value. = There was another door close at hand, leading into another cavern; but this was perfectly empty. “ Snug quarters, truly,” observed Jack, as they returned to the outer chamber, ‘‘and it is certainly too bad that they should be occupied by such a crew as hold pression of them.” ‘“‘ Have you seen enough ?” 3 s Yes,” was the reply, given %& y lingering tone, and with a reluctant glance around. “Then let us be going. Time is flying past; and this close atmosphere is disgusting to me.” Without waiting to hear what more his companion might have to say upon the subject, Claude led the way to the flight of steps. He ascended them as rapidly as he was able. Jack followed more slowly at his heels. The iron pin was withdrawn from the staple, the hasp removed, and Claude, with a sigh of satisfaction, was about to push the covering away, when, to his dismay, he heard a voice close to him exclaim: ‘‘ What the devil is the matter with the trap? It’s d—d odd that it should be fast. ‘There cannot be anyone below? I'll try again.” What was Olaude to do? It was too late to refasten the hasp and staple. More- over, if there had been time for him to doso it would have been of no avail—they would have been like rats in a trap. Jack overheard what was said, and luckily decided on the right course to adopt. | ¥ : Haven, Claude—down! Leave the door—vwe must ide !” Even while he uttered these words in a suppressed voice, yet quite loudly enough to reach his comrade’s ears, ke descended the steps with the utmest precipitation. Claude heard the individual above endeavoring to remove the trap. A kind of instinct made him follow in Jack’s feot- steps. The cavern was quickly reached, and then both gave a hasty glance around them in search of some place of concealment. But at first none presented itself. Footsteps were heard upon the stairs. ‘‘ Where shall we hide ?” asked Claude. ““T see no other place than this. Be quick, and all will yet be well |” Sixteen-String Jack, as he spoke, placed his hand upon a large barrel which was standing upon end in one corner. It had evidently served for a seat, and as there was a large bunghole at the side, it was quite clear that it was perfectly empty. . ‘‘Do you mean inside ?” « Yes.” “ But there is not room for two.” “There is another barrel yonder, of similar appear- ance. Quick—quick! If you stay to utter another word, we shall be lost!” About this there ovuld be no doubt, for the sound of a footstep could be heard just outside the covered Soor- way. Sixteen-String Jack at once crept into his hiding- place, and Claude, who had not yet recovered from his bewilderment, hastened to do the same. They were only justin time. | Scarcely had the barrels been setiled int something like their former position than the curtain was drawn aside with an impatient hand. It was rather strange, our two friends thought, that the man should have been so long in making his appear- the fact was that he had stopped to carefully THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. within it anything more than they 1668 ''he delay was must fortunate for the highwaymen; without it they could not have escaped discovery. Upon entering, this man paused and stood near the threshold. ‘ The two highwaymen were able tc observe his move- ments with ease and precision by placing their eyes close to the bungholes, which, as we have said, were in the sides of the barrels. y The new-comer looked about him for some moments with a suspicious air. But the quietude of the place appeared to reassure him. He passed his hands once ee s#ice before his eyes. Then spoke. “Tt’s d—d odd!” he said; “but I could have sworn that when I tried the first time the trap-door was fast- ened. And yet it could not have been, for it yielded easily the next time I tried. I must have baietcal My brain feels strange and dizzy. I have not had enough— certainly not enough. I want more brandy to steady my ngves.” From off a small shelf at one side of the cavern the man took a bottle, which without a moment’s hesitation he placed to his lips. A loud gurgling sound followed, and from the length of time which this continued it was evident that a great quantity was imbibed. “Ah!” he ejaculated, “I feel better now; and yet if I did not know that was the best spirit to be had, I should declare it to be no better than water. Bah! but I am better—much better !” Claude and Jack had thought it strange that the man’s suspicions about the fastened door had very quickly been allayed; but now it was accounted for by the fact that he was some distance gone in intoxication, yet not so far as to prevent him knowing what he was about, or to incapacitate him for action. : CHAPTER MIIL THE TWO HIGS*YAYMEN ARE WITNESSES OF SOME VER} SINuULAR SCENES BENEATH THE EARTH’S SURFACE. To speak the honest truth, Sixteen-String Jack, now that he found himself ensconced in a comfortable hiding-place, felt rather pleased than otherwise with the turn affairs had taken. Although his attention was fully occupied in watching all the movements of the man, yet each moment he recovered more and more his usual self-possession. With something like sensations of perfect composure, he noted that this man had nothing peculiar enough ir his dress to make him conspicuous among his fellow- creatures. As to his countenance, that was about as hideous and repulsive as @ countenance well could be and yet reserve some traits of humanity about it. Jack anxiously wondered who he could be, and what was the errand that had brought him back there alone. Beyond all doubt, patience and. the progress of time would give a satisfactory answer to these questions. “ Now, to complete my work,” the man muttered, “I have got rid of them all; and what is more, without exciting any suspicions against myself. But I must make the best use of my time. It is lucky that I have so little left to do.” With these words on his lips, the man opened the door communicating with the cavern where our friends had noticed so many articles stored up. : ; Making use of the utmost expedition, this man rapidly carried out the various packages, and stored them in the contiguous chamber that had been so recently explored by the highwaymen. » This labor he continued for a great length of time, so long that the two watchers grew tired of observing him. There was one discovery, however, which both made, and almost at the same moment. This was that this man was no other than the one who had assumed the manner of a leader among those outside, and who had uttered his commands in so peremptory @ voice. It was strange that he should be there alone, and under circumstances of so much mystery. One inforence could only be drawn, which was, that he EORMIE DOO KS, (E00)