Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

1676 As they passed the angle of the inn from where the landlord had appeared, the highwaymen caught sight of the horses belonging to the officers, which were standing with their heads turned to the wall, and eating away at @ great rata. ‘‘ What a narrow escape !” cried Jack. “'Yes—yes! But pash on—push on! We must get clear of them at once, or we shall take them too {2sar the castle.” Jack felt this, and spurred his horse hard. For one thing, they had obtained a good start, for as yet their enemies had not begun the chase, Jack glanced back again, and as he did so he uttered a loud laugh, for a most amusing spectacle met his gaze. Claude turned round and laughed heartily as well. Still they did not linger, and the next moment A curve in the road hid the inn from tbeir sight. : Ne explain what Jack saw, it is necessary to go back a ittle. These officers, then, were no others than those who had made such strenuous efforts to overtake the highwaymen on the preceding night. They had kept up the chase ever since, but fruitlessly, for they were clover enough to get altogether upon a false scent. Worn out at last with fatigue, they all pulled up at the inn where our two friends chanced to pause. In default of stable room, the horses were placed at the side of the house, where they were tolerably well sheltered from the cold. The officers went inside. This was about half an hour previous to the arrival of Claude and Jack. When the landlord entered for the purpose of obtaining the tankard of ale Claude had asked for, he remarked that two travellers had arrived outside, and were in too great a hurry +» enter. This communication caused a couple of the officers to start up and look through the window. They recognised the highwaymen at the very first glance, and rushed out pell-mell. 2 They made a frantic dash for their horses, shouting and swearing all the time at the very top of their voices. In order to allow the animals to eat more at ease, the landlord had taken upon himself to remove the bits from their mouths and also to loosen their saddle-girths The first delay occurred in replacing the bits. This done, the officers went in hot haste to mount. But the moment they put foot in the stirrup and sprang up, ae weight of their bodies caused the saddles to turn round. Down went the officers on their backs in a moment. As they lay sprawting about under their horses, they did indeed present a most ludicrous spectacle. No wonder Jack and Claude laughed so heartily. The officers, however, failed to see the most @isiaat semblance of a joke in the incident. Covered with mud from head to foot, and suffering some little pain from the bruises they had sustained, they struggled to their feet, pouring out, as they did so, the most awiul imprecations that can be imagined. But it was against the landlord that their wrath was directed, for beyond doubt he was the cause—though an innocent one—of the mischief. Animated by a spirit of revenge, which for a time made them oblivious of all else, they made a simultaneous rush upon the unfortunate man. He was seized in a moment. The officers’ fury was augmented by tts landlords de- meanor, for the accident had go tickled \*s fancy that, Instead of hastening to the assistance of hix guests, he had leaned up against the wall, and, with nis hands to his sides, had indulged in a tremendous bucst of laughter. he officers’ rage was redoubled. _“ To the horse-trough with him!” roared one. “D—n him—I'll let him know whether he is going to play off such tricks as these upon us with impunity! ‘This way —this way !” Never was cummand repre promptly obeyed. The landlord’s merriment subsided with amazing sud- Perens. 5 D vain ho assured them that it was no practical ioke Yaat he hed played upon them. 3 : —_— BLACK BESS; Ok. In vain he entreated them to have mercy upen him. The officers were completely deaf. In the hands of go many, the landlord was utterly powerless. His frantic struggles were ax sxabie to save him from his impending fate. The horse-trough was reached. By main strength tse unfortynale man was raised wad tossed into it. a Tkea, net content with give him this 1sy hath—for the moxu*ag was a bitterly cold one—some held him down, while others with hearty good will pled the handle of the pump which stood at one end of the horse- trough. ; Nor did they cease their discipline until compelled to do so, partly from exhaustion, and partly because reflec- tion returning reminded them that all this time they had been neglecting important business. Ceasing suddenly, then, their treatment of the land- lord, they hurried back to their horses. With many horrible curses they tightened the saddle- girths, and, having seen that all was secure, mounted. By this time the landlord recovered himself sufficiently to scramble out of the trough. He presented a deplorable spectacle. The water ran from him in streams, and as he walked he left a perfect brook behind him. He was breathless, yet he contrived to stammer out threats of vengeance. But the officers only laughed at him, which increased his incensement tenfold. “ Forward!” cried the police officer who was in com- mand of the rest—‘' forward, 1 say, or we shall be too late |” As he spoke, he clapped spurs to his horse’s sides. His example was followed by his companions, and away they went at full speed down the ead in the direc- tion the highwaymen bad taken. Bat a considerable delay had by this time taken place —so considerable that it enabled the highwaymen to obtain an excellent start. Although their prey was now out of sight, the officers pressed onwards. Their course, however, was taken completely at ren- dom. Yet it was not until daybreak that the chief officer ad- mitted that he had been utterly foiled. “It’s no use, my lads!” he cried. ‘*D—n that land- lord—it’s all his fault, though. But we'll be even with him one of these next days. It’s no good going on any further—not a bit. We must turn back. But, for alt that, I mean to have another try, whenever I get the chance.” So saying, the officer turned round, and the whole of the troop, looking very tired, very angry, and very crest- fallen, retraced their steps. In the meantime, Claude Duval and Sixteen-String Jack had improved this incident to the utmost. By pushing their horses to the utmost of their capacity at the first starting, they had managed to get quite out of sight of the officers. Then, gradually reducing their rate of speed, they changed their eourse again, and once more rode direct to- wards the place they wished to reach. a / CHAPTER MVi- THE FOUR HIGHWAYMEN DEPART ON THEIR PERILOUS EXPEDITION. Ir ¥-3 very close indeed upon daylight when Claude Duval and Sixteen-String Jack reached the ruins of the old castle. While approaching it, they had kept the most careful look-out, and felt satisfied that they bad gained the rendezvous unperceived. As they fully anticipate si found their companions anxiously awaiting and looking for their arrival. ‘‘Safe and sound, I see,” were Dick Turpin’s first words. “I had begun to grow anxious about your safety.” “ And no wonder,” said Olaude, as he alighted. ‘‘ Here Jack Ostler, take my horse; fam too weary to do any thing myself.” Sixteen-String Jack wae not loss futigued. Gomilcbooks (ele) s+ 9 ae *, HR