Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

~ ge co Nevertheless, they were not permitted to rest until a: ‘hey had given an account of their adventures, _ Dick Turpin listened to the whole recital with great _ taterest, and so did Maud. _____* Have you any idea,” asked the former, “ what might be the actual amovet of wealth contained & ie cavern?” «TJ have not.” replfed Jack; “it is, however, “fF con- siderable amount, though, if it was twice as much, I -- question whether Claude would descend to fetch it.” . ‘Is then, the sight so very horrible?” asked Maud, speaking with considerable hesitation. f ' eS | i 7 a t+. ‘Tt is indeed,” answered Jack, with a shudder. Maud looked deeply disappointed. ih “At any rate,” said Dick, ‘should we ever be badly fn need of asum of money, and not know where to ob- tain it, there would at least be that resource to fly UO 4 ; “ Beyond all doubt there would.” F . Hearing these words, Maud’s countenance brightened * % 5 In. | The reason why she grasped so eagerly at the idea of taking possession of this wealth was that during the had made use of every argument she could think of to in- | duce him to abandon his present mode of life. — - Dick loved Maud too tenderly and truly to listen un- moved to her entreaties, yet he knew not hew to comply with them. At last he was induced to promise that, should he ever be able to amass a sufficient sum of money to keep them __ ebove want, ke would, without delay, seek out a place in -gome foreign land where he was unknown, and live there @ life of peacefulness and rest. Oh, how glad this promise made the heart of Maud ! _ forshe could at last see something like a definite prospect _ of her husband quitting his perilous career. How this account of Sixteen-String Jack’s coming so close upon the promise naturally filled her with excite- ment! . : As for Dick himself, he felt inclined to look upon the matter in a light more serious than he had hitherto done. It was with a keen pang at his heart that he reflected how truly fearful would be Maud’s career should he by any means be deprived of life. It is true that so far he had with impunity braved almost every danger; but yet atime might come when his good fortune would desert him. At any night, upon one of his excursions, a bullet might lay him low. Then, deprived of his support, what was Mand to do? It is easy to understand how well calculated to induce serious feelings these thoughts were. Yet, with admirable self-possession, he contrived to _ keep them locked up in his breast, though he could not help dwelling mentally upon the account which his two - comrades had given him. © ; _ There are moments in our lives whon al! seems dark and dull—when favourite and eagerly-followed pursuits lose all their charm—when a kind of desponilency weighs upon the spirits, and when we long for some great change to take place in our lives. It was thus, to a certain extent, with Dick Turpin at this moment. _ A longing for something like repose vuame over his _ mind—a desire for some sort of respite from his adven- turous course. The prospect of a peacctul, happy home with Maud, in some fair clime, where summer always reigns, gud where he would have nought to fear from his f#ier- __ creatures, seemed most enticing, and just then he iu.ged - ardently for its realisation. : He believed that could this dream only: become geality ___ he should be happy and content. | At is very questionable, however, whether sucb would ___ nave been the case for long. ae After a time, in all probability the desire would return with redoubled force for adventure sud excitement. Whether this was ever destined to be the case, the ___ course of events only can disclose. [huring that day nothing occurred important oncugh to __-—- Aeverve recordation. i bt erry Pe a Se, A eo a) iy ‘ * t = re aden e a » a 4 o% ty A> ay PP a Eo apa OG ae aR Nae Aree a SETI GA Sanat y THE KNIGHT OF THB ROAD. .{ to rur into a very serious danger perha in which they were about to engage would prove fata! te - _ night Dick and herself had passed alone in the ruins she |. ! bof 6% tan ong * A™a ed al tt de ie ay . - 4s hee 1677 gave themselves up to a careful consideration of the en- terprise that lay before them. fs Despite its risks, they were fully resolved.t@ undertake it. Still they consulted carefully together, for, deasite their resolution, they could not but feel that they wea about the coriivi one or more of them. It is not necessary to place their deliberations before the reader. Events will soon show their nature. Eivery preparation was made Maud wept bitterly. She dreaded to see Dick depart on an errand fraught with go much peril. Most earnestly did she entreat him to allow her to ac- company them. Over and over again she assured him eae would not be in the way—that she would be brave, and that the expe- dition would be shorn of half its dangers. But Dick felt it impossible to accede to her request, though it pained him much to deny her. He felt that Maud's presence at such a time would be the very thing that would unnerve him. He would be concerned and abstracted all the while, on account of her safety, whereas, by leaving her at the ruins, this anxiety was avoided. But to Maud there was something inexpressibly dread- ie remaining for so long a period in the ruins by her- self. She soon found, however, that Dick was determined, and that it would be utter futility to attempt to persuade him to change his resolution. But it was with a heavy heart, and with many fore- bodings of coming danger, that she resigned herself to her dreary fate. What caused the highwaymen the most consultation and the greatest uneasiness was the doubt they experi- enced as to whether the van would start in the morning or at night. In the former case their destination would be reached before midday, in the latter, before midnight. It was as likely to be the one as the other. If the first, the hazard of making the attack would be so great that one would think no sane men would ven- ture it. But Dick and his comrades were not ordinary mortals, and therefore unswayed by ordinary considerations. It was finally thus determined by Dick Turpin: ‘We will make sure both ways,” he cried, ‘and we will contrive to do it in this way: On the night of the 20th—that is the night next following—we will set out for our destination.” “That is very soon,” observed Maud, timidly- ‘‘ Not a moment too soon,” replied Dick, with decision “In case the van should start at nine in the morning we shall be there in readiness to intercept it. If at night, so much the better. It will be an easy matter for us to con- ceal ourselves until the proper moment arrives.” It was felt at once that no better arrangement than this could possibly be made, and it was decided mpon without the least hesitatéon. So great was the suspense and impatience of all con» cerned, that the time seemed as though it would never pass away. At the appointed hour, however, the shades of evening began to close in, and the ruined castle at once assumed an aspect of bustle and excitement. So soon as ever it was dark enough to make it safe, the bighwaymen mounted in readiness to depart. Maud clung tightly to Dick, and seemed as though it would be a total impossibility for her tc part with him. Gently but firmly, however, Dick released himse# trom her close embrace. As he did so, he said: ‘Be brave, Maud—be of good heart! Believe me ahi will yet be well. Do not suffer greater apprehensions on my account than you can help; and above all things do not on any account be induced even for @ moment to leave the protecting shadow of the ruins. I leave you with one whose fidelity has been well tried, and Ido not feel afraid but that he will protect and save you from al (COMME NOOO KS (€(@)