Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 306: what you’re looking at

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

BLACK BESS; = eel berm. Farewell] for a brief space, and, while I am away console yourself with the thought that you are perhaps mech nearer to the realisation of your great hope than you imagine. Once more, farewell!” As he uttered this last word, Dick Turpin rode seme- what hastily away. for he was afraid to trast himself te lincer longer. Maud, with e faint, ,#DIng cry, sank back and leaned egainst the ruins for support. It was only with the greatest difficulty, and by the exercise of the greatest possible amount of self-control, that she prevented herself from “fainting. What helped her, however, perhaps more than any- thing else to retain possession of her senses was the strong desire she felt to watch as jong as she was able the retreating forms of her husband and his com- panions Pressing her hand, then, tightly upon ker hea:t, anc leaning against the crumbling walls, she watched them until a projection of the stonework hid them from her sight. ‘Dick did not trust himself to look back, but pushed on ata pace almost too rapid forthe exercise of due cau- tion. London lay between the highwaymen and their avsti- nation, but they carefully avoided the metropolis. This necessitated a very considerable detour, but then there was not so much fear that they would encounter any band of police officers, and, moreover, they were able to put their horses to good speed. Dick’s intention was to ride direct to Greenwich with all possible speed; then, upon his arrival there, to work his way back towards London, until they could either obtain the information they required, or else take up their position in a favorable spot. Owing to the unfrequented routes they were careful to take, they succeeded in reaching Greenwich without en- countering any interruption whatever. They paused outside the town, and just then a church clock began to strike. By counting the strokes they found the hour to be ten ‘‘We have plenty of time before us,” Dick remarked, “but we must 2 careful what we do. It is quite certain that we are here first, and all we have to do is to go quietly towards London. We shall then be certain of meeting with the van. Accordingly, keeping in twos and at some distance apart, so as not to appear all in one company, which might have attracted suspicion, they journeyed at an easy rate along the high-road. By the hour of eleven they found themselves some six or seven miles distant, and close to an inn that was very pleasantly shaded by some tall trees of luxuriant foliage. “This is the place to gain the information we require,” said Dick. “But you must conduct your questionings e“re- fully.” F “Oh, of course! We will just pause herd fez ame few moments, but not dismount.” To this Tom King assented, at the same time making a sign to his comrades behind to ride on without taking the least notice of them. It was a bold step for Dick to take, but then he had borne in mind the fact that he was now in a part of the country which he had never before visited, and where, consequently, there waa.not much fear that he would be recognised. ‘‘ House—house!” he cried, in a loud voice; wal, to his sroise, > notige was taken of his summons tie repeated it, with no better effect. “One would thins, Tor, that all the peop. had gone to bed, only it is scarcely likely they would do so and leave the house open and !lighied up in this fashion.” “Tt is odd,” said ‘fom. “id will call; perhaps. my voice may reacb further than youra.” Tom called accordingly, but all remained az silem' as before. This was more than strange. The inn had a remarkably quiet look, as thoug).; as a rule, bit littlo “rade was done at it; and if the present was asample of the amount of aiteation they paid to callers, want of business was not to be wondered at. rr cr Ee (EE gee CEE AU TE ee ea eee erence >_> Our two friends waited for several moments in pe- tience, but with no better success than at fizs$, ‘‘ This is about the oddest thing that ever happened to me,” said Dick. “It seems to me we shall gat no good by waiting here,” rejoined his comrade. “Tt does indeed; but still my auriosity is excited by such an unusual circumstance. Let us adght for e moment, and ascertain, if we can, what it means.” Nothing loth, Tom Bing 1a. ‘29 saddle. The two horses were then secured to a couple of rings fixed in the trough for that purpose, and then the two highwaymen boldly crossed the threshold of tke inn. The first room they came to was illuminated by the blaze of a cheerful fire, but a zlance served to show them that it was vacant. Wondering more and more, the two friends strode on. Suddenly Both paused, for a strange and muffled noise had just then assailed their ears. After listening for a moment they ascertained its character. Some person or persons were sobbing and sighing at a great rate, as though suffering an extremity of woe. Guided by the sounds, they pressed onwards, and presently paused at a door that was slightly ajar. It was evidently from the room beyond that the sounds of sorrow came. Dick gently pushed the door open about an inch wider, and peeped jn. His eyes then fell upon a most sorrow-stricken group. Seated in a most dejected attitude by tho fireside was a man. Dick could not see his features, for his face was turned towards the fireplace. Next to him sat a woman, who, though of middle age, yet preserved in a remarkable degree an appearance of youthfulness. . Her face Dick could see, and as he gazed upon it, he felt that he should not forget it for many a day. The expression it wore was one of stolid, soul-chilling despair. It was as though all hope had been frozen in her bosom. Near her was @ young giri, whose face was buried in her hands. But glistening tears forced their way through hsr fingers, while her sobs were truly heart-rending to listen to. A man, attired half like a waiting man, half like at ostler, was sitting on one corner of a table, dangling his legs to and fro, and Keeping his eyes resolutely fixed upon the floor. There seemed to be several others in the room, but these were all that could be seen distinctly through the narrew crevice of the door. For a moment or so, Dick hesitated. He was in doubt whether he should retire quietly, leaving the peopl@at the inn altogether ignorant of his visit, or whether he should make his presence known. It almost seemed a3 though their grief was of too deep and sacred a character to be intruded upon by- strangers. It was evident that it utterly absorbed their faculties, rendering them quite oblivious of all that was taking place arsund them. But ix was the very intensity of this grief which made Dick Terpin aesitate. He was full of curiosity to Bnow what species of calamity it could have been to have wrought such great exects. > His inclination was strong to enter, and most assuredly he would have done so had be had the slightest inkling that he could have been of any service to them, orif he thought he could in any way assuage and mitigate their great grief. | With a sudden effort, ke arrived st @ decision Pushing open the doar s:mewhat suddenly, he strode into the room. The noise mtde bv his ..rance caused ‘he different members of the group to book up. But when Dick encountered so many tearful visage and saw so many stony eyes turned upon him, he wish But it was now too late tose sie) “S he had decided differently. Gbooks. co