Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 323: what you’re looking at

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

~S sre? et. mlLAtss tut eee oa Fo . Sunt? ne 4 IS. 2a ¢ agi Oe uo beh 4S, See clr we parC eed ew oo) + i ayia’ ~ we ee oe : i , Sy 5 Lore : _ = 4 vy ge ~ y! Az ry 2. Ce raps 4 4 ~ ie 4 =" a a . oT Se y es URS <A. a “eae ; 4 p ¥ & pe 2 he a 7 me ye S et oe! ie Beli oe ok SS S 7 ! Hl: _ selves than you have yet done.” i - 5 Serer? ? > hs oe A Bs fan — A 5a y ‘ o'r) # : “ Me Pip ul het . * -> > ee. - * ae -_— <a sonring to aseaime calinness that he was far from feeling, “tet us have no more of this. At the least I consider you ought to give a more satisfactory account of your- “JT don’t know what more you can want. I can only ie say that you will find every word we have uttered per- ~ fectly true.” “Tell him,” said the other—‘ tell him all, or wo sha!! have no peace.” “ Well then,” sald the man, “since you must know, this property belongs—or rather did belong, for he’s dead now—to Lord Comynge. His daughter, a little girl, is now a ward in Chancery. Her uncle, who kas for some time been known as Lord Comyng», is accused of attempt- ing to murder his niece.” | “ Yes” said Bishop, interrupting him. “tf haves heard something of this before.” ‘‘ Perhaps you have heard all, in which case £ may as well save myself the trouble of talking as not.” **No—no. Go on, I beg.” . In the morning we are to make a thorough seat, . él over these ruins.” “ What for?” “ Ah, that’s just, what we don’t know.” “It seems like a matter in which police officers ought to be employed.” ‘*But you see,” replied the man, maliciously, ‘‘ the Lord Chancellor happens to be of a precisely opposite opinion.” : Bishop could make no reply to this hit, so he turned the conversation. With an affectation of great communicativeness he ex- claimed: ‘The reason why we are here is, that from informa- tion we have received, we believe Dick Turpin and his gang have been secreting themselves somewhere in this neighbourhood, and this ruined castle struck 1s as being the most likely place.” Upon hearing these words, the two mer oxchanged significant glances. : Bishop's eyes were keen enough to perce ve it, #2 be at once said : _“ You know something of this.” “ Well, it is notmuch, but from the look of the inside of the place I should say there have been several horses here for a length of time.” “ Are they here now ?” “No, and I don’t believe anyone else is, for we have had a good look around.” Bishop considered for some time in silence. At last he said: ‘Let me enter and have a look, I shall then be able to judge for myself.” With these words, Bishop and his companions followed the two men into the interior of the ruins. It needed only a glance to convince the police officers that horses had been there, and very lately. ‘“‘ We are on the scent at last,” he cried, in an exultant voice. ‘Do you know we have been quite at a loss where _ to look, although we have known them to be in hiding somewhere.” “But I rather think the scent is cold,” said the man aac. “T don’t believe they have left here yet,” »-ld Bishop, confidently. “Why not?” “‘ Because they would never quit such a place c: s2elter unless driven from it.” “Then you think they will return ?” ‘Undoubtedly. Depend upon it, they are cui non some expedition, and will return here towards ¢27- break. - ‘There isa good reward offered for their captura, Is there not ?” asked Isaac’s companion. ‘Yes, very good,” said Bishop. “And, if you like, we will share your watch in this place, and you shal! take an equal share of the reward with the rest.” “Providing we are successful ?” _ ‘Yes, of course; but I don’t feel very doubtta’ this _ “ Well, we agree,” replied Isaac, after « obrici wks conference with his companion : “Very well, then; we will gay that ts settied.” ? Yes, quite” - +) tO a ee J oes Mon? mC Oe) - THE KNIGHT OF THB ROAD. My take we ’ pee} = ri Veer) i ony his, . Lf a" Th “You say there is no one in the ruins but oer selves ?” ‘‘No one but ourselves, though, depend upon it, we have yet some discoveries to make.” : What is your meaning ?” ‘Why, you don’t suppose these fellows kept out of doors all the time, do you? No, no—rely upon it there is some chamber or such-like place where they could make ~ themselves tolerably comfortable.” ‘‘Of courses not,” said Bishop think of that.” “} wonder I did not “So do I,” said Isaac, in his usual sarcastic manner. ~ “* However, let us set about it.” he police officers were by no means loth to comply with this proposition. In one throng the whole party passed into the recesses of the ruins, and, after dispersing themselves, they after a brief search discovered the entrance to the subter- raneous chamber. Indeed, it is rather wonderful they did not make the discovery earlier, for, owing to the sudden manner it which the secret apartment had been left, the highway- men had omitted to close the entrance. They would scarcely have thought such a thing neces- sary, as Maud was about to return to it in a short time. The man who noticed the opening at once set up a loud shout, which had the immediate effect of assembling all the rest around him. The exultation of Bishop knew no bounds, and no doubt his delight would have manifested itself in some extravagant manner or other but for the sarcastic obser- vations of Isaac. After a brief consultation held round the entrance to the subterranean chamber, it was decided that they should descend and make a thorough exploration. Some little difficulty then arose as to who should be the one to lead the way. Bishop, for his own part, was inclined to take upa general's position—that is, keep in the rear, so as to be as much out of danger as possible, but it was insisted on all hands that no one was so fit to lead the van as him- self. The jeers of Isaac made him unwilling to refuse. It was, however, with no slight amount of reluctance thaf he began the descent of the steps. : He was by no means assured that the highwaymen hod all left the ruins, and he was haunted by the terrible dread that, if really absent, the highwaymen might have left behind them some contrivance for bringing down death and destruction upon the head of any intruder. lt was, therefors, with very slow and cautious steps that he advanced. Each moment, however, as he found no ill consequence ensue, his confidence increased. At length they fairly stood within thai little chamber wherein the highwaymen had passed so many hours in perfect security and freedom from interruption. Here abundant proofs of their recent presence manifested themselves to the lynx-like eyes of the officers. The result of their search convinced them thet the whole of the highwaymen were reatiy absent. This being ascertained, they made their way ones more to the upper air. A consultation was now immediately held. “The direction of this affair must be left to me!” cried Bishop, arogantly. ‘And when you have heard the plan of operations [ am about to propose I am sure you will agree with ire that nething better could by any pos- park be devised.” ‘Well, that’s modest, anyhow,” observed Isaac, in his usual aggravating manner. Bishop affected to take no notice of the remark, but spoke shortly and decisively to the point. ‘Depend upon it,” he said, “these fellows will come back if we are only careful to keep froin them the know- jedge that we are here. We will hide ourselves behind onder wall, and on their arrival will wait until they eave every one descended into the cavern—or watever you like to call it. Then all we shall have to do will be tc rush forward and surround the entrance. Thoy will be completely at our mercy, and we sball make w.em prisoners with scarcely any trouble whatever, Gas ms } JOO MULE eS co s co