Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

.o78 hear a better plan than that proposed,” he added, giving a triamphant glance around, “and I will give ia at once and for evermore. CHAPTER MXIIL MAUD AND JACK THE OSTLER DETERMINw w& WARN DICK TURPIN AND HIS COMRADES OF THEIR DANGER. BisHor paused, and he had the infinite satisfaction of finding that his plan was received with universal avcia- . mation. Not even Isaac raised a dissentient voice. On the contrary, he liberally applauded the plan as being of all others the one best calculated to suc- ceed. In order that there might be no further difficulty, they at once withdrew to the place mentioned, which was exactly calculated to afford them safe shelter. The horses were taken with them, and every precsn- tion adopted to efface every trace that they or their animals might have left behind them. Once having taken up their position bekind the wall, several huge blocks of stone that had apparently failen from the summit of a crumbling tower were rolled «up into convenient situations, so as to serve them for seats. Here they resolved to wait patiently for the arrival of their prey. Leaving them here, we will revert io the proceedings of Maud and Jack the ostler. After a little deliberation, they decided that it was most important that an effort should be made to overhear, if possible, the plans of their foes. _ “Tf you will only stay here, miss,” said Jack, “you will be perfectly safe. I will then creep on silently, and gather all the information I am able.” ; “No, no,” said Maud—“I cannot remain here alone! et me come with you!” “ But, miss, consider the extra danger.” “T will be cautious—very cautious! But do not ask me to remain here—anything would be preferable to that !” Jack hesitated. “Qh, stay,” said Maud—“ you remain here, and I will genture nearer to listen. J could not bear suspense.” As she spoke she moved forward. Of course, Jack did not for one moment think of re- waining behind. Without uttering a syllable, he followed cautiously in Mand’s steps. All the time he was in an agony of dread lest the slight rustling of her dress should betray them to their foes. But Maud was extremely careful, and at length was fortunate enough to approach sufficiently near to over- hear every syllable. She listened with the utmost dread and terror, though there was little fear Dick and the rest would arrive that night. ‘When the officers withdrew behind the wall and seated themselves upon the stones in the manner we have described, Jack endeavoured to persuade Maud to retreat. But she refused to listen to any such suggestion, and changed her position, so that she was able once more to listen to their conversation. ts The first words she caught were uttered by Bishop, who said: “© We have told you our business here, and a good thing itis for you, I consi-ler, therefore you ought t& gatisty our curiosity as ts your presence iQ, this lace.” pn We have little to tell,” replied’ Isaac, ‘beyond what ou know already. We have been sent down here on half of the little heiress, and we are thorszchly to search the ruins for something, but I know not what.’ “ Still you could hazard a shrewd guess ?” “ Perhaps I could.” * Let us hear it, then.” “I don’t know whether i ought to mentiot, gything of the kind,” was the hesitating reply. “ “We have taken you into our confidence, co I @an’t seo | that case it would make our task infinitely easier; how- , ever, a8 we are without them, the less said the better.” mew you can with very good grace refuse.” ? — 4 f 4 ‘ SLACK BESS; Gm, ean was silent a moment or so; then, in a lower vation he said: é “Well, it is my own belief that somewhere among these ruins a large amount of money has been hidden, “N and in the morning when the Lord Chancellor’s secretary arrives we shall have to search for it. Don’t ask me for any more information, because if you do you won't get it.” 3 “Very good,” said Bishop. “But you might sa whether what I have heard about Lord Oomynge correct or not.” es “« What is it ?” “Why, that he made an attempt upon the life of his niece.” “Yes, it was—in these very ruins.” “ And that in consequence, although he stood so high In tue favour of the King, he has been arrested on this capital charge ?” ‘Quite right,” said Isaac. ‘ But I don’t suppose that result would have been brought about but for the Prince of Wales.” “Indeed. How so?” “Why, you see, Lord Comynge has ever been his most bitter enemy, and done more towards estranging him from the King than all the world besides, therefore = it may be chiefly on this account that he has taken up the case of the little heiress. Anyhow, he has declared that he will know no rest until he has seen her fully re- atored to her rights, and until her guardian has been justly punished for his crime.” At this moment Maud touched Jack upon the arm, and made a sign that she had heard enough, and was ready to retire. Jack moved away «:%h great readiness and willingness, for he was well aware of the great risk they were run- ning by remaining so near. The retreat was effected with the utmost amount of caution, and without raising the least suspicion in the breasts of the ambushed officers. As the reader may suppose, it was with feelings of the greatest satisfaction that Maud listened to the communi- cation made by Isaac. Her interest in the fate of the little girl was great, and she was truly rejoiced to learn that she was at last ia safety, and in so fair a way of recovering her rights. But the circumstances of her position prevented her from dwelling so much upon the subject as she would otherwise have done. So soon as ever they had got to a safe distance from the wall, Maud asked, eagerly : ‘What is to be done now, Jack—oh, what is to be done ?” ‘‘ Well, miss,” was the answer, ‘it seems to me that the best thing will be for us to have a few words together about that.” . “Give me your opinion—you are calmer than I am.” ‘‘Come on, then, miss—we will get as far away from that varmint ag ever we can.” ‘But we can talk now as we move forward ?” “‘Oh, yes, of course we can!” “Well, then, what do you advise? Let mo hear, for I am all impatience and anxiety.” “ Well, miss,” said Jack, with great emphasis, “if so be the captain or any on ’em walks up to the secret en- trance without knowing what’s o’clock, why, nabbed they would be to a certainty; andif they went down below they would be caught like rats in a trap.” ‘Very true,” said Maud, shuddering at the bare idea of such a catastrophe. “The thing for us to decide is, how we can prevent it.” “ Right you are, miss.” ‘‘ How is it to be done ?” “In my opinion there is just one way, and only one.” « a “ And that is——” “For you and me, miss, to leave this here place at once and mevt the captain and the rest on their way back. We should then be able to warn them of their danger.” " ““Yes—yes, so we should. That is the course we must | pursue, Jack.” “ You are decided, miss ?” “* Yes, quite.” “T only wish, then, we had a couple of ho. ses, for fs Eomicboo (E