Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 326: what you’re looking at

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

—_ MLS LS cr went scudding onward at a violent rate as they were driven by the fury or the gale. So preoccupied was she that not until now hsd she observed the ae pect of the weather. “T_T fear there will be a storm,” she sai “ Yes, miss,” was the reply, “it looks uncommon like it.” *Then we will push on with all the speed we are gapable of making, #¢ #s to get as far as possible beiore it breaks forth,” As she spoke she quickened her steps to such an extent that Jack found some little difficulty in keeping pace ith her. i) , But soon the indications of the approaching conflict of the elements became more and more unequivocal. Large, heavy spots of rain began to fall, the precursors of the drenching descent of water that was to follow. Still Maud hurried on with more rapid though uncer- tain steps. She was filled with the foreboding dread that this storm would be the meaus cf preventing hey from giving the necessary warning. The plashing of the rain-drops increased, ang then from the distance came a Jow, muttering sound. “Thunder,” observed Jack, as soon as ever he heard it. Scarcely had tue words escaped his lips than there came @ sudden flash of lightning. _ When it was over a double darkness seemed to pre- vail around them. Maud stopped affrightedly. In common with many persons, the crashing of thunder and the vivid coruscations of the forked lightning fitled her with the utmost alarm. *‘Can we not seek a shelter somewhere ?” she asked. “This storm is terrible |” ‘And the rain is not comfortable, by any means; aud if we are not quick we shall be drenched to the skein |” answered Jack. “But is there no shelter ?” Maud asked, for the flashes of lightning terrified her to such a degree that she dared ‘not lift up her head to look. “There is a big tree yonder, miss,” said Jack. “I should think that will serve our purpose.” “«' Yes—oh, yes!” * Come, then—do not be afraid; I will lead the way.” Maud grasped Jack’s arm very tightly, and ran by the pide of him to the tree of which he had spoken. It was a magnificent oak—many centuries old, no doubt —with huge branches stretching far across the road- way. ts leaves were large, and grew so closely together that they formed an almost impervious screen from the rain, which, however, raised a prodigious pattering upon them. “That is better, miss, is it not?” said Jack, speaking in as encouraging a tone as he was able. The shadow of the huge tree was indeed most wel- come to Maud, who, cowering down, clasped her hands over her eyes so as to shut out the vivid flashes of light- ning. In a few moments the storm was at its height. The forked lightning flashed almost without intermis- sion, while the claps of thunder followed each other so papidly that the effect produced resembled a continuous eal. 3 Maud’s alarm increased tenfold. ™he rain descended in a deluge, and in srder to escape it they both “®8to press as closely as they could to the trunk of the tree. Maud closed her eyes, for intense isa¥ made hor unabie te keep them open any longer. ® Suddenly she experienced a strange sensation It was altogether indescribable, and quite different to anything which she had previously experienced, For a few seconds she seemed deprived of all motion, though she partially retained possession of her senses, There was upon her mind an impression of an intense scorching sensation—a faint cry, and now her sense of smell was invaded with an odour of a sickening character, and which she could liken to nothing. An oppressive stillness reigned around her, for the thunder no longer reverberated in such incessent prio J'remblingly she opened her eyea, and was contouné=4 by the intense darkness. aN able te perceive. In vain. There was no response to her — rds. | Then a terrible, indefinable feeling of dread tock entire poasession of her. a ates i 2 at She called aloud upon her companins, who she was Ga s, PSE e ¥ ‘¢ ~~ ™ be Sg ——_ bar _ She apprehended something awful, but what she knew © = = : not. She called agair. The same result. two. It was at this moment that the lightning again blazed — forth. The b.tlliant though evanescent illumination to her eyes a sight of horror. oe - ~ Then, with a frensied atwp, she advanced @ pace or he ; . my disclosed = + + « * ~ Lying stretched at her feet—she must have stumbled a ae over him had-she attempted to advance another step—lay the body of Jack the ostler. He was dead—dead beyond all doubt. a ee o One glance was sufficient to assure anyone of this, for 2 Bi his countenance was so scorched and disfigured as to present an awful spectacle; and had not Maud been aware of who had been standing by herside she could. —~ never have recuguised him, for his features were so dis- torted and rendered so hideous that their appearance was totally changed. Maud shrieked in horror at the awful sight thus for a second revealed to her affrighted gaze. How thankful she was when darkness again surrounded every object | “, Cautiously, though trembling in every limb, she turned away. | She felt that no earthly consideration whatever would induce her to bestow another glance upon anything so fearful. She quitted the dangerous, treacherous shelter of the tree, and with a sensation of relief felt the heavy rain- drops beat upon her head and face. There could be no doubt about the cause of Jack Ostler’s sudden death. The lightning, attracted by the tree, had struck it, and the treacherous fluid, passing through his body, instanta~ neously deprived him of his life. Maud must have escaped by something little short of a iniracle, for she was standing close beside him. She must have been affected in some slight degree, as was evidenced by her partial loss of consciousness. No words of ours can adequately describe the nature of her feclings at this juncture. A sudden death even of a stranger cannot fail to make a deep effect upon the most callous heart. How much, then, must the effect be increased when the person is one who stands in the light of a protector | Maud was distracted, and as she stood alone in the drenching wet, wrung her hands in anguish and despair. Deprived of the ostler’s faithful guidance and advice, where was she to turn—what step should she take next ? She stood distracted. All the difficulties of her position rushed upon her with overwhelming force, and she felt crushed by them. No one could possibly be more ignorant of her where- abouts than she was, and she had not the remotest idea of the direction in which her destination lay. Under these circumstances the task of meeting with Dick and his comrades seemed a hopeless one. While she was thus wandering et random they might pass her a thousand times. This knowledge increased if possible the poignancy of her grief. She wept and sobbed aloud, and to her distempered faney the very wind seemed to laugh among the branches of the trees and mock her grief. For a brief space she indulged in the only hope that was left to her. ; This was, that Jack the ostler might not have perished. Oh, how she clung to this vain, improbable idea. She felt it was improbable, for it was as much the dread of having this fast hope destroyed as it was un- willingness again to encounter the hideous spectacle shat made her hold back. a P