Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 330: what you’re looking at

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

sit wee ak OW Pee OES 7 aly ie ar si "> tre eo _ * VAT) + x2 + a owe * eo . . wat). 4) 1702 ~ ee ee a a eee wm Then in a iow voice whioh sie vainly tied te make calm, she asked; “If my life is in danger, how came you to know it?” Upon hearing these words, Hunch, as he called hiiaself, looked around with wildness and terror in his looks. Then, very faintly. he whispered: “Hush, hush, tady, and 1 wiil tell you all [” “ All what ?” “All the mysteries and crimes of this fearfui siacc. Have you not felt the effect of its shadow upon you? Does not your breath come short and thick? Dees nat your heart knock against your ribs ?” Maud was fain to confess feeling these sensativns« “It is because,” continued Hunch, in a more hollow whisper—“ it is because you scent the bived whica is in the air—because you feel that you breathe tas atmosphere of murder.” At these dreadful words, which were pronounced with ate breath and flaming eyes, Maud’s very lips grew white. “T frighten you, lady,” observed Hunch, perceiving _ the effect his words had wrought. “But be sot afraid. “What do you mean ?” A strange sound came from below. “He ia getting ready,” seid Huncn, in o& bvarse whisper. ‘ What, after all, if they should be too late!” “ Explain—-explain yourself |” ; “No time—no time!” said Hunch, moving to the window and looking ont. “ Listen—listen! Can you hear anything like the tramp of horses’ feet? If so, al} will be well.” “‘No—no!” said Maud, with chatteris hear nothing but the sighing of the avin tops.” “Then be will discover us {” “Can we not escape ?” “ What, by the window ?~ sé Yes.” “No, no; that would be impossible.” | “How so—how so? By what means did you ascend?” “ Lady, they tell me I am like a cat—can climb any- wherv. Look, here is an old, half-rotten pear-tree fastened to the wall—that was the means I used to make teeth. “I cana among the tree I will save your life.” my ascent.” <Ve “Tf you would tell me how it isin danger,” answered “Can it be possible ?” are Maud, “and if you would make me acquainted with the| ‘ You cannot get that way; but I have another rs means by which you intend to save it, I should be more | expedient ready. Quick—quick! Off with your dress Bio content.” and cloak.” . le “T know that, lady.” Maud hesitated to comply with this demand, and yet aay “ Satisfy me, then.” she could see by the hasty movements of Hunch that Ree “T will, without delay ; but do not speak so loud, or you | there was the utmost necessity for speed. ge. may be overheard; then even I will be powerless to save | As for the latter, he with great rapidity removed every _ es you—ay, as powerless as you would be to save yourself.” | object which stood upon the oaken chest we have before LS a. x : - - - . . “T will be silent.” ‘*‘ 1 wonder how it is,” began Hunch, musingly, “ that ever you came to cross the threshold of the Jolly Sailor ?” 3 “Is that the name of the inn ?” “Tt is. Did you not see it on the sign, and the figure of the sailor over the door? Ha, ha! the Jolly Sailor and myself are the very best of friends !” These words, coupled with the wildness and strange- ness of his appearance and demeanour, strengthened an opinion which, during the last few minutes, had been growing in Mand’s mind, namely, that this uncanny creature was not in proper possession of his senses. “Tt was dark,” she said, replying to bis question, “ and { was unable to see anything. I came in here for shelter from the storm.” “Yes, yes, I might have known that. And now, lady, listen to me. You have had the ill-fortune to enter a den of murder, for this place is nothing more” Maud gasped for breath. “ Whenever a solitary travelier enters this piace, who happens to have about him any considerable sum of money, he never departs again. He is ruthlessly daughtered, and his body thrown down the sia well. Hla, ha! what a tale could be told by that old weil, to be aoa anyones would bring its contents to the light of BY “ You affright me,” said Maud; “surely you cannot be in earnest in what you say ?” “You shall judge shortly. Did you not show my ancle your purse when you stood outside the door ?” “J did—I did! Oh, Heaven! Yes, I did!” “ That obtained your admittance,” said Hunch, slowly, and nodding at every word as though in order to give the utmost emphasis to what he said, “ but it was anly in order that you might be murdered and despoiled 2 it. Oh, I know all!” “ Then—then—the landlord of this awfe! place is— is —your uncle?” - ‘‘ He is, and treats me just like a nephew. Dia you notice him throw the boot-jack at me?” “Was it at you ?” “Rather! Look here.” As he spoke he removed a rough friese cap which he wore, and showed one side of his head, in which was & deep gash, from which the blood was slowly ooging “I wonder it did not kil! you.” “ Lor’ bless you, lady, that’s nothing. He hes treated me like a dog, and so has everyone else that I have met with except you. But I am planning my revenge, and before the new day comes it is odd to me if I am not fully satisiied fur al! tue injuries he has done me |” had occasion to mention. There was so much mystery in al] these occurrences that Maud could do nothing more than stand still like a statue and watch all that her companion did. The lid of the chest was very heavy, and she saw him struggling to raise it. Although quite ignorant of his intentions, she, un- bidden, stepped forward to assist him, But when, by their united efforts, the lid was fairly raised and Maud took a glance at the interior of the chest, she almost swooned with horror and disgust. For a few seconds everything spun round her with lightuing speed. She could tell Hanch was saying something to her in earnest toaes, but his voice sounded only like tho faint and distant murmur of the sea. 2 The first words she distinguished were; “T ought to have told you of this; but here is @ proo! —apn awful proof of the truth of what I have told oa. That which lies within the chest is the body of a traveller who halted here last night after sunset. You see how he has been treated. He was lying on your bed ; and how do you think this room was prepared for your reception ? Why, simply by lifting the murdered traveller out of the bed and placing the body in this box, as there was no time to carry him to the well in the cellar!” The reader may perhaps be able to form some slight idea of the effect which these horrifying details produced upon Maud. She stood like one changed into stone, But her companion’s next words aroused her. “ Look here, miss, this is what I intend to do, and, rely upon it, the scheme will answer. I am going to lift this fellow out of here on to the bed again, wrap him in part of your clothes, and leave him there. My uncle will know nothing of the substitution, for be is always obliged to prime himseif well with brandv before he cap undertake a job like this!” Maud’s blood ran cold. “ And—and we,” she gaspod—"“ where—-where shali we a” “ We will hide.” “ Where ?” “ Beneath the bed.” The sound of « footstep ascending the atsircass cousd now be heard. “ Quick—quick,” said Hunch, “ont with the candle | There must bo no light save the oue he will bring with him, ‘Then lond me your cloak. I will make shilt ior that to do. Never mind your dress.” While issuing these baaty injuucticas Bunch was by nO Mvaus idle EOmic : Ce 5 ie ‘ . oe LA: ba. © ee eee ee ee 200K ify bel) *« «tte 4 a ra “ Hush~hush! 1 will explain directly, Hark! hark /* ; bs Fen? - AP r eee’ a a Mey * Hh > have Ae: Feng, * wa". ¥) -: >; t Sie, ay . x Ce i eee Sad ee A ae