Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 339: what you’re looking at

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

hk - oh ‘ * ~ 7%, s # Mg eo eds Hod $8. me IX, Bae, cart ¢ a ya a ae ‘ Pm ‘ PP Teas es ks ., - ft “e - « = a ich hands ; and he believed she had, for all ices seemed to point to this conclusion. vy there!’ cried Bishop, again. ‘‘ Did yon hear d? Are you inclined to accept my proposa! ornot? At any rate, I shall wait no longer.” * Hilloa!” said Turpin, though the tone in which he pronounced the word was so unlike his usual voice, that his comrades could scarcely believe that he had spoken. | “Oh,” said Bishop. *f you have found a voice at last, ze have you? How do you feel down there now ?” if ‘‘ Much the same as you do above.” a “Qh, do you? Perhaps yon intend that fora joke. If you do, I can assure you you will find ina little while that you will be ready to laugh the other side of your mouth,”’ 3 “Oh, shall we! Isuppose you are not convent with the one capture you have made, eh P”’ Now these words were spoken by Dick with a view if possible of ascertaining something about Maud. Surely, he thought, if Bishop had made her a prisoner this would elicit some remark concerning her. But Bishop had not been successful enoagh to do anything of the kind, ‘Therefore, Dick’s words were not a little enigmatical to him. In the course of a moment, however, that sagacity for which he was so famous suggested that Dick must re- fer to the capture of himself and companions. To Dick’s great surprise, then, the astute officer an- Bwered : ‘Yes, I am tolerably satisfied, because I know yon cannot escape. I am only waiting to have you securely bound, and then my satisfaction will be complete.”’ Will it?” “yi = “Yes, decidedly; and now listen to reason: You must by this time have realized that you are completely trapped—yes, trapped is the word. Wecould starve you into submission if we only liked to wait and take the trouble; or by making a sudden descent we could, by one volley down the passage, sweep every one of you from the earth. But you area decent fellow, Dick, and I should be sorry to take your life; I havea respect for you, and [ hope you will surrender quietly to my power in order that I may have the credit of having captured you alive.”’ ; * You are remarkably kind,” said Dick, in a sarcastic voice. ‘‘ Perhaps you will allow me to speak to my : companions and ask them whether they prefer being shot down by your pistols or whether they will give in o quietly P” Bishop concluded from this speech that he really had a chance of achieving what he so wished to accomplish, He believed he could perceive the symptoms of an in- clination to yield without bloodshed, It was, therefore, while labouring under this but delusive impression that he said: “ You shall never say that I did not treat you properly, 7 so I will give you two minutes to decide,” = pishep thought he was arranging matters very cleverly a indeed, : Not so Isaac, who proclaimed his disgust in loud ones, * You’re a d—d fool!’’ he remarked, in an andible voice,assoon as Bishop had concluded the last sentence. The chief officer turned round and cried, indignantly : “Who, sir ?” ““ Why, you, of course! one was in the company ?”” ““T know there is one,” said Bishop, witha significant glance; ‘‘and what is more, he is an intermaddler and a busybody besides !”’ Nad 2 “I understand your insinuation, but I don’t hesitate 6 to call you a blundering fool, nevertheless; and whatis more still, 1 wash my hands entirely of this affair—I will have no more to do with it!’’ “Very well, please yourself !”’ . “The idea,” muttered Isaac, ‘‘of aman being fool enough to stand at the top of a flight of steps while he knows those he wants are below, and, instead of rushing down upon them at once, kindly gives them as much time as they want to make an escape!”’ ** Hold your row!’’ said Bishop, savagely, “I shall speak if I like; and this I will say, I have wondered many and many 2 time how on earth it was . ee? . ans hae” pleasing Did you imag ne more chan e - - ale i oF .. ic oe ar Se 2a er? Ptiel Pe ee Nee one 2 mse EO wn that Dick Turpin and his comrades have managed to avoid capture on sucha many occasions, But [i shall wonder no longer, for I daresay your brother officera have been kind enough to allow them every opportunity of escape, as you have!” g ‘* How escape ?”’ asked Bishop, contemptuously, “ If you must make your voice heard, do let us have the satisfaction of now and then hearing a few words of sense! How can they escape, you idiot? Ain’t they — as fast as rats in a trap P”’ ‘Don’t you make too sure of that, my friend !—don’t a you make too sure! However, I am clear of the whole affair now; and whether you capture them or whether you don’t does not signify to me in the least degree, I know I should have acted ver» differently under the same circumstances !”’ ‘“‘And pray,” said Bishop, puffing on as sneering a tone and manner as he knew how—‘“‘and pray may L make so bold as to venture to ask what my very wise fiiend would have done under the circumstances 2” The mock humility which Bishop displayed, he thought, was cutting in the utmost degree. . ** Yes,’ said Isaac, “I will tell you, though I don’t suppose you will have the sense toact up to it on another occasion.’ ‘** Well, well—I’m a-waiting.”’ *“ Well, the moment they descended, instead of flourish ing my arms about and bawling aloud like a madman, ag you did, [ should have rushed as speedily as I could down the steps and should have had hold of every man Jack of them before they had the least idea of what was the matter,” ‘* Very clever—very clever indeed,” and Bishop, who nevertheless could not help inwardly succumbing to the conviction that the course of action proposed by Isaaa was by far the most rational and the most likely to suce © ceed, The allotted time had by this time expired, so Bishop approached more closely to the secret entrance. He was much annoyed with himself, and just in the humour to be put out by any trifle. A most ominous silence seemed to him to prevail below. He would not allow any signs of his anxiety to manie fest themselves in his countenance, though he could not altogether control-a slight unsteadiness in his voice, *‘'Time’s up,” he said—‘ time’s up, Dick. Have you made up your mind? Whether you have or have not, I can’t wait any longer. Dick, I say, have you made up your mind P”. No reply whatever came to this inquiry. The men began to murmur, As for Isaao, he, by various contemptuous and agegra- vating actions, expressed that this was just what he expected. ‘Told you so,” he cried—*“ told youso! You kindly gave them the time and opportunity they required, and - by this time are far enough off, laughing at your mon- strous credulity.” This speech, and the disagreeable inward conviction that what Isaac stated was no wore than the truth, put the finishing stroke to Bishop’s aggravation, He could stand these taunts no longer. Clenching his fists, he rushed up to the spot where feaac stood with the intention of administering severe bodily chastisement to that individual. But Isaac was prepared for him. With that ca’m»ess which was so habitual to him, and which had such an aggravating effect upon almost everybody, he stepped back, and, clenching his fists, struck out straight from his shoulder just as Bishop was rushing up to him. The consequence was that the last-named gentleman’s ‘ nose came into most violent contact with Isaac’s fist. Indeed, such was the force of the blow that Kishop’s — onward careeer was instantaneously checked and q contrary direction imparted to his motion, inasmuch that he staggered back several naces. “How dv you like that?’’ said Isaac, more impers- turbably cool than ever. “If youare not satisfied with that you had better come on again, my ancient Trojan,”” But either Bishop had come a little more to his senses, — or else the stunning blow upon his nose had cowed him, ’ J Fe 4 : a le Tey i ao \ ae mays > SE, rae hoe or \ J 4 eo 1 i 7 “ 4 ; 5 ae o <a =’. ie >’ - x! .. eyes . ——~ a a er | <6 ate o~ he # 7: Z . ‘ ; - ata es ae ee MiP me Fane , ' - e. * 2 oe Ron SAS an mat vambraoet Abia ai Ate 2. Meal ch “2 CS “a ai hae 7 whey (E(0) JOOKS (C (eo)