Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

oe sae : *] »_ »> ~*~. ~zr. pete Pro) i wrd bc i Po ~~ we DF dene bh | . & ae. a tii Tae Ne . a Chg) SOP aE ate, ORT len et eR ical | ok Sean f wz panees be fatal. {498 BLACK BEBS: GR, they would be so prompt. Tom, indeed, will have t be expeditious to perform his task, and the locket must be of rare eflicacy if it liberates ms. Well, woil——time elone | Spiders Inn. will show.” Ee paced the cell somewhat uneasily, encsavonring to picture to himself as best ho might how his eomrades were engaged at that time. “7 wonder if they know the time xs so short ?” ke mut- tered, pausing before the window; “if so, Tom would start to-night; if not, he might delay, and the delay would But away with these gloomy fore- odings, f will hope and trust fer the best !” So saying, he folded his arms 91d continus2 to gaze eut at the little bit of sky visible through the grated window of his cell. He continued to watch until it gradually darkened and darkened “™ colour, and until the faint glittering stars ap- peared, Then he kuew that night had come. More anxiously than on the preceding night did he con- tine to watch. His brain was all the time occupied in suggesiing to him what his comrades might be doing. He would havo given much could he but have obtained one peep at their proceedings. That, however, was impossible, and so, and suspense, the time passed away. How long he sat there he kuew not, but at last ex- hausted nature gave way, and he sank off into a deep and dreamless slumber, from which he did not awake until he keard some one removing the fastenings of his door. He started hastily and opened his eyes To his astonishment he discovered it was daylight. ‘Have Lindeed slept so long ?” he murmured. ‘“ Well, it is better, so the night is gone. J wonder now whether Join King has been successiul, aud if te has, whether tha locket will produce the desired effect ?” Just then the door was opened, and the fr'yndly turn- key entered. “T will not let them know I am so nxious,” Dick thought. “I will assume a carelessness of demeanour, even though I feel it not; the only th’ag that I can do is to wait with patience, and in the m anlime make myself as comfortable as I can.” ‘Breakfast, captain,” said fhe turnkey, entering— ‘andarare good breakfastit is. I hope you will do justice to it.” “Put it down,” said Vick, “and Lelp yourself.” * No, no, captain—! mnstuot. The Governor is a strange man, and I know how to deal with him. It vexed hin to esse me here lass aight. I don’t wish to get himat all angry, and ao it will oo best tor me to cum, With his vashes. Of cours, if he liked he covid prevem me from paying my vis.ts altogether, which would be a bax thing for both of us, I think.” “You shall be the best judge,” said Dicix, “in that. 1 leave it entirely to you.” . “Then I am off, captain; when I can leave the prison T will slip off to Drury Lane. I may be able to pick up something you would like to hear.” “Very likely " said Dick—“ very likely.” With these tyords the turnkey left, and Dick sat down to the table. | But in reahty he had but little appetite. Now that the time grew closer he grew mere and mcre doubtful respecting the virtues of the locket, and he was troubled as weil by the statement the Governor had made respecting the vigilant manner in which the prison was guarded, He was conscious that, should the locket fail tothing could save him from an ignom:nious death Jn tho morrow. . .-~ -_s uncertainty CHAPTER DCCOLX. TOM KING, CLAUDE DUVALL, AND SIXTEEN-STRING JACK GET OUT FOR WINDSOR CASTLE, Havixa taken such a calm survey of his own very perilous condition, Dick Turpin might indeed feel anxious in the extreme. ‘ © "ee ee ——e ERED eer eee re > To make all clesr, however, wo must gow go back the moment when Tom Davis arrived at the Three He was besieged at once with & multitude of questions ; but, raising his hand, he said: 3 “Tf you will all bo silent I will tell you everything, from beginning to end, and by this means much time will be saved.” pre | It may perhaps be imazined with what amount of in- terest the highwaymen, aud Maud, and Tllen listened to his recital, SE eT Maud, learning for certain that Dick was in Newgate, fave vent to a passionate burst of grief; for, trawired by the words Tom Davis had uttered ere he lets sie "Led heped on to the last, and believed that he was {rea Davis, however, tried to maxe things look » bright «s possible, and produced the locket. ; Great as wes the interest his narrat’.e had excited, yet it was as nothing to that whicb tucy felt while gazing upon this litile trinket. The King’s features wero not so those of the lady. ‘‘ It’s a very strange vusiness, truly,” said ‘Tom King, after Davis had infozmed him that it was Dick’s wish hs should deliver the tocket—“ a very strange business; but yet I hope eve gsthing will turn ous successiuliy.” “Tt is our only hope,” said Tom Davis; ‘and before i icft I teo’ good care to inquire where che King was stay- ell known to them all, but line. .2¢ is at Windsor, though it is not known how socn e nay leave.” : “Then,” replied Tom, “ there can be no doubt that the best thing we can do is to start off at once; any delay might prove ef the greatest consequence.” “Yes, although he did not mention it, Dick no doubt wishes the locket to be delivered immediately ; and be- sides, ‘=e sooner we know the resalt the better prepared we shall be to act, and the more time we shall have iz case of any emergency.” . “Very true,” said Tom King. “it is fortunate our horses are all so fresh as they are; the journey to Windsor will be performed easily and rapidly.” ‘You will let us accompany you?” said Claude Duval and Sixteen-String Jack. ‘“ You cannot teil what aid aud assistance you may require.” “T cannot. If you had not spoken then I was just about to ask you to accompany me.” “ Bat,” said Tom Davis, with a little hesitation, “3. don’t like to raise up obstacles and to throw cold water on your plans, but yet I should very much like to know by wuat means you hope to gain accuss to the King ?” Tom shrugged his shoulders. ‘I shall be guided entirely by circumstances and ty good luck. Lf they fail me I have nue other guide.” , Witu a great effort Maud wiped aside her tears, and, adv, ize towards Tom King, looked him earnestly ia the face, 4 she said; “Tn pity Gud mercy let me know your inmost thoughts, Do you really belevo that this locket will procure Divk’s liberation ?” Tom paused ere © replied. Then, in a voice of great earnestness, Le said: “ You must remembs. that the service Dick rendered to the person who gave him this locket wasa very im- portant one indeed, and, thinking over all the circum- stances, I don’t believe that such a gift would have been proffered had it net been felt at the time that it was el powerful.” “ You really think it, Tom 2?” “ T do, indeed.” Phen,” she said, “I will master my grief and hops on. “Do, di.—perbaps ere another twenty-four houre elapse the captaia will once more bo amongst us.” . “ Hasten—hasten,” said Tom Davis; “ uight is closing in, and you lave a Icony ride before you; if you like, I will begin to get the horses ready.” He ‘Lid not wait for any answer, but left the inn at ence. The thres highwaymen looked carefully to their weapons, provided themselves with ammunition, and also took with them afew other articles which they fancied might be required in the ceurse of tho nights aaven But there were others who fully shared thst anxtety | ture. wits Sina 1 This Gone, they said farowell to Mend and Milan, ang ae Pe . ; ' 3 ot ~ Amie » el x = (E(@) - , ~_ m - cS) \\5\ % jj ‘ “2 - = :