Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 343: what you’re looking at

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

‘anit 3 - «> aS be * Lowe AY ees ed th PP eS ce aL very erroneous was Dick’s impression regarding Maud’s _ presence in the ruins. , | Bis Buta moment’s reflection will show that shis idea was o of all others the one most likely to fix itself in his mind, and one about which there was the strongest degree of _ probsbility. What « pity it was tuat he and his companions should run this perfectly unnecessary aud frightful risk, for, of course, the search would prove totally resultless as Maud was at that time many miles away from the place. The length of stay, however, which our friends had made at the ruirs had enabled them to become well acquainted with all its intricacies. ‘herefore the searcb when once made would bo a tnorough one, and executed without any ioss of time by going over the same ground twice. As the reader isaware, no trace of Maud or Jack the ostler could be seen. Dick was distracted. Rather than abandon his preccncelved idea, ne con- tended that she must have been coaveyed to some other lace. : Very certain, however, was it that she was nowhere about the ruins. : Thus was much valuable time lost, and thus were the officers enabled to improve their position in no incon- siderable degree. For a brief space, then, we will leave them, and revert to the energetic proceedings which were now taken by the police officers. CHAPTER MXX. IN WHICH DICK TURPIN RESENTS BISHOP'S COWARDLY SHOT. BisHOP now was in such an exalted state of exasperation that there is no Knowing what absurdity he might have been guilty of had he not happened to catch a remark which fell from the lips of Isaac, and which brought about a condition of partial calmness. Isaac’s remark was this: : “ There, I have done with you now—I am determined (o have no further hand in the affair; yet, if I had the :onduction of it, I should take care to secure the horses delonging to the rascals; it would not be very difiicult, und they would find it by no means s0 easy to get vway.” Bishop seized upon the bint at once. But he pretended not to have overheard one word that {saac had said. Summoning his men around him, he gave them the order to, first of all, bend all their energies towards ~apturing the horses. An immediate move was made to carry out this lirection. Isaac observed this with a contemptuous, sarcastic smile, but he made no remark. In his own mind, he was exceedingly sorry to think he had made the suggestion, for his feelings towards Bishop now were of such a character that he really wished the highwaymen to escape in order that he might have the opportunity of exercising his powers of aggrava- tion to the utmost advantage. 4 i ~“icers were not long in making the discovery that they were just a few minutes too late. Having satisfied themselves that Maud was nowhere in the ruins, the highwaymen, with the exception of Dick, had taken their horses, and had seated themselves in readiness to start. But Turpin could not by any means divest himself of the notion that Maud must be there, for he could scarcely think that she had succeeded in making her escaps. It was thus being animated by this feeling that made Dich unable to tear himself away from the castle. Systematic as the search had been, he was by no means satisfied with it, and therefore lingered until the very latest moment, in the hupe of cee the much-wished- for discovery. Suddenly, the officers burst upon the highwayg- men. Claude Duval had taken Tom Davis up into the saddle behind him. Black Bess was stending at a little distance. __ PHE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. ——$__ ——_—__-— ee OOOO SO >) eee 1746 Self-preservation compelled the highwaymen to shift from their position, but they took good care to do so in such a manner that they would prove a partial defence to thoir captain, to whom they cried aloud at the top of their voices. Fire!” yelled Bishop—“ fire, I say !” The order was immediately obeyed, and it, was only by making a sudden movement that cur friends saved thems selves from being riddled by the bullets, which clattered against the stone walls like rain. It was immediately after this discharge that Bishop caught sight of Black Bess. He recognised the.noble creature instantly. In a moment the impulse seized upon him to try and capture her, She was standing there so still and quiet that he fancied the capture would not be a very difficult one. Not only would Black Bess herself prove to be to him a most valuable acquisition, but if he had her in his hands his chances of capturing her owner would be very much increased. His men wondered what on earth he was about when they saw him walk quietly forward, for he did not utter one syllable as to his intention. Black Bess still retained her former attitude. But she was not umaware of the police officer’s ap- proach, as could be seen by the manner ia which she pro- jected her ears towards him. Bishop put into practice all the coaxing ways he could think of. His heart beat with exultation, for he got closer and closer, and still Black Bess did not stir. He reached out his hand as soon as he believed him- oO near enough to clutch the bridle, and made a sudden elfort. But his fingers did not so much as touch the loosely- dangling reins. Black Bess divined his intention, and gave a sudden bound, that had the effect of making the distance between herself and her would-be captor about the same as it was at first. Bishop was never blessed with a very patient temper, and now it was exacerbated to such a degree that the moment anything went wrong he fell intoa kind of fur that more resembled the transport of a lunatic than an out- break of passion on the part of @ sane person. ‘““D—n you!” he cried, savagely, “I believe you are no better than a witch! No human horse could have dune what you have, and escaped with your life so many times! I will make one more attempt to seize you, and if that fails I will try whether you will be proof against one of my pistol bullets !” Bishop had a loaded pistol in his hand, and while he spoke these words he rapidly cocked it. Then advanced in the direction of the spot to which Black Bess was standing. But this time the gallant animal distrusted him more than before. 3 She seemed ready to start at once. Suddenly a faint chirping sound was heard— A sound which more resembled the twittering of soma ttle bird than aught alse. It was Dick Turpin’s well-known signal. No sooner did it strike upon the ears of Biack begs than she gave a rapid bound, which carris@ her clear cver the trunk of a fallen tree thut happened to be lyin x near her ‘“‘Curse the beast!’ said Bishop. ‘I could haye wished her alive, for she’s a beauty; but I will put a stop to her yalloping for the future |” With this he took as good an aim as he could His fiage: ressed the trigger There was a .oud report. Mingled with it was a faint snorting sound, but so faint and so brief that it was hard to say whether it was reality or fancy. Bishop shouted aloud to his men, and immediately rushed forward. He was in hopes of making a capture of Dick Turpin eimself, for he gave a shrewd guess as to the meaning of the twittering sound. In a general way, Bishop took good care n ot himself too forward, for fear he should by chence oP ae CONNICLOOOKS E (e (0)