Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

1408 thare be time tor ino to climbover the wall while this sentinel is at the further end of his beat ?” ~ “fT think not,” said Clauds. “Im my opiuion, you wonld most certainly be seen.” — “Then what is to be done?” ‘Wait awhile, I think, and endeayveur to comprenend our position a little better than we do & present; ail around us is so very strange.” They were silent, for the sentinel new was ver# near to them. Following his movements they perceived somethiag which else would probably Lave escaped their notice. This was a sentry-box placed against the wall, near the corner of it, 2nd here the soidicr stood for a short time, then resumed his monotonous duty. “TItseems to me,” whispered Sixteen-String Jack, “that the best plan to adopt will be to seize the soldier and gag him, then get over the wall.” “But,” objected Tom, ‘the other sentinels would notice that he did not perform his march as usual, and the alarm would be raised.” “T don’t know that. Supposing that I put on some of his accoutrements and acted sentinel, how then ?” ‘ That’s a better idea, and it will be perhaps possible to varry it out successfully. But how about that relief of the guard—what should you do then ?”’ Jack was puzzled. ““T’l] tell you what it is,” said Claude, “I have hit upon it at last. No doubt the men are changed every twohours. We must wait until the change takes place, then one of us, whoever happens to be most like the soldier, will personate him, while you will know then that you have two hours clear before you to perform your task.” ‘‘] think that would be the best,” said Tom King—‘ at any rate, we will think over it until the guard is changed, aud then, shouldanything better be thought of, why, we wiil try to carry it into execution.” This being agreed upon, the highwaymen all bec.me silent and still. It was fortunate that they thought about the cliange of the guard, for in a few moments afterwards they were startled by hearing the rattling of a drum. After that there was a silence, and then they perceived a small body of men advancing. The sentinel stopped at once. They came towards him. One of its number took his place; he fell in with the remainder, and they passed on. The highwaymen watched all these proceedings with the greatest possible amount of attention. The changing of the guard occupied but a very short space of time, and then Jack, touching ‘om on the arm, said. quietly: “Now then, comrades, what say you? Shall we make the eftort or not? Now is the time, or never.” “J gan think of nothing else so likely to achieve success,” was 'l'om King’s reply. “Then let it be done.” “ Be cautious, then—we niust pounce upea the sentinel, and seize him in a moment, taking cere that be has not time to utter the faintest cry, otherwise there will be an immediate alarm.” “It is not so very difficult,” said Jack. ‘We will leave our horses here, and as soon as the sentinel trrns the corner we will dart across and stand in the shadow of the sentry-box ; then, as soon as he appears, let one of us place a hand upor ‘is mouth, and the oshers hold him tightly.” “ Yes,” said Claude Duval, “the whole thing nast be accomplished with speed and silence.” Another moment elapsed, and then the ,entinel again disappeared from view. As they had arranged, the forward. The distance they had to go was insignificant, ena, to their great satisfaction, they reached the shagow of che sentry-box without having caused the slightest alarm. They now stood in readiness to seize the soldier eirectly he turned the corner. They listened, and could hear his regular heavy foot- élep as ho marched on. ittle did that sentinel think that he was about to be dealt with in so summary a manner. highwaymen @arted BLACK BESS; OR, - ) Reet Cewek eer He had been long at his present duty, and had never met with anything to vary the dull routine of it. He was therefore wholly and entirely unpreparod for what took place. The highwaymen took the opportunity. While Claude, darting forth, placed ona nard imme- diately before the soldier’s mouth, Jack seized tm from behind, and Tom King, standing in front, with his sword drawn, said, in a threatening whisper: “Move hand er foot—-struggle, or attempe tn speak— and you die!” The man was so thoroughly taken aback by what had occurred that he was unable to move a limb. Ile only stared at Tom King with eyes stretched wide open by astonishment. With great dexterity, Sixteen-String Jack stripped off the upper portion of the soldier’s uniform, Tom King, by threats, compelling him to surrender each article quietly. When this operation was over, Sixteen-String Jack bound Lim tightly, and then, by means of a piece of rope doubled and twisted, gaggea kim most effectually. This was managed by introdecing the rope into his mouth like a bit, and tying it tightly at the back of his head, It was possible for him to make a very faint sound, but it was So faint that it was uot worth troubling about. Perfectly helpless, he was now carried by Sixtcen- String Jack and Claude Duval, aud placed inside the seutry-box. ‘| will take his place,” said Claude—“it will be better, for you know I have had a little military training, and he appears to be about my height.” “ Acreed !” Claude hastily put on the soldicyr’s uniform and picked up his musket. “ Hush!” he said, and before his companions could utter another word he marched off along the wall. Some little time had of course been occupied by these proceedings, still it was not long—no longer, really, than a sentinel might have paused near his box had be chosen to do so. But Claude was anxious not to be too iong, snd so he marched forward with a confident step. Reaching the end of his beat, he found himself face to face with another soldier. ‘“All’s well!” said the other sentinel, turning round. “ All’s well!” replied Claude, supposing that to be the proper salutation. | He turned hastily round when he spoke, and marched off. The other stepped abruptly. “ Well, that’s odd,” he said—“ that sounds quite like a strange voice; and yet it can’t be—it is iny fancy.” Those words just reached Claude's ears, and he thought to himself how necessary it would be to be careful when he returned to that point of his beat again. Reaching the sentry-box, he said to his companions: “Over with you, and be quick about it. Leave me here—lI shall be all right !” * Aro you sure ?” ‘ Yes, yes—don’t trouble yourselves on my Gecount. I shall hold my position so long as it is tenable, and when it ceases to be so I shall make a run fur my horse.” “Do so—do so. On no account suffer yourself to be made a prisoner.” ‘I will not. And now I must leave you—it will not do to halt too often, or perhaps suspicion may be aroused.” Claude marched on as before, imitating the movements of the xcal sentinel very well indeed. Tom King looked up and wondered how the wall was to be surmounted. The sentry-box at once suggested itself to him, but it was a difiicult thing to mount upon it, as taere was neither hand nor foothold, and a little thing. would turn it over completely. They waited until Claude came back again. As soon as they explained their difficulty, he said: “Well, 1 will stand on this side and press against, it with all my might, then you mount as well as you are able; when once on the top of the sentry-box the re- mainder will be easy.” “T conld mount with Jack’s assistance,” said Tom, “if (@) Eomicbooks:.¢ ¢ : =