Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

1740 ee \ “Tf it was a woman,” remarked Mogegs, at length, ‘‘she must have been a regular out-and-outer. Why, she made no more account of a pistol bullet than nothing at all, and rode like the very devil himself.” “ Yes,” assented Joel; ‘and then I have ,eard of high- waymen slipping off their horses while going at full speed, and then hiding while the officers went by in pur- suit of the riderless horse; but the idea of a woman. Ob, no, it’s out of the question. It was neo woman, I’ll be bound.” “ But they say it was.” ‘‘T know they do, but I don’t believe s—no, Lot a bit ; and now then, as all the gin is gone, let me ask you what is to be done for some more ?” ‘‘Go down in the cellar.” ‘“‘Tt’s very fine to say that; but who would retish the idea of doing that now? Why, it must be closa upen midnight.” *’ Well, for my part,” said Moggs, as he settled himself more comfortably in his chair, “I consider it would be nothing more nor less than flying in the face of providence to go down in the cellar where that well is at this time of night; and so I tell you, plump and plain, I don’t in- tend to do anything of the sort!” Joel grumbled and growled for some moments in an inarticulate voice. Then he took up the bottle and carefully drained out of it the very last drop that it contained. “A nice, pretty go,” he muttered, ‘ tosit here for six or eight hours and no more to drink than this!” “ Hold your row !” said Moggs. “J shan’t !” “Then if you want some gin, why the devil don’t you go down in the cellar and fetch it ?” ‘“ You aome with me.” I shan’t!” “ What are you afraid of ?” “Never mind. In that cellar there’s a well.’ “‘ D)—n the well!” “Qh, you can curse it if you like, but I wouldn't do such a thing, and I’m not very particular, as you know. There’s nobody knows how many dead bodies are lying at the bottom of that well, and let me ask you whether the spirit belonging to any one of them could rest quiet in such agrave? Incourse not!” “ Shut up!” “Tt don’t stand to reason,” continued Moggs, alto- gether ignoring his companion’s injunction. ‘In course it don’t stand to reason to think of any man coming here and going to bed, and then being murdered in his sleep and his body thrown down that well where y “Shut up!” yelled Joel, in such stentorian tones that the voice of his companion was completely drowned. “ Shut up, I say !” “Who's afraid now?’ snecred Moggs. “Why you!” “No I ain't, it’s you “Why 4 What more would have been said no one can possibly form the least idea, for it was just at this point that the two speakers were interrupied by a loud, heavy, and long- continued knocking. -_- "7 * CHAPTER MXXxX. CONTINUES TO RELATE TOM KING’ ADVENTURES WITH THE OFFICERK. SIMULTARZOUSLY the two police officers sprang to their feet— Simultaneously they mads a rush—with what purpose is not clear—and both in one direction. The consequence was that one came in contact with tlle other, and with so mich violence that the breath was knocked out of both. It was a wonder tke table was not overturned_ Bang—bang—bang—bang! came the knocking egai and this time with so much violence that it echoed an re-echoed through the silent house like the clangcar of ten thousand hammers. The panic of the two officers increased. Yom King was in no slight degree perturbed. Once more his hands grasped his pistols. This knocking, he thought, could not fail to presage danger {5 hiro. BLACK BESS; OR, Sn It was mysterious and unexpected, or the oficers would not be so disconcerted by it. ae NEES gasped Joel, at length, “‘ who’s that xnock- ing ” ” ‘* How the devil do you think I shoul¢. know, fool? Tet go, can’t you! What do you wink tea me like a wild cat for?” (T ain't!" The officers separated. Pt) tell you what it 1s,” said Joel—“ you're frightened —that’s it !—so d—nably frightened that you don’t know what you are about !” “Bah! Go and see what the knocking ia, and don’t be a hass !” : ** Go yourself !” “T shan't |” “ Pick up the lantern, then, and come with me.” “ Pick it up yourself !” “Do you know who you're a speaking to, eh?” “Yes; do you?” ‘Ves. F us During this brief colloquy there had been a cessation of the furious knocking. It almost seemed during the interim that the two officers would work themselves up to fighting point. But then, with great suddenness, the knocking was re- newed. The sound appeared to cause all their valour to sink down into their shoes. Their mutual recrimination ceased, and while the knocking lasted all they were capable of doing was to hold fast to the backs of the chairs on which they kad been seated, and stand stock still with wide-open mouths. ‘‘ Tt’s—it’s,” gasped Joel—‘it’s the ghostcses, Moggs! I feels sure of it—I knows it!” “Gammon!” replied Moggs, though the incredulous word was uttered in anything but a decided tone. “‘Tt—it must be!” “ No—no!” said Moggs, faintly. “ What is it, then ?” Somebody at the door.” “ Door ?—what door ?” ““ Why, the front door.” ‘Who could be there at this time of night ?- “ How should I know? ‘Travellers, perhaps.” “And do you think travellers would knock like that? Just hark!” The knocking was more furious than ever. Moggs and Joel listened for some time in silence. It is to be presumed that a little reflection came to their aid. Certain, however, is it that after an interval it began to dawn upon their obtuse mental faculties that the knocking could only be caused by some one outside clamouring for admittance. ‘‘ You're a fool, Joel!” said Moggs, speaking in some- thing like a reascnable yoice. “So are you!” retortéd Joel. “Come along!” cried Moggs, as he snatched up the light off the table—‘‘come along, and let us see who is there. If we are not quick they will have the door down !” Joel was not disposed tO remain in the dark, so he fol- lowed closely in his companion’s footsteps. So rapidly did they make their way across the outer room that they never once glanced behind them, so Tom King remained in his place of concealment undetected. But the question was, how long would he remain So ? ‘'om had come, as he believed, to a correct conclusiopy regarding the cause of the knocking. He was quite under the impression that by somy means or cther a detachment of police officers had tracked him there. ~ If this was 80, what was he to do? He glauced rapidly around him, but he egyld sea no outlet for escape. That his present hiding-place wouly not be tenable much longer was certafn. Even if the knocking had a different origin tc what he was persuaded it had, no one gould posaibly enter the outer room from the passage without sseing ~_— JOOKS EOMIIE CO a. We te. ee i oy