Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

* ae . ° * S40 % ws, 3 a x —_* -~ > ora te : « thre +. - oe . * . 4 ~ - »,* az) 4 *~ S toe re §,I—Ican’thelpit! Ishudder now, and my back feels as though some ono was pouring cold water down Well, thisis rich! Bat Til teli you west _ “Ha—ha! nate, is the best thing you can do.” _ -“ What—what ?” | _ &Why,turn the whole of your attention to this nice little heap of treasure here. Just look at it—feast your ___—s eyes _ upon it, and you will soon get the better of all those ridiculous fancies.” . “JT—I can't doit!” ‘‘Nonsense! Here, have semething to drisk.” “ T could not touch it!” _ “Yes, but, d—n it a}\, you are not going on like this, | hope! Come, bundle the things together again, and we will carry them upstairs.” * But—but——” “What now ?”- ‘‘ Why, can’t you see ?” “See what ?” “That they are all covered with—with blood? Yes, look, there is blood upon every one !” “T'll be d—d if I should have thought this of you, old fellow; you are quite beside yourself.” The officer’s teeth chattered together like castanets, and his eyes rolled in the most fearful manner around the vault,as though he expected cvery moment to en- counter some horrible spectacle. _ ‘The alteration in his demeanour seemed at first to be _ guarprising ; but then, when the nature of the place is duly eonsidered, it is not so much to be wondered at. It is a well-known fact, however, that there is nothing more infectious than fear. _ Now, Knight was about as free from all kinds of super- stitious, or rather supernatural, impressions as any man well could be, yet this change in his comrade’s demeanour produced a marked effect upon him. Cunningham seemed every moment to grow more and more overcome. Staggering slowly back, he paused atlength with his back against the wall, his eyes rolling, his teeth chatter- ing, and drawing his breath in short and fitful gasps. Tom King watched all this with feelings of the greatest satisfaction. It was just what he had been wishing for. He now believed that he saw before him the means of accomplishing the purpose which had been hovering in his brain. After a moment’s reflection, he seemed to decide upon his course. With hasty steps, he made his way to the staircase and ascended. With the same rapidity, he entered the room where he had concealed himself, and where he recollected there was something which would be necessary to the earrying out of his intention. e wee was nothing else than a large white table- oth. | It was really astonishing to observe with what quick- ness Tom moved the different articles that stood upon the table, and then removed the cloth. Rolling it up into a small compass, he again descended to the cellar. Pausing at the bottom of the steps, he ascertained that the two officers were still standing where he had lelt them, the one endeavouring to ingpira tho other with courage, while he was conscious that his @wm Grmaess was fast giving way. ‘ Silently, Tom glided to the well and took up his posi- tion in such a way that the brickwork around it was between himself and the entrance to the inner cellar, thus vne him with a slight and temporary hidipg- place. P . His first act was to spread out the tabte-ciotn, an3; sn shoroughly to envelop himself in it. would answer his purpose admirably. | One corner of the cloth he head and fece, after the manner of a monk's cowl. ¥, you fool ! What do you weut to. talk | it has taken us to describe them, and by the time thoy “you go on so, you will end by being as oa The cloth was not long enongh to cover the whole of the lower part of his person, but he considered that agranged to fall over Ble These preparations were made in much less time than “ ' ae > : : tp~aee 7 ad Me > 5 M43 wie ; «5 TS . AD. . ee were completed there was a stir made by the officers. ae crouched down as low as ever he possibly could. The brickwork of the well was quite sufficient to con- céal him from the gaze of the two police officers when they emerged. ‘he reader will perceive that Tom’s intention was to cive them a terrible fright. To what extent he succeeded will be quickly seen. “ D—n it all!” cried Knight, “don’t stop here! Coma on! Help me to carry tho swag, and you may go on how you like upstairs.” “}-—{ cannot touch it !” « f® you don’t help me you shall not have a shilling of it |” “ The curse of blood is on all!” “The curse of a fiddlestick! Are you afraid te carry that ?” There was no reply; but Tom concluded that ths lantern was put into Cunningham’s hands, for Knight said : “There, there—hold it steady! Don’t shake it abont like that! D—dif I don’t believe you will drop it, after all; if you de, we shall be in the dark, recollect !” ‘ No—no !” gasped Cunningham. “ But I say we shall!” ‘T mean I shall not drop the lantern.” “ Allright then. Come on! That’s the way. Pluck up your courage. What is there to be afraid of, I should like to know ?” Knight pronounced these words in a very defiant way, but yet it did not seem as though he was quite assured that there was nothing to be terrified about. Stooping down, he picked up the keg of treasure, and, with heavy steps, advanced towards the doorway. “You must go first,” he said to his companion, “in order to show the way.” “ D—d if I do, then!” ‘“‘ How can I see?” - “JT don’t care. Put the treasure down.” “Don’t you think you see me doing it, e °” ‘T do not want it.” “7 do, though.” “Then carry it.” Thus disputing, the two officers passed from one celiir to the other. Cunningham already was so frightened that he cowd scarcely move—indeed, it was only his strong desire to quit his present uncomfortable quarters that enabled him to make use of his legs at all. ! Knight was just in that condition of mind which enabled him to preserve an outward semblance of bold- ness, but which would change into panic-stricken fear af the slightest unusual occurrence. Just as the pair passcd through the doorway, ‘Tom King placed his lips close to the brickwork of the weil, and uttered alow, deep groan. The sound was most peculiar. T’om himself was half startled by it. The whole of the cellar seemed to ring with it, and to decide upon its source was assuredly a matter of impossi- bility. Teck echoed by a dismal yell from Cunningham, who gave so great a bound that it is ten thousand woncers the lantern did not fall Knight stood motionless. Silently, and without the least sound, Tom King rose to his feet. It so happened that the eyes of both officers were turneit towards the inner cellar, as though they were under the impression that the sound had come from thence. | Vom extended cno hand in a warning, denunciatory manner. of Just then Knight and Cunningham caught sight of him, and both at the same moment. iL The view cf this ghastly-looking apparition standing as though it had just ascended from the well, made what Here—take the light! little ecouraye and fortitude they possessed abandon - them. jz! ry: They were at first struck dumb and motionless. Le It would have been an ineffable relief to both cout ‘5 they but have given utterance to the yell of fear that was COMMCEMOOOKS COs am re: