Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 385: what you’re looking at

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

~ * < “> tt pe ome eS | WU Pe 4. ar: 7 gs wy a, ‘ Ps ¢ EO eae ~ » . 3 > a ~ Pet eae : re ; ~~ ae ie he ; wx * — wi ~ tp gS 1 ~ 4 ull + ek. ree, s | the : teh t Fae > aed . pute t . can We q a . if say . * Veue.* » a og Wer Mews “7s L ’, bo * aa ay 2 os r § is ee at act) ar; Ate wae a ete Ses - Ms FR te eee wae 7 nd Ae Gy wad ‘ a; & sould ovherwise have called to her aid. The threatening attitude which she assumed, and the expressicn of determination, made the miller shrink back. Despite of all consequences, he would then and there have abandoned his purpose. But his instigating wife was still behind him urging him on. “ Kill—kill,” she cried—“ kill her, or perish your elf !” “Beware!” said Maud. “I know how to use this weapon, and shall have plenty of resolution to enable me to do so to advantage. Oome nearer at your ,eril |” Even while she spoke, Maud’s heart sank within her, for she mentally asked herself what could she do against these two. Her eyes just then fell upon the door, and she thought in a moment that if she was speedy in her movements she might gain the open air and escape unhurt. No sooner did the idea occur to her than she proceeded to carry it out. She made a sudden feint, as though her intention was to rush forward and commence the attack. The ruse succeeded to perfection. Uttering a loud yell of fear, the man dropped the knife and endeavoured to interpose his wife between himself and the threatened danger. Maud flung the sword at the pair with all her strength, = then darted out of the cottage like a flash of ight. . When she saw her thus suddenly disappear, the woman’s fury knew no bounds. She was maddened to think she had been deceived by such an artifice. She soothed her mind a little by bestowing a heavy blow upon her husband. i Then snatching up the knife, she dashed out of the ut. She just caught a sight of Maud bounding forward in the distance. This was enough to urge her to the utmost. The manner in which she now started off in pursuit was astounding. Maud had fear as an incentive to speed—the woman angry passions. . Poor Maud heard this fury bounding on behind her, and looked back in affright. Her terror was redoubled when she saw how close be- hind her her pursuer was. No sooner did the miller’s wife catch sight of her back- turned face than she uttered a frantic cry and brandished the knife above her head. Faint and sick with dread, Maud endeavoured to in- crease her speed. All objects seemed to swim before her, and she was only dimly conscious that she had gained what lInoked like a well-beaten road. Her breath came panting from her breast. She felt each moment as though she should sink. Indeed, it was a truly wonderful circumstance that she should have been able to maintain such a rapid rate of speed for so long a time. But her limbs now failed her. She staggered and nearly fell. By an almost superhuman effort she recovered herself and continued her headlong course. But the woman had gained upon her wonderfully. Maud could hear her heavy footsteps sounving, through the exaggeration of intense fear, like thunder. She could hear her heavy, labouring breath, end every now and then a half-articulate summons te come to a standstill. The summons was disregarded, but it was quite evi- or that Maud’s strength would not Pld out a m-went onger. ! What she then endured we are unable to wnvey an adequate conception of. In imagination she could see the woman behind her with uplifted knife, only waiting for a favourable oppor- tunity to strike. So impressed was she by this dread that 4 rendered her oblivious of all things else. A small twig—it could scarcely be called by any other name—lay directly in her path. Tt would have been wnder ordinary circumstances the >s ad hy . ’ = 4 £4 4 ree oo s a - oy aes 4 : o rj ese es iat a Mas CP Ae Cmte . i. a « ee y we “Cr + ~ ¢ : . — 4 a \ * 2 ~ . + ~ ~ = . 1787 Eel, this inspired her with more courage than she | easiest thing in the world to have stepped over it, or gone a little to.one side. But Maud did neither. She did not even see it; and consequently, before she was aware of it, her feet became entangled, and she fell, face foremost, to the ground. Consciousness almost left her, but not quite. The intense horror she had of what was to come pre- vented her trom losing her senses entirely. e But she did not hear the ciatter of a horse’s hoofs, Ae though the next instant a powerful yet pleasant voice struck upon her ears. , “What hellgame is this, you old witch?” the voice — ies “ Be off, or £ will be the death of you—bo off, I say |’ Then all was stii?. : The next thing Maud became aware of was an an- pleasant stinging sensation. She opened her eyes and looked up, though she fancied she was about to take her last look of this world. To her astonishment, and joy as well, she caught sight of some one bending over her with an air of tender interest. The moon was shining clearly and brightly, lighting up everything with her magic lustre. The clear, cold beams showed Maud that she was in- debted to a stranger for the piece of good fortune she had just received. | Almost in doubt whether what she saw was real, Maud closed her eyes again, but only to open them the next — moment. OHAPTER MXXXVI. IN WHICH MAUD MAKES A FRESH ACQUAINTANCE, AND ONE WHICH SHE IS DESTINED TO RENEW. Tue form of the stranger was still there. It needed no more than one glance to show her that he was young and not without good pretentions to being considered handsome. His face had upon it a pleasant though somewhat reck- less expression—and this was more noticeable about the — eyes. : "He was well formed, and his somewhat picturesque- looking apparel showed off his figure to the utmost ad- vantage. : “Tam glad you have recovered,” he said, in those peculiar accents which always distinguish those who are in the habit of moving in good society. Then observing that Maud glanced about her in terror, he added: “Be under no apprehensions now. The danger is over—the old hag is gone.” His words afforded wonderful relief to Maud’s heart, and now for the first time the tears began to flow. Young as the stranger was, he must have possessed some knowledge of what was best to be done in sucha case, for instead of making the least attempt to check her — weeping, he removed to a little distance, under the pre- tence of seeing whether his horse was properly secured to the branch of the tree to which he had attached the reins, Thus left to herself, Maud rapidly recovered her com- posure. The tears she shed wonderfully relieved her breast, and in a moment or so she made an attempt to rise. The stranger at once hastened forward and assisted her. “ You are better now, I hope?” | “ Yes—yes,” answered Maud, with some slight hesita tion, for she fancied the stranger had an admiring eye upon her. ‘My best thanks, sir, are your due, thought cannot express myself.” “ Push—tush ! 0° “It is in vain for you to attexpt generously to under- rate the service which you have rendered me. Iam well aware that but for your most timely interposition I should before this have fallen a victim to that woman's fury.” Maud could not avoid shuddering and glancing around her while she spoke. “She is gone now,” the stranger hastened to remark, in reassuring tones. ‘But did she realy mean murder ?” ““] fear so.” : The stranger looked at once eurious and interested, Maud brefly told him that circumstances had induce¢ cS Gomicboo com