Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 399: what you’re looking at

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

E ‘ . - - * ‘ s “ + *, : “}" - - AL ,- Ra # ° . v “¢ ° ‘> a 4 . * o - ae,» ¥ . é ra 6 we ‘y , ? . _ i > a “ Se to (“ - as - aig tat . . are -. ~ ; : : s = jhe 2 - & ye . . | % ye : A. = — } 4 ee = In what way, captain?” ssked Tom King, — Why, I want to know whcther you are all insiined Mie and determined to remaip here so long as the officers wrill Blow us to du so ?”. “Decidedly,” replied a chorus of however, Mand’s was not heard, “That being regolved upon,” continued Dick, “the next thing is with regard to ‘lom Davis's wite end Nilen. I need not say anything to remind you that ws had resolved to allow them both to undergo their term of im- prisonment. Not cniy were we at that time unable to offer them any assistance, but it was thought best that, as the term was so short, it had better be passed, and tksn they would be free from the officers sp far as that offeace was concerned ” “Exactly,” said Claude Duval, “and if 1 am rot greatly out of my reckoning, the time has neriy expired.” , ' “Tt has, Davis, has it not?” asked Turpin “Phree more days, captain,” was the murmured repl | voices, iu which, I have been considering the subject carefully, and the result is that several things have presented themselves to me of which I had not previously taken any account.” An immediate desire was expressed for an exp!lana- tion. “ These things are of more moment to us than you may perhaps imagine. But to commence: in the first place, of course, at the appointed time they will both be set at liberty.” “ Just so.” “ Well, it will then be necessary that they should join us. But how is this to be done ?” _ “We might contrive to let them knuw,” said Sizteen- String Jack. “Yes, so we might,” assented Dick, “it is not there that I see any particular difficulty.” “Where then ?” “Why, you must bear in mind how anzious the Officers are to capture us.” is A , - - ~ | , hd Vy’, a: ** Don’t be afraid we shall forget it, captain.” 3 “3 Dick laughed as he added : ee “ And do not forget that Tom Davis has been extracted e, from their clutches. This, however, is the point I wish to % arrive at: the officers will know very well at what time Ellen and Mrs. Davis will be set at liberty, and you may depend that they will take ail the advantage they can of the circumstance.” “ But in what way, captain ?” “Why, they will think, of course, that the first thing the released persons will set about doing will be te regain their friends. Now do you understand me ?” “I think so,” answered Tom King. “But go on—let us have it clearly understood.” * It is important enough.” “ Clearly so.” ‘Well, then, the officers, depend upon it—or if not them, some of their agents—-will be on the watch outside the prison, and as soon as Ellen and Mrs. Davis come forth they will fix their eyes upon them, and keep the zlosest watch upon every movement they may make.” Tom Davis covered his face with bis hands, so that the expression of it might not be observed during th2 further progress of this, to him, important discussion. “ Depend upon it,” said Claude Duval, “that is what they will do; but till it was mentioned, I never onse thought of such a thing.” “It is well,” said Dick, “ that it has been though ai 's time.” P “Yes, thanks to you, ._yiain.” Turpin passed over this compliment without remark, and went on to say: — “What we have now to consider is, how we can con- ~ tinue to prevent the officers from carrying out this plan. a Rely upon it, they will try hard to get upon our track by = this means; and if they do they will take care to be in such force as to make resistance difficult.” This prospect alarmed Maud greatly, and eno crept more closely to Turpin’s side, @s she always did upen the approach of danger. * Captain,” said Tom Davis, “1 can see very pisiniy bow dangerous this will be to you, and therefore you must leave us to shift for ourselves; I will not consent -YHE KNIGBY OF THE ROAD. y: “Then it is time we came to a decision. For my part, ? : — a { that you should all be drawn into so much extra psril—iét ‘s net rightful, and it shall not be!” - “Tom Davis!” “ Yes, captain.” “ If youmake another such e speech as that you shala be turned out of the reom and not be allowed either to listen or to take part in *4e discussion.” “ But——” “Not anotker word. You must leave us to be the judges of what we taink best and expedient, and what we intend to do.” “ Oertainly,” cried Sixteep-String Jack. “ De you think we aro going fo make you such a return ag thatfor ali that you have done for us in time past ?” : ‘But you have requited that obligation times and — times over,” said Tom Mis, still with his face hidden, end speaking in a broken, husky voice. ‘“‘ Nothing of the kind. But it islike you to forget all about the past. Let there be no more of this, for the way out of the difficulty I have laid before you is not s0 very perilous after all.” “Indeed, captain!” ejaculated the poor fellow, look- ing up with brightening eyes. “ You must know this is the longest separation there has ever been between my wife and myself and Ellen. We have known good and evil fortune, but we have always been together. Andas for Neli—bless her!—I love her as though she was my own child. It drives me mad when I think what 1 have brought her to.” ‘Rather remember what you saved her from; but that is like you again—never to remember the benefits you ccnfer.” “But what was the way out of the difficulty hat you =~ spoks of ?” interrupted Tom King, who spoke with con- siderabis impatiencec “You shali hear.” “ Go on then—vwe are listening.” | “In the first place we must communicate with old Matthew.” : ‘That sounds like getting into one difficulty to get out of another.” “Tt may be so; but listen.” “ We will.” “TI say we must communicate with old Matthew—and the sooner the better. This is in order that he may see Mrs. Davis and Ellen—if possible before their liberation— and make them acquainted with the nature of our plans.” “Justso. But——” *“ Wait a moment, and you shall hear. What I suggest in order to baffle the officers is, that they shall both take up their quarters at some decent lodging in or near London——”’ “Tondon!” ejaculated all, in tones of surprise. is ‘‘ Yes, and there they are to remain, say, for about a@ fortnight—or longer, if necessary. By the end of that time the ardour of the officers in watching them will haye ~ abated ; then they must embrace an opportunity to slip — off unperceived and make their way to us.” * Sut where will that be ?” “That we must determine.” “ And it will be no easy matter, I fancy,” said Claade Duval. “So do I,” responded Sixteen-String Jack. “I should like to know very much where we shall be to-morrow. , let alone a fortnight hence.” “You seem amused,” said Dick, with a smile; “but let — me assure you that I can see my way quite clearly.” “You can ?” “ Oertainly.” “Then where shall we be?” “ Without directly answering that question, I think I can ssiisfy you. Suppose we fix upon a certain future time~-say three weeks or a month hence—on one parti- cular day, and at a certain hour we can arrange to beat a specified place—that is, if we are alive and it lies in the — power of human beings.” ; K BS “I begin to understand,” said Tom King. “ You would appoint a place and arrange for us all to meet there ?” Certainly ; and I cannot see any remarkable obstacie.” “ here shall we say ?” (Gan you name a place e oe ~ ny “I could, certainly; but before doing s>, wouldit notbe = better to talk over our own proceedings in the meantime 5” “It would. That is well thought of.” CONNIE OC (c (E(@) cs) > ) me a | a) ne ee