Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 400: what you’re looking at

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

1772 Sas cre Ae EC -“ You have thought of this as well, captain ?” “ITconfess I have.” ~ “Then let us hear all you have to say.” “‘T propose, then, that between now and tho timae ot meeting we all occupy ourselves to the best of our ability, so as to get together a good round sum.” “ For what purpose ?” “In order to place in the hands of Tom Davis for him to use as he may think fit, which will, 1 hope, in some measure recompense kim for his losses.” | ‘“‘ Wow, captain, none of that.” “Tom Davis!” “Yes, captain.” “Be good enough to understand that the only terms upon which you may be allowed to listen to our confer- ence are, that you preserve a profound silence.” “ But, cap——” “Tf you interrupt again, out you go, and you Sear nv more.” After this, Tom Davis was obliged to be quiet, though he was burning to give utterance to his expostulations. “Very good,” said Tom King, approvingly. “I for Bye will do my best to make the sum as round as pos- sible.” ‘‘So will we,” cried Claude and Jack. ‘ We will show him what sve think about him.” ‘“‘ As to she manner in which this money is to be em- ployed, [have my own ideas, and if you, my comrades, think them good, they will be carried out, I hope.” "Ca !” began Tom Dayis. “ Silence, will you !” Thus admonished, the highwayman’s faithful ally held his tongue. “‘ My proposition is, that as soon as we place the money in his hands he shall, with all speed possible, make his way out of England. The amount, I hope, will be such as will enable him to live out along life incomfort in some other clime.” This proposal was received with universal acclama- tion. ‘“‘Oaptain,” broke in Tom Davis, the tears rolling down his cheeks, ‘“‘I shall never be able to utter my thanks; and rest assured I shall never be able to forget this generous mark of your favour.” *‘ So far, then,” Dick went on, “‘ we may say all is settled, and all that there is for our consideration is one or two minor points.” “But yet unfortunate ones.” “Yes, decidedly. In the first place, as to the rendez- vous.” “It ought surely to be near to the sea-side.” ae bearing in mind the end we have in view, it ought.” ‘“‘ And as solitary and retired as possible,” *‘ It cannot be too much so.” ‘Then where is that place to be found ?” “Can you tell?” “ Not straight off at once. Can you?” “T have had a place in my mind, but perhaps scme better one may be suggested.” * Nay, let us hear it.” “JT would rather not at present. “ Yes— yes——” “ Well, then, since you will have it—Stonehenge.” “Stonehenge ?” all repeated. “Yes; you knowit, do you not?” “We have heard of it.” “ That, then, is all that I can say.” ‘‘ But what made you fix upon that place ?” “T have always been led to believe that it ts far away from every human habitation, and that no one is seen there except some occasional wanderer brought thither by curiosity. Not only that, however, it is a place tbat ¢an so easily be found, and the way to which may be asked without the creation of much suspicion.” ‘You must have considered this subject well, captain,” said Sixteen-String Jack. * Do you think so ?” “T do, or else you could not possibly have boen so well prepared at all points as youare. You have actually left us nothing to do but to give our consent to whatever ou have advanced.” ‘* But I did not intend such to be the case. to hear your opinions,” ” I wanted " * a4 a = tj. 2 — i a wiGa ~*~. 4 a bi . - I 4 aw ‘ oo . a tee aes a tt in. 2 : <a Age Nao 5 a ab . ae pt -a ae' ae - . : . 4 - . $ BLAGE BESS; OR, “But we could think of nothing so good as tha, waiea you appeared to propose offhand.” * Well—well. If youare satisfied, that is all.” “ We are perfectly. There is only one thing, though” _. What is that ?” ~ “We have not come to a conclusion about the com- munication with old Matthew.” &* No, true.” There was a peculiar smile upon Dick Turpin’s lips, and a peculiar intonation of his voice as he thus spoka, which made Maud creep closer still to him. “ Let us decide it, then.” “ With all my heart; and as you all say you have done nothing hitherto but give consent, let me now hear one of your proposals.” Tnere was immediately such a sudden inclination tor all to speak, that nothing save a confused Babel of sounds arose. “One at a time,” said Dick—“ one at a time !” * Will you hear me first, captain ?” cried Tom King. “Ves. “Well, then, I will resolve the difficulty in a moment; I will just ride over to old Matthew to-morrow night and put matters square.” The cool manner in which Tom spoke forced every one to smile. “Tt is too much risk,” interposed Tom Davis, but he was silenced and cautioned before he could say any more. “You have soon settled it, Tom,” said Dick, “ and in the same manner as myself, but with this difference, that & “You intended to go yourself, I suppose you would say ?” “ Just so.” “No, no,” cried Maud, clinging tightly to him, “for my sake let me implore you to abandon thisidea! Banish it at once! I could not survive the time that would elapse during which you would be absent !” “Come, Maud—Maud!” ‘ft isin vain to appeal to me! It is not often thats ai youa favour; do not let me this time beg in vain!” “ But you must consider y: Vaud shuddered, and then burst into tears. Against this last Dick was not proof for a single moment. He could bear all things but Maud’s tears, and they conquered him at once. The sight of her distress was more than he could bear. “ Dry your eyes,” he said. quest is granted.” ** And you really will not go ?” ‘‘] will not, since such is your wish.” The smile that overspread Maud’s cauntenance at this moment was sufficient recompense to Dick for anything, though for all that he felt that it would have afforded him no ordinary satisfaction could he but once more have grasped old Matthew’s hand and gazed upon his jovial face. “Do not weep. Your re- CHAPTER MXLII. TOM KING IS RECOGNISED ON REACHING LONDON. “Ts it determined, then,” asked Tom King, briskly “that I shall go?” “Well, you spoke first.” gi binky “ But what say Claude and Jack ?” “Vell,” responded the pair alluded to, “we will re- sign our claims in favour of him. It would be too bad to disappoint him—he seems quite to have set his heart upon if.” ‘“T have,” said Tom—“ you are pefMectly right there.” “ When would you start ?” ‘Tam ready now.” “T think the enterprise had better be postponed until to-morrow night,” said Dick. “If you Were to start now, you would have scarcely time to get there before day break.” . You are right; and not only that—some cunning scheme must be devised, for I daresay the officers keey as sharp a look-out as ever upon Old Matthew's prs- mises.” cS JOO — (E()