Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

SLACK BESS; OR, Sa ‘here was no resource, however, but to keep walking on and on, trusting to arrive in a short time. But his patience was destired to be put tv a severe trial. and before he had gone much further, he gr-eaged the nature of the trick that had been played him. But so delighted was he at the success he had moa4 wren, that he was inclined to laugh at any bit of spite of this Bort, so walked steadily, knowing that if he made a com- plete circuit of the castle that be must inevitably come to the point he wished to reach. His only uneasiness was on bekalf af his commenions. He wondered how they would fare when the time came for a change of guard Windsor Castle, however, was greater in circumferonce than Tom had anticipated; and owing to occasional detours that he was compelled to make, it took him upwards of an hour to reach the garden wall. Keeping under the shadow of the trees as before, he now approached with the utmost caution. Sentinels were pacing up and down as before; and at last the front of the identical sentry-box, the top of which he had mounted, was reached. Near to this he could perceive the figure of a man was standing. He was clad in soldieys uniform; but whether it was Claude that he beheld, or a veritable sentinel, Tom King could not tell, the obscurity was so profound. He resolved to wait a little while, and, if possible, to creep a little closer, in order to be able to form a better idea. He watched the opportunity when the soldier, resuming his march, turned the angle of the wall, and was for » few moments, out of sight. Anxiously he waited for the sentinel to reappear At length he came into sight. Shielding his eyes with his hands, Tom looked at him earnestly and scrutinisingly ; then, after a moment, shook his head, as he muttered: “ No—no; it’s not Claude, nor Jack either. Where on earth can they be? What has happened during my absence ?” These were questions that Tom King could not answer. But leaving kim in doubt, we will revert for a few moments to the proceedings of his comrades. CHAPTER DCCCLXVII. SHOWS HCW CLAUDE DUVAL AND SIXTEEN-SYRING JACK DISPOSE OF THE SENTIVEL. No sooner had Tom King leaped over the wall in the manner described than Sixteen-String Jack took hold of the sentinel as he lay helpless upon th) ground, and dragged him towards the sentry-box. With some diflicuity he succeeded in forcing him into it, Claude Duval, in the meanwhile, performing the part of sentinel to great perfection. It was clear that he had not yet forgotten his military training, and it would have required a keen eye indeed to detect the imposition. Sixteen-String Jack contented himself with hiding in the shadow of the sentry-box. Here he beiieved he should be quite out of sighké. end also in such a position as to render immediate aid ts ‘fom King should he require it. And so, without the occurrence of any incident to break the dull monotony of his duty Claude Duval paced up and down outside the wall, pausing occasicnayy to exchange a few whispered words with his companion. The time passed on but slowly, by no means so rapidly as with Tom, who was actively engaged during the whole time. At length a tremendous uproar was heard, and tney could only come to one conclusion respecting it, which was tnat Tom King had been discovered as an intruder in the castle, and that close search was being made after Claude stopped a moment near the sentry-box, and, resting on his firearm, said: “Tom is discovered, Jack, depend upon it. Now, then, what are we to do?” “Why, nothing that I can see, except te remai_ ucre in readiness to assist him when be appears. Rely upon it he will make his way direct to this point, not only from PR eS eres ae ve desire to rejoin us, bat also because the horses are ere.! ‘‘; wish I could see over the top of the wall, never- theless” said Olaude. & “Be pervaaded by me,” said Jack, “and don’t attempt it You would be seen almost toa certainty, while ten to one if you could make out what was going on.” To stay !oager was iraprudent, so Claude marched off again, feeling very uneasy, and vet heing al) the time ox the alert. Time passed, and Tom did not appear. Then suddenly they heard the rcgular tapping of a ae the same sound that they had heard a short time efore. ‘The time is up,” said Claude, halting again; “the guard is about to be changed. Now what on earth shall we do?” Jack was puzzled. “Tam afraid Tom is captured,” he s.c2; “and if he is, we shall only run our own necks into the noose by attempting to rescue him.” “ T suppose so,” was the answer ; “and yet that does not reconcile one to abandoning him to his fate.” “Tt certainly does not; but be quick ard decide be-. fore the soldiers appear in sight. It will not do to re- main here.” “That is certain,” said Claude, hastily stripping off the soldicr’s coat—“ detection would be certain.” “And it will be now,” said Jack, “for the soldiers, when they arrive here and find their comrade in this condition, will raise an immediate alarm.” “Tet us look at him,” said Claude, “and see what condition he is in by now.” He stepped out of the sentry-box and went closa up to the soldier. He was in a peculiarly uncomfortable position. Claude shook him. But he took no notice. ‘“T believe he is insensible,” he whispered. is, We can manage it.” “ How—how ?” ‘““T cannot stay to tell you. must suffice.” Quick as thought, Clande dragged the sentinel out of the box, end then found his conjecture to be verified. The man was indeed insensible. His next proceeding was with great rapidity to rid him of the ropes by which he was secured, and to take the gag out of his mouth. As soon as Jack saw what his comrade was about he assisted him, and the fragments were thrown over the wall. Then, with a great deal of difficulty, the sentinel’s coat was put on, and his musket placed beside him. In his pocket Claude carried a small case of brandy. This he produced, and poured a quantity of it into the man’s mouth, who made a convulsive attempt to swallow it. “That will do,” he cried. “Now, Jack, follow me with all speed. When they come, ten to one if the guard don’t take him to be dead drunk.” As noiselessly as shadows the highwaymen departed. concealing themselves once more in the trees. Here they remained to watch what would happen next. On came the little troop of soldiers, just as they had seen them on the preceding occasion. At length they stopped opposite the sentry-box, pon whier the highwaymen’s attention was fixed. The sentinel, who was now beginning to recover his cousciousness, was sitting on the ground, with his back acatass the sentry-box. ‘‘ Fullo!” the highwaymen heard a gruff voice say, and which doubtless proceeded from the officer in command —“‘hullo! what’s this? Why, d—n me if heis not drunk! Wake him up there, will you, some of you ?” Ths saldiers gathered round their companion and shook him violently. The cdour of the brandy was very powsrinl, and made itself apparent to all. “Fis is drunk,” they cried. “Can't you smell the brandy ? Well, vrho would have thought of this ?” “*hore’ll be a row about it,” said another voice. “Silence!” cried the officer, “Get him up and mike him a prisoner.” “Tf ke Watch my actions—that Gomichbooks co