Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

1412 Dring the occurrence of this scene, Claude and Jack yemained profoundly silent, nor did they venture to speal until the sentinel, having commenced his duty of pacing up and down, had turned the anglo of the wall. « Wow,” said Claude, “if Tom will ouly quickly make his epvearance all will be well.” ‘“Efg must be quick,’’ was the reply, ‘ for although the soldier has been hustled off at present, yet, depend upon it, before long he will make his story known, and then a regular alarm will be raised.”’ “Tene,” was the answer. ‘‘I would give much to know how ‘I'om has succeeded in his attempt to obtain an audience of the King. I am afraid the chance is lost, and that if Dick is liberated it will be by his and our own exertions.” SE Sa EN —_ CHAPTER DCCCLXVIII. THE HIGHWAYMEN HaVE SOME DOUBTS AS TO THE GOOD FAITH OF THE KING. ‘| rar so too,” replied Sixteen-String Jack ; “ but we will wait here till daybreak in the hope that Tom will return. Rely upon it, if he does come back, he will mnake direct for this point, because his horse is here.”’ ‘Yes, woe will wait,’’ said Claude; ‘itis not likely that we will abandon him.”’ Aud so the time passed on. So firmly impressed were both the highwaymen with the notion that ‘om King would make his appearance over the wall, that they paid but slight attention to any noises they might hear either to the left or right of them, Consequently they were unaware of Tom’s approach until he was almost upon them. * Claude—Jack,’’ he said, in a low tone—‘‘ speak — where are youfr’’ “'Tom, is it youP”’ ‘‘ Yes, I am here, safe and sound.” Stic comrades pressed round him eagerly. “Faye yar oreaceded £” they asked, with breathless enxiety—“ have you aucseeded P”’ 7 have,’ said form, with a conscious triumph. “I hove seen the King and had an interview with him, and --. has eiven his word that Dick shall be set at liberty.”’ Clauda aud Tack thers ‘their hats in the air, and ina faint whispai, via Putri t But for the contiguity of the sentinels, the cheer would have been a lusty one; but prudence restrained them. ‘ Mount!" said Claude. ‘ Let us mount and gallop back ; such good tiding as these cannot be communi- cated too quickly. We had just resigned ourselves to despair when you appeared,” The highwaymen mounted their horses with all speed, and turned their faces homeward. Tom found he should get no peace until he had told his two companions all that had happened to him after his daring jump over the wall. They listened with breathless interest, and at last Claude said : ** And that, I suppose, is all we shall ever hear of this mysterious locket. What we know suggests a great deal more; and yet we may draw our own conclusions, and still be very far from the mark.” ‘ Nothing more likely,” said Tom; “ but yet, after all, we may obtain some further intelligence, But, either way, it does not much matter, now that our end is ob- tained,” Taking the same route as before, the highwaymen calloped at full speed back to the Three Spiders Inn, They paused only once on the journey, and yet, in spite of all their exertions, it was fairly daybreak before the plantation was reached, They looked up anxiously at the little window, hoping to catch sight of the signal-light, But it was not there. Such being the case, they wero afraid to make any further movement. Chafing with impatience, more than half an hour elased, and then upon the hard road in front of the inn they heard the clatter of horses’ feet. Listening intently, they soon found that some persons or other were taking their departure, for the sound grew praunuauy iess and less distinct. -eadil Pi) fA SG rte os ¢ 4 - ar" Bn ‘ “> c-e% “meh. PY a ‘ ioe —% - ow Saigh-+ A ‘ z + a BLACK BESS; OR, ——_———— ore eee Shortly afterwards the little door in the stabloa was opened, and Tom Davis crossed its threshold. The highwaymer advanced towards him instantly. ‘Ts all well?” they asked, ** Yes, all’s well now; but only a few moments ago the officers were here.”’ “ What, again P”’ “Yes, again. I really thought they wore satisfied ; however, on this occasion, as you were all absent, and as L knew there was nothing that cofild betray me, I allowed them to search everywhere, and a most rigid search it has been. Of course,’’ he added, “they dis- covered nothing.”’ : ‘‘ Well, then,’”’ said Claude, “I hope this is tho last we shall have of these visits, Surely they must have some strong suspicion, or they would not be s0 frequeytly repeated.” “'That’s my own fear,’ returned Tom. “TI can’t under- stand their pertinacity ; but we have only to be cautions, and then all will be well.” Jack shook his head. “T don’t know that,’ he said; ‘they may pounce upon us in an unfortunate moment, and then there will be an end to our remaining here.’’ ‘‘ Well, well—we will leave that. Tell me first how you have succeeded in your enterprise P” ** Better than we expected.”’ ** Have you seen the King P”’ **T have.”’ ‘'Then,’’ ejaculated Tom Davis, ‘‘I shall never con- sider anything impossible again. Had I been asked what there was that no one could perform, I should have said, obtain an audience of the King.” ‘Well, I have done it, and with less difficulty than you imagine. Not only that, he has given his word that Dick shall be set free.” Tom Davis gave a shout, and then he exclaimed : ‘‘T am glad to hear it—heartily glad to hear it ; forI have just received intelligence that has filled me with uneasiness.” ‘“Tndeed? Does it concern Dick P” | ‘Tt does. But come in; let us close the stable door, and while we are seeing to the horses we can talk it over.’ This was done, and as soon as they were fairly beneath the roof of the stable, ‘Tom Davis said : ‘‘'The officers brought me word that the authorities, fearing some rescue or escape, have determined to push things on to the utmost. No time has been lost any- where, and, in order that they may make sure of the execution taking place without delay, the old warrant sent for Dick has been endorsed, and all preparations have been made, so that his execution is fixed to take place at noon to-morrow.” ‘* No matter,” said ‘Tom King—“ no matter. [f any faith is to be placed in the King’s word, Dick will be free long before then, and the authorities will be again disappointed.” ‘“‘T trust so,’’ said Tom Davis; “ buf you must tell me some more of the particulara. Do you think there is that dependence to be placed on the King’s word P After you have gone, is there not the fear that he may be in- fluenced by some of his ministers to break his word P”’ ‘“T trust not,’ returned ‘I'iom King—‘“ I think not; but should he be weak enough to be persuaded, his conduct will be base in the extreme.”’ ‘There cannot be two opinions about that,’ returned Tom Davis; ‘‘ but, then, I have often heard that the King is weak and vacillating. How much better it would have been could you have procured some docu- ment from him in confirmation of his promise.’’ “Tt would, truly,’”’ replied Tom King ; ‘‘ but, then, I was afraid to push him too far. I thought I had been extremely successful in obtaining his word.’’ “ And that ought to bo sufficient,”’ said Sixteen-String Jack, ‘‘and don’t let us meet trouble half-way.” ‘““T am the last to do that,’ returned Davis, ‘‘ only we ought not to lose sight of any consideration.’’ “ You are right,” said Tom King; “ but let us go in now. Above all, attend to this—let no word of doubt reach Maud’s ears.,”’ J : ‘“ Certainly not—it would be unwise and cruel toa esree,”’ With these words, the horses Ler been made coms (Li eo) GoOOCKS com