Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

:. - *, »* . __ fortable, the three highwaymen followed Tom Davis into Seoeeenetnn . _ They found Mand pale and tearful, anxiously watching and wishing for their return. | _ She sprang forward as soow as they crossed the threshold, and in imploring accents said: > — Tell me—oh, tell me the result of your 6ffcrts! Tell ye itmeinaword. Donot kcep me longer in suspense—it ‘ es ~~ Te gas half killed me already,” ss & T will not,” said Tom, cheerfully. I have seen the - ‘King—the locket has had its expected effect, and he has na given me his promise that Dick shall be liberated without =, >>... deluy.” : < With an hysterical cry, Maud burst into tears. That intelligence was indeed a relief to her overfranght heart . Those tears, however, quickly passed away, and, turn- ing a smiling countenance towards Tom King. she said: = “When—oh, when may we expect hiin ?” Soon, I should think—very soon. The King no doubt would desnatch a messeuger at once, and Dick would be set free on his arrival. Surely we may expect to see him some time between this and nightfall.” This was encouraging indeed, and Mand, having learned all the particulars, hastened to the front of the inn, and took up her position at a window which com- manded the best view of the lane. Here she remained during the whole of the day, re- fusing to move. ; This act of hers enabled the highwaymen and Tom Davis to speak freely on the subject that was uppermost in their minds. And, as the day slowly wore on, it was strange to see how much the doubts felt by all increased. “Tf the time was not so fearfully short,” said Claude Duval, “it would not so mug matter; but really, if any- thing should go wrong, it leaves us no chance whatever + to use our own exerticns. Are you sure, Davis,” he a3 asked, for about the twenticth tine, “that the execution Is appointed for to-morrow ?” | “Perfectly certain,” was the answer. best authority for the statement.” 4. - ** Well, comrades,” cried Sixteen-String Jack, * with - your permission, I will tell you what we will do.” “ What ?” | “Remain here until] nightfall; then, if Mek does not make his appearance, wo will mount our sorses and ride towards Londoe., nould le be returning, we shal] meet ~. gim; and should we ascertain that no messenger has been S sent, we will try what we can do ourselves.” ae. After some discussion, this course of action wae rs- solved upon. “bee Never, perhaps, had a day gone by so tcediously as that. . | They all sat watching the little Dutch clock in the im kitchen, as its hands moved slowly round the dial- Ta late. ; Bok E It would havo been better could they have slept; but . in the excited condition of their minds slumber was im- _ possible. Whenit was getting towards sunset, they, all anzfous to be doing something, rose from their seats and made _ their way to the stables. - __ Here they occupied themselves in attending to their horses, and just as twilight was deepening into night _ they put on tke saddles and bridles. _ ~—s«*Up to that moment, nothing whatever had been seen er heard of D:ck, and therefore they might justly feel afraid that things were not going right. “T can wait no longer,” said Tom King. ‘Como on, comrades. We will ride sicw!y towards London, ard I hope before we hav> gvno far we shail Le lucky enough to meet him.” ° “Most heartily do « ceno that wish.” said Tom Davis. “Take my advice, aud be prepared atell points. Now ~, “T have the = > > BS gy er “se e+ from the first I had bat slight faith in tha Wing’s word, end now | ‘ight go the length of telling you that I feel none at a!l. {fu 4 moment and under the circumstances you describe, he may have given you the promise, but aiter-refluction has caused him to alter Lis mind. It is 4” humble opinion that if Dick Turpin is to be liberated from Newgate to-nigut, it will be by your exértions, and _- Ggurs oniy.” ne : _ — > *-~ that you are aoout to depart, I don’t hesitate to say that | THE KNIGHT OF TGE BOAD. ane ee er yy ‘Well, we shall see,? aaid Tom King. “Come on, comrades. When once -7a are in motion we shai] da away with the dreadful <susation of suspense that we bave been suffering solong = @11.5 AaR—come 921” CHAPTER DOCCLXIX. ESZ.ATZS BOW DICK TURPIN PASSED TITZ DAY FREVIOUS 2D THN ONE APPOINTED FOR WIS EXECUTION, TERE wes o}.e to whom the minutes of that day lagged quite as slowly as to Tom Davis and the highwaymen, and that one, as may bo guessed, was no other than Dick Turpin, in his comfortless cell in Newgate. Lie tempting breakfast that bad been brought him by the friendly jailer he left untouchzd; and when, skertly alterwards, the jailer came in, he exclaimed: “Why, captain, you have had nothing at all. looks bad. Low is it ?” ‘Tam sick at heart,” said ''urpin—"'I am rail of un- casiness and suspense. Can you not contrive to leave the prison soon, and slip off to Drury Lane? ‘Ten to one you will learn something there that will give me ease.” “T will try my very best, captain—rest assured of that. I hope things are all going rigut with you, because ? “Because what?” “Why, I don’t like to say it; brt yet perhaps I had better tell you that they are making every preparation for turning you off to-morrow.” * Are they indeed ?” “Yes, they are, and it’s talked of in the prison as a thing of course, for, having given your word not t-») make the naa to escape, they fcel certain that you must perish.’ ‘“\Vell, wo shall sce,”-said Dick, whose spirits were by no means raised by this intelligence—‘twe shall see shortly. In the meautime, go to Drury Lane. I shall know better how to act when you return.” ‘*T will, captatn; but though I am a bit of a favourite with the Governor, yet I cannot do exactly as Llike. No goubt I shall slip cff soon.” With these words, the jailer left, and Dick was cnee more in solitude. Ile tried to keep himself calm. But vainly. He would ~vt have been numan had he not felt tue great peril of his situation. Ilis life, it might be said, hung merely upon a thread. Had the day of his execution been appointed for that day week instead of the morrow, he would have felt per- fectly indiiferent, because if the King did not aid him he would then have a chance of using his own powers and rofiting by the assistance of his comrades. While at the height of his suspense, he heard the mut- tering of voives outside his cell. Then the fastenings were withdrawn, and the door flung open upon its hinges. Dick started forward with impatient anxiousness, for he fully expected it was the friendly jailer who had re- turned with welcome intelligence. What was his disappointment, then, to perceive that it was a total strangcr—a slim little man, wearing spectacies and a very dirty perulce ? To his intense astonishment, this man, with extended hand, ran forward and cried: “My dear sir, this is really a pleasure—i am rejoiced to see you! Preserve that exprcssion—pray preserve that expression, aud it will be first-rate.” Dick instinctively shrank back from the stranger's ad- vances, and put up his arm in a defensive attitude, as if to shield himself from the attack of a foc. What on earth the dirty, vutidy little man could mean he could not teil. Casting bis eyes towards the aoor, he saw that one of the men on guard outside had thrust in sumething square, This 'carcfully wrapped up in paper. Along with it came a small oblong box, and what ap- red 19 pe three pieces of wood strapped together. 1) was still in tho dark as to the strungex’s intersiuns. Liat he was not long suffered to be ge. '* My dear sir,” he said again, “just look here. Wait a taoment. It is a pleasure, 1 am sure—a very great pleasure. There!” With nervous haste he picked up the three pieees of woo, unstrapped them, and placed them ox the floor in ® Eomichoo (C Syn (EO)