Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

a slow, walking pace, towards Tyburn, which was rarely reached before the hour of twelve. As nine o’clock spproached, then, the highwaymen and allthe crowd became more impatient and excited than ever. | sy this time, too the dimensions of the crowd were mething terrible to think of. As far as ever the eye could reach, is all direr.s0ns, yeople were jammed together as closelyas was possible, and the windows and roofs of the contiguous howses presented nothing but one mass of faces. Most of the spectators, too, grew more violent and demonstrative. But the huge uproar ceased as if by magic. The hour of nine was struck by St. Sepulchre’s einck, and then, with breathless eagerness, all eyes were turned towards the huge folding doors , through which the pro- cession would issue. A few moments only must elapse, and then those gates would be thrown back. Already in imagination they could see everything in readiness for the start. “The moment has come,” said Tom, turning his hag- gard face towards his companions. ‘Can nothing be done ?” An impatient murmur rose from the crowd, and increased in sound as they found minute after minute elapsed without the opening of the doors. CHAPTER DCCCLXAXIX. IN WHICH THE HIGHWAYMEN AND OLD MATTHEW GIVE THEMSELVES UP TO DESPAIR. CLAUDE DuvAL, on separating himself from his com- panions, made his way at once to the Jew’s Harp, in Hanging Sword Alley, where, as will be remembered, he met the “ Famiiy’’ on a former occasion, when he enlisted their services on Dick’s behalf. But upon reaching this locality, he found, to his great disappointment, that immense alterations had taken place, and_of the well-known thieves’ ken not a trace remained. The fact was, it had been broken up by the police ofticers some months before. But of this fact Claude Duval was quite ignorant. This disappointment was in truth most distressing, for the time was growing so fast towards morning. He was beginning even to have some doubts whether this night was a meeting night at all; but remembering that the Three Tuns in Seven Dials was a well-known resort, he determined to hurry there, in the hope of success. But here again he met with disappointment. Making himself known to the landlord of the place, he was at once warmly received; but in answer to his inquiries, he was informed that no meeting of the family had taken place that night, or would, and that most of the members were scattered over the country. Knowing that he could place the fullest trust in this man, Claude sought his advice. But the landlord only shook his head by way of reply ; but being pressed «till further, he answered, at length: “Well, then, if you must know, it is my deliberate opinion that the captain has reached the end of his race. I have nothing to say against him myself, except that he carried things off with rather too high a hand tw please me ; but that’s neither here nor there.” “And can you offer no suggestion ?” “None whaieter. The Government has made up its mind to hang him, and hang him they will. Mark my words—they rill come true.” “T hope not,” said Claude, and he once more sought the open air. He paused irresolutely now, uncertain which should be his next step to take. But after much reflection, he could think of nothing better than making his way to old Matthew's in Drury Lane. He regretted now that he had not repaired there in the first Instance, The distance was not great, and he arrived just eiter Sixteen-String Jack had taken his departure. He found old Matthew in @ dreadful state of agita- dion. Sixteen-String Jack haa told him ot his errand. BLACK BEBE . OR, =. tw “ No luck, then, Claude ?” he said, as soon as he canrt¢ sf si¢ht of his face. need not tell me.” ‘Bat, Matthew,” exclaimed Claude, with great earnest- ness and warmth, “ you are a man of great resources, as 1 know full well. Is it possible that in this emergency yot can find yourself quite aground ?” “Tt is,” said Matthew, with a groan. “EI don’t believe any living human being could devise anything to save him from his fate. You see, those in power bave made up their minds to his execution, and how isit possible for us to prevent it ?” “How I regret that we troubled ourselves about the locket at all—that has been nothing but lost time.” “And it has tied your hands behind your backs as well,” said Matthew, “for you kept waiting and waiting for that when .you ought to have been actively en- gaged.” ““Yes—yes, I cau see my mistake now plain enough ; but yet it is terrible to think of Dick being led forth to execution and us being unable to aid him.” “Tt is indeed,” said Matthew. ‘I have only just been told that a fresh detachment of troops has been sent down to Tyburn to reinforce those already there. From this,” he added, ‘‘ it would seem as though there was a suspicion a rescue would be attempted, and against well- armed, disciplined soldiers what chance would the populace have ?” Claude sank down in a chair, and covered his face with his hands. Old Matthew tried to say something about never despair, but failing in the attempt, sat down’ also, in an attitude very similar te Claude’s. Thus they remained for some time, until the highway- man, suddenly starting to his feet, exclaimed : ‘‘ But this will never do, Matthew—never—never ‘We may as well remain thus,” said the landlord, in a broken voice—‘ we can do no good.” “T don’t know that,” said Claude. “If we cannot save him we can at least perish in making the attegpt, des- perate and fool-hardy as it may seem. I, for one, will endeavour to set him free, even if at the last moment.”, ‘‘ And so will 1,” said Matthew—‘‘so willl. Just wait a moment—I will put on my coat, and we will be off to Newgate together.” Matthew quickly donned his coat and hat, and then, leaving the house to take care of itself, accompanied Claude towards the Old Bailey. Long before they got anywhere near this thoroughfare, they found themselves surrounded by a vast crowd through which they with great difficulty forced them- selves, for every step had to be vigorously contested. The crowd was even denser and greater than Sixteen- String Jack had represented it to be. 3 All were anxious to get in such a position as would enable them to command a view of the procession when it started, and those who had got anywhere near resolutely refused to allow another to pass them. It was only, then, by dint of the greatest exertions that Claude and Matthew managed to progress at all. It was shortly after the hour of nine—about the time when the silence that had fallen on the multitude was succeeded by a hoarse murmur—that old Matthew and Claude found themselves at length on the spot they wisked to reach. Glancing keenly around, Matthew made out the form of Sixteen-String Jack, and at once pushed towards him. In another moment they were all standing in a group. Tom and Jack had ventured to indulge in the hope that these new-comers had brought wiva them welcome intelligence. But they were quickly disappointed. “The time has come,” murmured Tom King. “Surely in another moment at the most the gates will be thrown open. We shall catch onesight of him then I hope.” “ The delay is extraordinary,” said Sixteen-String Jack. “And look how excited and tumultuous the people are becoming! Shall we look upon this delay as a good or a bad omen ?” No one ventured to reply, and with an ever-increasing interest they turned their eyes towards the gate. The air was now rent by violent cries proceeding from lusty throats 1»? ‘*}'he expression of it is enough—yuu ~ Gomichbooks (E (0)