Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

1454 -In conclusion, the Governor said: ‘And now, if you will allow me to give youa little piece of advice, and ask you to follow it, don’t think it is given from a wish to get out of any further trouble =i.h ou.” eS “T would nover think such a thitg,” said PVurpin. “Pray whatisit? Iam most anxivus to hear anything you may have to communicate.” “ Well, then, candidly speaking, if you can manage vy your own adroitness to get clear of Newgate to-night do not fail te do so.” “T will not,” was Dick’s repiy, spoken with even more earnestness than the Governor's instruction. ‘The reason why I advise it,” pursued Mir. Bradery, “is that there is great talk of a thorough search through the prison. Ilitherto [ have been able to keep them from this part of it, but to-morrow some one may step forward who knows all the secrets of this edifice, and a thorough search, in the proper sense of the term, will be made, in which event, should you be lingering Lere, you would be in great danger of discovery.” “Allright,” said Dick—“ TI take the hint.” “ And I will depart,” concluded the Governor, “for I am desirous not to be absent fron my post for any length of time together. My whole thoughts are given to avoid giving cause for suspicions, if I can.” “ Very prudent indeed.” The Governor stooped, and, putting down the lamp ke had brought with him, the reservoir of which he assured the highwayman contained a good supply of oil, he took up the extinguished one, and said: ** Good night!” “ Farewell!” responded Dick, shaking him by the hand, “Iam much obliged to you for all you have done, and I hope I shall not have the plessure of meeting you again within these walls.” The Governor smiled, aad then, evidently wishful to take his departure, stepped out into the outer corridor, fastening up the door as before, and, in spite of the dark- ness, made his way back to his own apartments without aecident. Dick felt loath for the Governor to go, and, indeed, shortly afterwards wislicd he had the power to recal} him, but it was too late. Getting inte as comfortable a position as he could, Dick partook of the refreshment the Governor had brought, and drank a smail quantity of the brandy, after which he felt greatly revived, aud ready to embark in any adventure hat might present itself before him. He remained for some moments after he had finished is meal resting his forehead on his hand, and giving himself up to deep thought. Then, rousing himself, he took from his pochst the locket and chain he had so strangely found. Once more this underwent a thorough inspection, but nothing more was seen than he had seen already. He dweit for a long time upon the pleasing features of the young girl, and, as he returned the trinket to his pocket, he mentally made a vow to use his best endea- vours to discover how and by what means it had fallen where he had found it. Rising, then, and carefully removing all traces of his presence there, Dick took up the lamp, and, with tolerable certainty and confidence, made his way towards the irregularly-shaped chamber, upon the floor of which ap- peared so terrible and ominous a sign. Again he made a close examination of this place, with- out, however, making any fresh discovery except that the incressed illumination of the lamp enabled kim to odtain % visit ei the ceiling, a thing be had co suxious*y de- sired, Instead of finding that the roof continued to sisps up- wards toa point, as he fully expested it would, he saw thet across the upper part ef it was laid what looked lke nm wooden flooring supported on two joists or beams, which, blackened all over by time, were only jrst distia- uishable from the darkness around them. While thus gaziug up, a faint sound from above reached bis ears; yet it was a sound, and that it came from the wooden floor above he felt convineed. Doubtless human beings were at hand, ané, as be might consider that all men were at war with him, he was rizht in fearing detection. © fia Srst impulse, therefore, was to extinguish the lamp, BLACK BFSS; OR, rr ee ee Ce ee eee and sis he would most certainly have done, only be re~ | af colfected just in time that he had not the means with — re him of reigniting it. Yet the light of that lamp might show itself through any small crevices that there might be between the boards, and thus his presence become known. _ Accordingly, without pausing to reflect, bat urged only by an instinct which he did not attempt to resist, Dick hastily retreated down one of the corridurs, and, having gone far enough as he imagined, stvoped down. and placed the lamp iu one of the recessed doorways. lis light was now almost entirely cut off. But just at this moment Dick started and almast uttered a cry. Ic was only by a great effort of self-command that he repressed it. The profound silence around was suddenly broken in upon by a sound, the nature of which he could not pre- © cisely make out, followed by a rushing noise as of some heavy body falling through space. Then succeeded a dull, heavy crash, and simultaneously a groan. Dick’s first thought was that his imagination had de- ceived him, but he was not allowed leng to retain this impression, for another groan came fainter but more un- mistakably than the first. Wondering what could have occurred, aad undecided how to act—or if he ventured forth with the lamp he might be seen—Dick remained for a moment or two a prey to ¢he greatest suspense, ‘Searing that period he continued to hear the faint yat panfu! groans, and, unable to remain a passive listener any longer, he, in spite of the obscurity, crept gently along the pessaze. The distance to the chamber was rot great, and upen passing over it he stopped and locked upwards. He almost expected to see scmething peculiar up in the roof, but he perceived nothing—at least, nothing but darkness. The lamp behind him, however, east a feeble gleam of light along the damp, moss-grown flooring, and Dick strained his eyes in the hope of being able to distinguish something. While thus engaged, he heard a voice say, though in tones no louder than the faintest whisper : “ Welp—help, for Heaven’s sake, help me! mercy upen me—pray have mercy upon me!” There was no mistaking the character of this appoal. Some one was lying there dangerously hurt askixg fer assistance. Dick hesitated a second, and then, in the same low tones, answered : “Speak—speak again, that 1 may know where you ara, and grope my way towards yeu! Speak again! Why és you not reply to me 2?” The silence of the grave, however, reigned around. Dick felt more and more uneasy every moment, brat, shaking off these fears which he despised himself for giving way to, he sank down upon his hands and kneis, and, with one arm outstretched before him, crept slowly along the flooring. His motive for this proceeding was, that he considered it would be dangerous to produce the light. lest it shoukt be seen by some unfriendly eye. Hara Some time elapsed before he was able to make out 2 ~ dark, dusky-looking mass in front of him, and he would never have perceived it but for tbe faint gleam of tke lamp which we have already referred to. r Again he spoke, but, as before, he met with no responge, Crawling forward a few more paces, he stretched cut his arm and touched the duaky form. It was evidently that of a hase being. The feel of the apparel also told him it was 2 maa, and at the same time he discovered he was either dead or insensible. Dick to longer hesitated how to act. a. (éllow-creature was in difliculty and demgcu, sud & was a natural instinct on his part to assk_ him. Seizing him by the shoulders, thex& he dragged him elowly along towards the entrance of the corridor whers ne had left the lamp He paused once or twice to rs ¢ and to listen. But the deep silence reassured him, though at tka same time it made him feel strangely umcomtorisiule. Eomicboo # + + > © ..3%a4 ta a —s * We “Be ie “ bd . r ra —_ : wy Pa oa © . Cc “ys —_ pe ~. i. 7 ro, oe - pata oe ae nd eo + sl ve Ga Fm) ly ‘ {7 ees, Pew r\