Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

1258 It is a fact, nevertheless. Not in the new, modern prison, but among the vaults remaining of the ancient edifice.” The stranger's countenance at first expressed great dis- belief, but then he ejaculated : ‘‘ Yes extraordinary as this may seem, I cannot donk? it. ‘The position of the house—these strong, damp welle, all confirm your statement.” “Well may you be taken by surprise,” said Dick, “ for I believe the very existence of this olace is guessed at and known by very few.” i ane heard of such a thing,” he murmured. o,” said Dick, sinking his voice and pointing up- w..ds; “but those above evidently know ai! about it.” The young man shuddered ; but then, his thoughts re- verting to his fresh companion, he looked upon him with undisguised amazement as he said: “But if this is a portion of old Newgate, how comes it that you are an inhabitant of it?” “You can scarcely call me such,” said Dick. “Iam kere for refuge. As for myself, I don’t care to speak much. I am here. I have offended against the laws, and I am looking for some means of esvape.” “Then,” continued the young man, still gazing upon him, ‘‘am I right in copjecturing that you have escaped from the modern portion of the prison into this ?” “You can surmise what you please,” was Turpin’s answer. ‘But it will please me better if you will look upon me as one ready to do all in his power to serve you. Believe me, I am anxious to stand your friend. The ad- venture you have recounted deeply interests me. I should be glad indeed to bring it to a solution.” ‘“The brandy,” said the young man at this moment— “nass me the brandy! I feel once more sick and faint !” . “Very likely,” said Turpin, as he complied with his demand. ‘Drink a little—not too much, and you will soon experience the benefits of it.” “T feel to have new life,” answered the stranger. “ And now tell me—what do you propose shall be our next proceeding ?” “That's a difficulty,” returned Turpin. ‘It seems to me, however, tolerably clear that you are at last on the right track.” ‘Do you mean for discovering the fate of my friend ?” Yes.” “Tt may be so—it may be so! have fallen into such a trap as was laid for me! would be totally unsuspecting—I was on my guard.” “ Tt’s a miracle to me,” said Turpin, “ how you could have escaped with such slight injuries.” “Tt is wonderful,” returned the young man— wonder- ful indeed |” There was a silence, for Dick just then was thinking of the locket he had found, and was wondering whether by any chance it might belong to the young sailor of whom his companion spoke; if so, the coincidence would be remarkable in the extreme. “You are sileut,” said the young map, at length, ‘ Ain I right in supposing that you are considering in your own mind which will be the best step for us to take next?” “Scarcely that,” said Dick; “and yet, to go back to a consideration of what you have related, it seems tole- rabiy certain that the young girl who so interested you is regularly sent out in order to decoy people to this lace.” ij The stranger nodded. “Then, having arrived, they are drugged, and, falling through the treacherous trap-door on to the ground be- neath, are killed.” “'That’s it—evidently it.” “ And you,” pursued Dick-=“rery npon it, you are not the first who has fallen a victim to this snare. I may tell you that I found a sput of blocd upon the gruund, which looked as though it had fallen there recently.” The young man shuddered. “T can’t bear to reflect upon what would have been my fate!” “Such a place as this,” Dick went on, glancing around him, “ wou afford every facility for concealing the dead bodies of their victims. They would be plundered of every article of value about their persons, then flung into eure of there ceils.” How easily he would He BLAOK SESE; O& Yaw’ i af . . eats Pes ant * oky in e 4 S —— This was avery probable supposition indeed, and tne — stranger felt it to be so. e He could tell, also, by Dick’s manner what was uppor- most in his thoughts. 4 “ Suppose,” said Turpin, ‘that we satisfy oursei¢es | upoz this point, and not remain contented by surmise. It | will be easy to ascertain whether in any of these cells are such traces as we seek.” The stranger’s face blanched as he seid: fs “Tf it is so—and I cannot doubt it—what an awful — sight the opening of one of these doors will disclose!” __ “Awful indeed,” returned Dick Turpin, “yet I con- sider we ought to satisfy ourselves by one hasty glance.” — “ Be it so, then,” returned the stranger. ‘I am content ~ to leave that point for your decision.” . s CHAPTER DCCCXCIIL. IN WHICH THE YOUNG STRANGER DISCOVERS THE FAIR OF HIS FRIEND. Dick rose, and, taking the lamp in his hand, went towards — the doorway nearest to him. The fastenings were all upon tha side on which he aoa and he could perceive no difficulty in removing — them. | He lifted down the bar, drew back the bolts, and yet he — hesitated to push the door open upon its hinges. Fixing his gaze earnestly upon the young man, who — was either too much injured by his fall or else lacked the ~ courage to look into that disused cell, for he remained ip the position he had all along occupied, Turpin said, ear- nestly—nay, with solemnity in his tones: | ‘Do you thmk you are prepared to receive the worst — confirmation of pour fears ?” . “Tam—Iam! Something comes over my mind at this — moment that tells me my friend was lured into that house of death, and that he met the fate designed for me!” Dick bent his head, and then, in lower tones, re- sponded : . ‘That, too, is my impression. And now, pardon mea — moment if I ask you a question about your friend's — affianced wife—Lucy, I think you said her name was Are you well acquainted with her features ?” ‘Ag well as with my own!” “ Would you recognise her, then ?” “ Most certainly !” ‘ In his anxiety, the stranger siowly rose to his feet, and §& stood looking at Dick wonderingly. Dick said no more, but at once pushed the door open. It was fortunate he stood aside, for such an over- powering effluvia came forth that, had he not done so, he © would inevitably have been suffocated. 7 | Sickening with horror, he waited a few moments; then, raising the lamp, went to the threshold of the cell. | “Come,” he said, addressing his companion, “look is also. I don’t wish a secoud glimpse.” Tremblingly, the young man obeyed. The sight presented to their gaze was indeed a truly fearful one. Lying in this cell, which was one of considerable extent were many human bodies—all dead, all beans marks of © great personal violence upon them; some looking as — though they had only just been cast into that strange sepulchre, while of others nothing but glistening bones remained. | The appearance of the light caused a tremendous scuffing in the cell. i Dick knew well enough what it was His friend, however, seemed much alarmed. | “ [3 the rats,” he said. ‘No doubt they swarm in this place by myriads. Look—look! Over yonder in the gloom you can see their eyes shining like suv many brigh€ }) points. They are dangerous creatures,” he added, “and jj muy not hesitate to attack us. Have you seen enough?” Jj The stranger turnea away, and, deeming that a sufli- cient answer, Dick, with very great satisfaction, closed the door aud bolted it. “a Turning round once more to his companion, who now was as pale as ashes, he said: . ‘“‘ How long, say you, is it since your friend reacad London and mysteriously disappeared ?” “ Twelve months” ,OO (E(@)