Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

, 7 ay a ¥ *) % pa § iy ty * rh > Bar Te | Hy ee ‘ fet <4 at ne , P : wv) a j j ” ’ - oA Either they had given up keeping such vigilant guard _ round the prison, or else it had never occurred to them es to place a watch anywhere near the house from which “ ‘Dick had emerged. | __ Although the hour was early, yet he felt no inclination _ for the long walk before him. ce _ He was impatient in the highest degree to assare Maud aaa his safety, and also to ascertain what were the move- ments of his comrades. He had no horse, however, and to attempt to hire one - would be running a very’ considerable risk—a much _ greater risk than he felt himself justiffed in running. _ Atarapid pace, then, he walked on towards his desti- nation, for above all things he was anxious to leave London behind. On his way he revolved in his mind what means he could adopt of performing his journey quickly. His meditations were at length broken in upon by the sharp rattle of some vehicle that was being drawn with great rapidity along the high-road. Dick drew aside, and looked back. Then, through the darkness, he managed to make out that a light spring cart, drawn by one horse, was approach- ing him. | In it was seated a man, who, by various srsyand smacks of his whip, compelled the animal to keep up its speed, | fe (ll ask him fora lift,” muttered Dick. “There's a little danger iu it, but not much; and, after all, he may refuse.” Just then the cart was within a yard or two of where he stood. Raising his voice, he cried: ‘‘Hoi—hoi!—stop! I am travelling your way, sad would give something worth while for a ride !” The man checked his horse somewhat abraptly, and, placing his hand before his eyes, strove to make out by _ whom he had been accosted. | “Tt’s only a slight favour that I ask of you,”. said Dick. “But this road is terribly lonely, and I havea long journey before me.” : _ * “It ain’t very safe to pick up acyuaintances on the road,” said the man. ‘But, though I can’t see your face, +4 ‘Gy I like the sound of your voice. Jump up, and, if you like to pay for something when we reach the ‘I'russ of _ Hay, I shall be glad of your company.” ‘‘ Acreed |” said Dick. ‘Iam much obliged to you!” He scrambled up into the cart while he spoke, and the man, scarcely allowing him time to seat himself, cracked his whip, and set the horse in motion. It was a great satisfaction to Dick upon thus finding _ himself unexpectedly carried so swiftly towards his des- tination. But he found that his present position, advantageous as it seemed, had some drawbacks, for the man was of a most inquisitive disposition, and it was with difficulty that he replied to his many questions. : The great topic of the time was, of course, Dick Tur- - pin’s marvellous escape from Newgate. He found his new companion had plenty to say upon Dick professed to be ignorant of the particulars, and thereupon was favoured with a narrative of a most ex- aggerated description. Sinking his voice as he concluded, he said: “It’s my firm belief, sir, that there’s but one way of coming to a solution of this matter.” “Indeed!” said Dick, “ And what may that. be 2” | “Why, we all know what a villanous wretch this Dick _ ‘Turpin is—— But, bless me! what’s the matter ?” Dick had started upon hearing this epithet applied to _ him, but he recovered himself most marvellously. “Oh, it’s nothing,” he said—“ nothing at ail “Then what was it made you give such a jump?” “J don’t know—it is not worth while to trouble about eit, f ara full of curiosity to know what you were going tosay. 4 Aye. Well then, my belief is that Dick Turpin was suck a wretch that the devil would not wait for him to be put _ eut of the world in an ordinary manner, but has carried 4 a off bodily. Rely upon it, we shall “ Perhaps uot,” replied Dick, “ But what are you pull- «ig ap fore” never see him 5 Atay ti oct AE CR ine ek ae MA KN » by « A f o of aang or \ , F) : ‘ P vk , ; ’ ' THE ENIGHT OF THS ROAD. i. 7 vi “ 14¢° “Why, this is the Truss of Hay—the inn of which J. spoke. Recollect you have to pay for the refreshment.” “ All right,” said Dick—‘ order anything you like !” The cart having stopped, the man jumped out, and re- quested Dick to foliow his example. At first he refused, but, being pressed by his new com- panion, and having no good reason to give why he should prefer remaining where he was, he at length reluctantly got down. “Come in!” he said. ‘ They keep the best of refresh: ments here, as you will say. They doa roaring trade, fer there are plenty, like me, who make a regular point of calling,” He pushed open the inn door as he spoke. Dick had no resource but to follow him, though he was exceedingly reluctant to do so. He had no means of disguising himself further than by pulling his hat low down over his brows. A couple of flaring oil-lamps depending from the ceiling lighted up the passage leading from the front to the back of the inn, and from rooms on each side came forth the sounds of boisterous merriment. Dick's companion walked up to the bar window, and, atiur a brief hesitation, called for a tankard of old ale. ‘TI will share it with you,”. said Dick, “for I am in no humour for drinking to-night.” ‘Very good,” was the reply. “I shall not stay more than a moment. I am very late to-night, and I have twenty miles further to go.” Dick did not reply to this, but, throwing down the onl coin he possessed to pay for the ale, he drank a small quantity himself, and his companion quickly emptied the tankard. But just as they were taking their departure, one of the doors leading into the passage opened, and a man’s face appeared at it. ‘ Behind him were several others, who, it seemed, were likewise just about to quit the inn. The door being narrow, he stopped with the door in his hand to allow Dick and his companion to pass by. The latter walked carelessly enough, but Dick, affect- ing to be seized with asudden cough, placed his hand be- fore his mouth, which served to conceal a great portion of his features. Apparently no notice was taken of either of them, and in another moment they were mounted, as before, in the light cart, and rolling rapidly along the high-road. The tankard of ale loosened the man’s tongue consider- ably, and he ran on at a great length upon various sub- jects. ‘ But Dick had too many things pressing on his mind to pay much attention to what he said. Arriving at last pretty near to the Three Spiders Inn, he requested the man to allow him to alight. “This is your journey’s end, then?” he said. ‘‘ Well, nearly. I have a little further to go across the fields, but no distance to speak of. Many thanks to you for your civility. Good night!” x Good night!” answered the man, smacking his whip. Dick stood in the roadway a minute or go till the cart was almost out of sight, then, turning round abruptly, he made his way in a straight line for the inn, He reached it without meeting with any accident, only once he thought he heard a footstep on the road behind him, and, glancing back at the same instant, he fancied he perceived a dark figure dart into the shadow of the hedge. Of this he was by me means certain, but, occupied anl with his anxiety to see his friends, he hurried on wit redoubled speed, nor paused until the door was reached. He knocked several times gently without receiving any answer, and, his patience being by no means great, he raized his foot and kicked with might and main upon the lower portian ef ibe door. “CHAPTER DOCCOXOY. WHE HIGHWAYMEN’S JOY AND SATISFACTION PROVE Te BE OF SHORT DURATION, THe reader will now be at no loss to understand the huaning of the treméndous knocking that bead struck (O) EoOmicdoo Ss (E(@)