Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

BLAOK BBS; Ok, - euch terror into the hearts of Tom Davis and the high- waymen. It was Dick who was thus clamouring for admission, not the officers, as they supposed. : After the words last spoken by Tom Davis, a soeme of considerable confusion ensued. There could be no doubt, however, that the gyzht course to pursue was to avail themselves instantiy of the hiding-place they had been at so much trouble to con- struct. : ( - Seizing a lamp, Tom King cried: < “ Follow me, all of you—follow me quickly, yet quietly ! There is no cause for immediate alarm.” . Maud, however, was so terrified that she could scarcely move. Knowing perfectly well, however, that not only her own safety but the safety of those she held so dear, depended upon her summoning up sufficient resolution to accompany them to their hiding-place, she trivd her best E shake off the dreadful feelings which oppressed er. Passing hastily through the bar, Tom opened the door a» the top of the steps leading into the cellar, and quickly descended. Olaude came last, and shut the door. In the meanwhile, the knocking was continued with great fury. Tom Davis, thinking that the hghwaymen were now safe, and not wishing to give rise to fresh suspicion by keeping the officers waiting at the door, slowly walked along the passage, and presently cried out : Who is it >—who’s there ?” ‘Open the door, Davis,” cried Dick—“ open the door ! Why on earth have you kept me here waiting in this manner ?” Tom Davis recognised the tones of the voice in- stantly. - So great was his surprise—so sudden the revolution of feeling which took place in his breast upon finding the captain was without, and not Jack Marshall and his officers, that he was suddenly bereft of all motion. Leaning against the wall, he could only gasp out ‘the words: ‘“‘ The captain—the captain !” Ellen had heard Dick’s voice, and uttered a shriek. When that was over her surprise was over too, and accordingly, hastening past Tom Davis, she, with nimble fingers, removed the fastenings. Dick pushed open the door hastily, and as hastily closed it behind him. ‘‘ What on earth,” he said, ‘is the matter with you all? Why have you kept me hammering at the door in this fashion ?” ; Tom Davis did not reply, but recollecting all of a sudden that the highwaymen had gone done into the cellars, and were doubtless in the act of entering the secret passage, he turned round and ran into the bar. Opening the door at the top of the steps, he cried out: “Tom — Tom! It’s all right! The captain’s here !” There was an immediate commotion down below after he had pronounced these words. The fact was, so expeditious had the highway men been that the secret passage had been opened, and they were just about to close it after them. Tom Davis’s words arrested their purpose, and, with mingled jey and doubt, they rushed pell-mell towards the steps. Dick could not for the life of him understand the extra~ ordinary behaviour of Tom Davis; but Ellen, in a few words, explained the exact position of affairs. Over the glad meeting which now took place =g urust pass in silence, since it was @ scene no pen couldpossibly describe. The most extravagant joy was, of course, the feeling Pee in every breast. 0 sooner, however, were theis surprise and satievac- tion over than a whole string of q-ieptions were po’ red forth. « ! Nothing would do but Dick must give an account of all his proceedings, for there was not One who could even guess at them. Wiilingly enough, Dick complied, and amid « profound, ~ OCome back! , breathless silence, he related to his friends those facts | which are already in possession of the reader. He concluded his narrative by stating that he fancied he had heard a footstep behind him in the lane, and that he had seen for a momept.a dark figure resembling a human form. ; | ** We cannot be too careful,” said Tom Davis—" it ia impossible that we can be. I will go now and see that all the fastenings are perfectly secure.”’ “ And Black Bess,” said Dick—‘ I must see her.”’ *‘She’s all safe and sound, captain. But if you suse pect any person ia lurking near, don’t run the risk of dca forth just at present—wait for another oppor- unity.” This advice was warmly seconded by the highwaymen, and Dick gave way before their wishes, although his anxiety to see Black Bess was great indeed. Tom Davis was not absent long, and when he came back he brought with him the satisfactory intelligence that the inn was firmly secured at all points—that it would be impossible to effect a sudden entrance. It was now Dick’s turn to question his comrades, for he was quite in the dark as to their proceedings, and was not a little anxious to receive from Tom King the account of his adventures at Windsor. His request was complied with, and surely, to all appearances, a happier, more comfortable party than was assembled in the inn kitchen at that moment could scarcely have been found in England. Had a stranger looked in upon them, the very last idea that would have suggested itself would have been that they were all in peril of their lives. A feeling of remarkable ease and contentment pervaded every breast, and such a sensation of security came over all that they never remembered to have felt before. These feelings, however, were very quickly put an end to by what next occurred. In the midst of their laughing conversation there sud- denly came a pause—such a pause as not unfrequently takes place in similar circumstances. They glanced from one to another, and each waited for some one to speak first. | In the midst of this singular silence came the sound of three distinct heavy blows struck deliberately upon the front door. This startled all into life. Tom Davis turned perfectly white as he said: “There’s no mistake now—officers they are, and no one else—it cannot turn out to be any friend of ours this time! Be quick!” he added. ‘Seek the secret passage without delay !” ' “Nay,” cried Dick, “let wus know first that there is reason for doing so.” The words had scarcely passed his lips when the knocking was renewed. Then some words pronounced in a loud voice reached their ears. What the words were they could not exactly make out, but Tom Davis exclaimed : ‘‘Now are you satisfied? Did you hear them utter their usual aummons for admission? Captain, your fancy did not mislead you, you have indeed been watched and followed to this house. What is to be done ?” ‘‘Emter the secret passage,” was Dick’s’ immediate answer. “I fear it is only too true that I have been fol- lowed. However, it strikes me if they should enter they will be unable to find anything of us.” The knocking was repeated for the third time, and the words again pronounced. 4 Tom Davis had crept a little closer to ths front oor. urning round, he said in a whisper: - “Did you hear them demand admittance in tne King’s name? If the door is not opened instantly they will break it down.” His words were prophetic, for just at that very instant i tarruiic -blow was dealt upon the stout panels of the oor If¥aa {t not been so well secured, most cértainly that blow was sufficient to have forced it from its hinges. No longer now could the imminence of their danger be doubted. Mes eg snatching up the lamp, Tom King hastened te 6 nMicdoo CS (E(0) (E(@)