Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

game He reached the ground with great violence, and just as he fell, ao did he lie, bereft apparently alike of life and motion. The officers pulled up their horses as quickly as they could, ard narrowly escaped riding over thets erief, The struggling horse was assisted to rise, at others bent over their leader. ‘Mr. Marshall,” said one—“ Mr. Marshall! Speak! Are you vary much hurt, sir—very mnck hurt ?” There was no response. “ He's stunned, if not dead!” said another. “Ts he?” cried Roberts, pushing his way forwards. “ Then, d—n him, let him take that! 1 feel better now. Perhaps when he feels that slight pain in his side he'll think twice before he tries to throttle me again !” Roberts waa still smarting with rage at being treated in such a summary manner by his chief. All the way along the road he had been cursing and swearing to himself, longing for some opportunity of revenging himself, and wishing that his tongue had dropped out before he had said a ward about Dick Turpin at all. Seeing his powerful foe helpless on the ground. ke could not resist the opportunity of gratifying Hts vengeanoe, so while he spoke, and before any of the others could prevent him, he dealt Jack Marshall a furious kick in the ribs—so furious a one that it laa wonder it did not recover the police officer from his state of unconsciousness. A consultation now ensued among the oflicers ag to what they should do. Would it be best for them to wait and endeavour to restore their leader to consciousness, or should a portion ride on in pursuit ? This matter was well argued, for the police officers were about equally divided on the point. The discussion soon grew so warm that it was a thou- sand wonders they did not come to blows. As it was, the confusion was something terrific, and in the midst of it Jack Marshall was altogether disre- garded. But what the furious kick could not do, Nature aceom- plished for herself. Gradually the chief police officer came to himself. As may be guessed, his intellects were at first in a state of utter confusion. But by degrees he realised that he was lying on his back in a very dirty road, that every time he drew his breath he had an acute pain in his side as though some one was stabbing him, and that his men were all standing * around, disputing at the top of their voices. At least five minutes elapsed, however, before he could recollect just what had occurred. No sooner did remembrance return to him than he uttered a yell. Its effects were peculiar. The police officers ceased their discussion at once, and became suddenly as silent as though they had been struck dumb. Certainly the circumstances were well calculated to ex- asperate anyone, and so we cannot wonder that the first thing Jack Marshall did after giving vent to that yell was to pour out a whole string of curses directed at all things in general, and at his own men in particular. ‘Help me up,” he said—“ help me up at once!” The officers came officiously towards him, On attempting to gain his feet, however, Jack Marshall suffered such intolerable pain that he alternately cursed, groaned and screamed. Rage certainly had the better of him on that occa- 810n. Comprehending that it was his horse’s fault that he nad been thrown, he made a rush at the dumb, unconscious brute, and commenced a furious attack upon it—-an attack | that was in the highest degree ridiculous. But Mr. Marshall was soon exhansted, and fell hack again into the roadway. ‘‘T'ake me back to the inn,” he said-—''oh, take me back to the inn !” With great difficulty this command was obeyed, but, as the inn was only a few hundred yards in the rea~, sf was quickly gained. A plentiful external application of cold water and same deep draughts of brandy went fer towards restor- ‘ng Jack Marshall to his former sel’ BLACK BESS; OR, Hive . eet Pete f va rt ae’ & Uae eT, ' “ ine TeX : i i ni ig eS A ear tit ar) , é \ Ae ‘ a F had he been by hi ayaa ae Bh ad he been by his own injuries up ut his pur. : Bo absorbad till that moment, he had forgotten all a 6. ; * Just tnen, recollecting Dick Turpin, he angrily de- manded to know why the officers had not continued the purs nit. Tiis involved a long explanation, to which he would not listen. . “ Hold your jaw!” he cried. “I've bad enough of it! Another drop of brandy! There, I shall donow! Come on, will you! I will once more lead the way!” By the joiat exertions of about half a dozen officers, Jack Marshall was lifted into the saddle. He suffered more from the pain in his side than aught else. : To draw a long breath was agony. “Gently,” he said—‘we must doit gently, or I shall fall off! But there’s tine enough—time enough, for it’s odd to me if I don’t know where to find them all!” CHAPTER DCCCXCVIL. : JAGK MARSHALL AND HIS OFFICERS SUCCEED IN EFFECT- ING AN ENTRANCE INTO THE THREE SPIDERS INN, AND MAKE THRKE PRISONERS. ALTHOUGH Jack Marshall may be said to have used the utmost expedition, yet, after all, a considerable delay took place in consequence of the unforeseen accident which befel him. Indeed, before the officers started for the second time from the Truss of Hay, Dick Turpin had got comfortably back to the inn. At every step the horse took Jack Marshall suffered ex- treme pain, but he bore all like a martyr. He was encouraged to doso by the hope that on thie occasion he should succeed in capturing the whole of the. highwaymen. He had an unusually large force, and, from the direc- tion that Dick was taking, he had scarcely any doubt in his own mind that he was making direct for Ealing. As fast as he possibly could, Jack Marshall followed in his footsteps, until, at length reaching the disused lane leading up to the ian, he paused. “ Jackson should be somewhere here,” he muttered. ““T wonder whether the rascal is at his post!” While speaking, he took from his pocket a smal! whistle, which he placed to his lips. A shrill, trilling sound was produced—not very loud, but yet such as weuld be carried to a great distance. No sooner had the sound died away than hasty foot- steps were heard, and then a man, attired as a police officer, made his appearance. “Oh,” he said, speaking with great excitement, “is that you, Mr. Marshall ?” “Yes, itis! What news, Jackson ?” ‘Oh, most important news. Il’ve been cudgelling my braing to think of some means by which f could let you know, and here you are just in the nick of time!” Jack Marshall smiled, and forgot the pain he was en- during. “ I've seen him,” continued Jackson, sinking his voies — “I"ve seen him, and I was a good mind to put a bullet into bim, and chance it.” “Seen who—scen who ?” asked Marshall, impatiently, 1 “Why, Dick Turpin himself—I am quite gure of it. I would swear to him! He passed me.” “Why did you not seize him ?” ‘‘ Because [ was alone,” was the reply, ‘‘and he was so close to his friends. Had they heard the least noise they would have come forth, aud I should have been no better than mincemeat.” Marshal} thought so too, ‘“‘ Perhaps it is best as it is,” he answered. tunate it is I left you here.” “ Very fortunate indeed, sir.” “ You dogged his footsteps, of course 2?” “Oh, yes.” ‘““ Where did he go, then?” “'T'o the inn.” Jack Marshall nodded. “T thought as much.” Then, speaking to himself, he added: fh “Ob, Ihave you on the hip now, Mr. Landon 4 knew that this day would come sooner or later.” “How fare JOOKS <¢om ee a a iT |