Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

(A end of it. I will then call upon them to surrender in the usual form. Directly the words have left my mouth strike the door again. I will repeat the summons, and, having done so, try to demolish the door at one blow. This will give them no opportunity of concealing them- selves—they will not have time. i we make one grand rush we shall carry all before us.” The men fully comprehended all that he said to tnem, and were moreover highly pleased with the arrangement : it suited them exactly. “To conclude,” added Jack Marshall, “‘so anxious am I that you should make this capture that I will give up my share of the reward entirely, and the whole sum shal] be divided equally among you all.” Certainly if anything could have urged we j,~.\{ce officers to do their best this announcement on the part of their leader ought to have had the effect. Had it been prudent they would have expressed their satisfaction by a cheer. Such a proceeding as that was quite out of the question ; they had everything to gain by silence. ithout much trouble, a piece of wood that exactly suited their purpose was found. It was the trunk of a young tree that had been cut down recently, and the Craciel of which had been lopped off. ‘Aboitt half a dozen officers seized hold of this piece of wood, which thus became instantly a formidable batter- in -Tram. treating to a little distance, they ran at full speed to- wards the door. The blow was a tremendous one. It was followed by another, and then Jack Marshall, repeating the esual formula, called upon the inmates to open the door in the King’s name. Without waiting to see whether any attention would be paid to this demand, he stood aside to allow his men to renew their attack, which they did with a vigour that delighted him. Again he called, and again the door was battered upon. aBat it was stout, and strong, and well secured within, and calculated to stand a great deal of battering before it would give way. Yet Jack Marshall fancied that it already shook Zpon its hinges. The summons was given for the third time, and Jack Marshall said: ‘‘Now, my lads, one blow! Give it with all your might, and the door is down.” The officers ran forward with a will. This time they fully expected to carry the door before them, andso went at it with terrific force. But they were deceived. The stout oak withstood them, and so great was the nee that they could not possibly recover themselves rom if. Their hold upon the trunk of the tree gave way, and the whole of them fell sprawling to the ground. “Up again,” cried Marshall—“ up again! To it—to it! The door cannot hold against many blows like that !” Hastily and angrily the officers nacrambled to their feet. The block of wood was again raised and once more battered againststhe door. This time, however, they were careful for their own sakes to strike more gently. ‘‘ Harder — harder,” oried@ Jack Marshall —* harder: There ought not to have been a quarter of thisdelay! You are giving them every opportunity for concealment.” Just as he spoke, one of the upper windows in the inn was flung open, end Tom Davis, with a huge, conical nightcap on his hea.’, made his appearance. This advent was grected by a general yell, and there was an immediate suspension of hostilities. ‘‘Oh, murder,” he cried—‘ murder! Thieves—thie yz, |! W hat shall I do all alone by myself? Thieves!” * You blockhead!” roared Jack Marshall. ‘* We are no thieves, as you are full well aware—we are his Majesty's officera.”’ some of **; men had provided themselves with links, and. having lighted them, they came closer Keneath the window at which Tom Davis stood. The raddy light shed around by these torahes revealed SENS 08 pees ; >; “oy » a ae BLACK BESS; OR, —_——s “ -— .. J plainly enough the peculiar dress of the officers, and & was impossible to remain longer in any doubt concerning them. “Why, is it you, Mr. Marshall?” cried Tom Davia, affecting the utmost astonishment. ‘‘ Yea, of course it is. Come down aid open the door this second, or I'll break it from its hinges !’ “I’m coming, Mr. Marshall-—I’m coming,” said Davis. who had made his appearance in this manner solely with the view of gaining time. ‘Make haste, then!” roared Jack Marshall. “ None of your tricks! We know you!” Tom Davis grinned, and pretended to be attiring him- self with great speed. About two minutes elapsed, but the patience of the police could extend no longer than that. “You refuse, then !” cried Jack Marshall. ‘“ Now, my lads, to it again—we'll soon have the door down!” Another blow was struck, and this time the stout oaken panels were split from top to bottom. The men uttered a cheer at their success. “Stop—stop!” roared Tom Davis. ‘ Consider how you are destroying my property! I’m coming—indeed I am coming!” He retreated from the window as he spoke, but Jack Marshall, resolved to wait no longer, gave the signal for a fresh attack. This last blow effectually did the business. With a tremendous crash the door parted in the centre, and the police poured in in a body. Before they had gone half a dozen paces down the passage they met Tom Davis. ‘‘ Seize him,” roared Jack Marshall—“ seize him—make him your prisoner—bind him securely, and take care that he does not escape !” | Tom Davis protested vigorously, but to no purpose. He was seized by a dozen powerful! hands, and, before he was aware of it, securely handcuffed. Two men remained in cnarge of him. ‘‘ Now, my lads,” said Jack Marshall, ‘don’t be afraid ! We have them—depend upon it we have them; no one could leave these premises unseen; and at the least at- tempt to do so, the sentinels will raise the alarm. The men we want may be hidden somewhere; but if so, we can take our time and search till we find them. Come on, this will be the best night’s work you have ever done.” He dashed into the kitchen as he spoke, and here, in genuine terror, were Mrs. Davis and Ellen. ‘‘ Seize them both,” roared Jack Marshall—" seize them— make them prisoners! I have sufficient evidence that they are all accomplices! Keep them secure, and if we don't uickly find out the highwaymen, we'll make them con- ess which is their hiding-place.” His commands were oarried out with unnecessary roughness. Mrs. Davis and Ellen were both prisoners and securely bound. With great speed the police officers then spread them- selves over the ground floor of the inn, but in none of the rooms did they find any trace of the highwaymen. By no means discouraged at this, Jack Marsiall sent @ portion of his force upstairs to search the upper rooms, while witk the remainder he proceeded to the cellars. eS r OHAPTER DCOCXOVIIL JACK MARSHALL AND HIS OFFICERS DISCOVER THE DOOR IN THE STABLE. As soon as ever the highwaymen had descended the cellar steps, Ellen, acting upon the instructions given her by Tom Davis, had locked the door and takeu out the key, which, also by his directions, she threw into the fire. The object for this proceeding is obvious enough. I¢ was merely to delay the officers and so give the highway- men more time to make their exit by the secret passage. Jack Marshall knew his way to the cellars perfectly well; but when he arrived at the door, to his great anges and disgust, he discovered it was fast and the key gona. The Three Spiders Inn was an old place, and every part of it was built in the most substantial manner. Even this door, although only seeming to communicets JO00KS, com G iGO