Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

RE Te in I TEE LE ES I TTS TE TET EE a ESD DEL SEITE ATCA, iA NT fa 5 SS of the largest table, and who he judged, from various | was clean blowed out! circumstances, to be the chairman. He was a brawny, “rly man, and certainly not less than six teet in height. His hands aud arms were immense. It would not have been necessary for the most casual observer to look twice to see that he was possessed of enormous muscular strength—such, indeed, as falls to the lot of fesy persons to possess, But it was not the man’s huge frame that attracted Sheppard’s attention, it was his face. aaa a as it may appear, it was of a half blue, half le tint. hether real or artificial, Jack could not tell. It made his whole aspect hideous and repulsive in the extreme. * How very extraordinary,” thought Jack. ‘‘ Whoever can he be?” At this moment the man with the blue face spoke. Jack recognised his voice. It was that of the man who had been called Mr. Blake, and who had sung the extraordinary ditty we felt we were compelled to give to our readers in its entirety. “Order, pals, order!”’ oried Mr. Blake, knocking vigorously upon the table with a small ivory hammer. “ Order, order!” ‘Order, order!” echoed several other voices, and then something hke silence was obtained. ‘I never sings that song,’ began Mr. Blake, “ without ininking of the chap I learned it of. He was a brave fallow, that he was. Many a glorious mght have we spent uygether ; but that 1s a long while ago, wheu I was hardly twenty. ” “It’s a downright good’un,” said some one ip reply, ** who was 1t that learned 1t you?” ** Most of you must have beard of the name. He was a mnichsman of the first order, and though his career was a very brief one, be made himself a reputation that won't 2»asily be forgotten. He suffered at the triple tree nine- teen years ago this very day, and that’s what puts me more in mind of him, poor fellow! It will be a long time before we look upon his hke again!” Why there is but one man that would come up to that leseription,” said a man who was seated next to Jack on as right hand. ou are right there. Such a description would apply to no one but him. He was a rare fellow! It was through him that I got my face such a colour as it is.” “Was it, really ?”’ asked several voices. ‘“‘ I have often wondered what was the cause of it.” T’ll tell you now,” said Mr. Blake, finishing his glass of punch. ‘“ It’sa thing that always vexes me, and I was uncommon savage when it occurred. But it’s no good srieving about shed milk. It can’t be altered now.’ it was through that you got called BLUESKIN, Mr. Blake P”’ “It were!” replied the chairman, emphatically. “‘ Not that I mind that in the least, only what vexed me was that I should always be known if once seen a mile off.” “Ah! that youwould. That’s the illeonvenieutest part ot it,” said another voice. “¢ However, how I got it was very singular. You must first know my pal and me was out on a little business one night. I won’t say where, but there was a strong box we very much wanted to open, but for the life of us we couldn’ t manage it. ‘This is very aggravating,’ says I; ‘what shall we do?’ ‘I don’t know,’ says he ; ‘yet stop. I have an idea.’ ‘What is it?’ says I. ‘We YIl blow the lock open, says he. ‘With gunpowder?” saysI. ‘ Yes,’ aye he. ‘ Where shall you get the powder from ?’ says ‘Oh!’ says he, ‘I’ve got some in my pocket!’ So nb took out a little paper perecel, and laid it open on the «round just by the box. Vell, he takes some of this powder, and rams it into the keyhole. It was quite a fresh notion to me, so, likeaa tool, I put my face a good deal closer than I had need. ‘Let me hgeht it!’ says I. Sol got out a match, and Lighted the powder in the keyhole, and then a most awful scorching flame shot up into my |. face. ‘Fire and fury!’ I cried. ‘I’m done for! I’m blinded !’ ‘We. shall both be done for,’ says he, ‘if you make that noise.’ Well, it turned out some of the sparks from the match dropped on to the paper on the floor, and set light to all the gunpowder. However, my pal went to the box and found it opened, for the inside of the lock > * Weegee Se Stamey ee” BLUESKIN : A ROMANCE. — ee eee He got tho ena ae swag,and we eat off all safe. I was blind for many a day after, but at last I recovered my wision, and at last got well. But the powder got tuto my skin, and nothing will fetch it out; so ever since then I have had a blue face, and that’s why people calls me BLUESKIN.” Mr. Blake’s extraordinary account of how he came with a blue face was listened to with the greatest interest, and several comments were passed upon it. At last some one said— “But I say, Blueskin, you haven't told us now, what was the name of the pal who was with you, and who, you said, was tucked up at Old Tyburn nineteen years ago.’ ““No more I did,” said Mr. Blake; “ that was a little omission on my part. I always get forgetful and stupid, somehow, when I thinks of my old friend. It was a pity he was cut off in his prime as he were. I shall never forget him, and I know there’ll never be his equal!” But his name, Blue P—his name?” eried several voices. Joe Blake rose from his chair, as he said— “ His name, pals, was Tom SHEPPARD!” “Tom SHEPPARD?” shouted Jack, springing up so suddenly, that he overturned his seat, and, pushing his way up to Blueskin, who looked at him with the utmost astonishment, “'‘ToM SHEPPARD? Do you mean to say_ that you were a, comrade of my father’s?” CHAPTER VI. JACK SHEP? ARD, BY BLUESKIN’ 3S ADVICE, JOINS JONATHAN WILD’S GANG. BLUESKIN gasped for breath. ‘““God bless me!” he said, at length, “he’s tne very image !”’ No sooner had he uttered these words, than a scene of the greatest possible confusion ensued. Jack looked about him in perfect calmness. A dozen bands were outstretched towards hira. Joe Blake rose to his feet, and, catching Jack in his arms, almost smothered him in his ‘embrace. “That ever I should have lived to see this day, ’ he said. ‘* I never knew Tom had a son, but I can’t doubt your assertion. You are exactly like he was at your age. I never saw such a wonderful resemblance.” Blueskiu took up his hammer, and struck it upen the table until order was restored. “Silence, pals,’ he said. ‘* Silence. You've heard a bit of this, of course. Order, there. I’ve got some one to introduce as you'll live yet to be proud of. Pals, fill up your glasses, and drink to the health of my old com- rade’s sou. What's your name?” he asked in a whisper. ** Jack.” ‘“* Drink to the health of Jack SHEPPARD!” Thus suddenly did Jack find himself honized, and it 1s scarcely to be wondered at that it made the lad yaiu, and blinded him to the fact that, under no circumstances, could it be any honour to be received by such company as was there present. His health, however, was drunk by every person in the room with loud applause, for to all of them was the name of the eracksman, Tom Sheppard, familiar. Jack stammered out some words in replv, and then sat down next to Blueskin, a seat having been provided for his special use. “ But what brings you bere, Jack, lad?” asked Blake. ** How is it we have never heard of yon before pr” “T am an apprentice,” said Jack, “and have been ouliged, through 11] treatment, to leave may master.” “Ah! Jack, you were Incky to drop in here. But hew | came you to do’so?” “Some impulse which I could not control, urged me hither. I entered, and took a seat unobserv ed, and was about to leave again, when IJ heard mv father’ name mentioned.” “Tt’s a rare chance. But strange things do .appen sometimes. However, Jack, I repeat 1t was Incky you came here. If you choose, ysu can live the life of a gentleman for the rest of your days. Do you say the word ?” “JT do,” said Jack, “ for I’m quite carcless what om ; comes of me!” ' COMIC O©OKS.CORM