Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

occa ESTES SELLE POET LEE COS CO Aa 6 Eee DLUESKIN: A ROWANCI io <P “That you may rely upon.” “Treat her, then, with no unnecessaryrigour. Let no one know of her existence. It may be that the solitude of a dungeon will induce her to comply with my demands.” ** It is probable, aud well worth a trial.” **T think so. And now, Wild, good mght. We per- fectly understand each other. I can trust you to take her to your house in safety. Good night.” “ Good night, my lord.” Lord Donmull rode off in the direction of his residence. I have you now completely in my power. Jearn what Jonathan really is. night. I shall do well out of this. the prisoner !” You shall yet Forward, there, with CHAPTER LXX. JACK SHEPPARD FOR THE FIRST, BUT NOT FOR THE LAST TIME, SEES THE (INTERIOR OF NEWGATE. Day was just about to dawn when Jonathan and his band with the two prisoners trotted up Snow-hill. He first directed his course to his own residence. Levee knocked at the door, and then sprang to Wild’s side to assist him with his burden. As soon as he reached the ground Jonathan again took the young girl in hisarms. It was evident he considered her a possession of no small value. Jack, meanwhile, was forced to remain motionless upon his horse. He would have shouted for assistance had he the power, but they had taken care to gag him securely before they entered London. They left him the use of his eyes, and he watched Jonathan carry Edgworth Bess into the gloomy precincts of that house from which he had with so much difficulty and danger escaped. The agony he then endured was beyond all expression, and upon finding himself so utterly powerless, can it be wondered at that despair took possession ot his heart. He was quite at a loss to think why he was kept in the street; why he, too, was not hurried into that mysterious abode. He soon knew, and the knowledge made him still more downcast than before. We will follow Jonathan. Stalking down the passage, he called out for the iron grating leading to the cells to be thrown open. Then he descended the steps, and pursued that route which must be already familiar to our readers. At the door of one of the cells he paused, and taking a key from his pocket, he opened it. It happened to be situated in the immediate vicinity of the oil lamp that was always kept burning in that under- ground passage, so that when he threw open the door some of the beams from it found their way into the dun- geon, and revealed its cheerless aspect. Comparatively, however, it was much more comfortable than many of the dungeons were. The walls and floor were tolerably free from moisture, and in one corner was a quantity of clean straw. Upon this he rapidly and carefully deposited his in- sensible burden. It was impossible for Jonathan to conceal his intense exultation. Plans of aggrandizement, of power, flitted quickly through his brain, and the more he reflected, the more pleased did he seem. But having assured himself that her swoon was nothing but a fainting fit, induced by flight, he left her to recover herself, He closed and locked the door of the cell. and then hastily made his way te the door. ** Dismount,” he eried. ‘ Tale care of the prisoner. The men at once flung themselves from their horses, a unbound Jack, but they took care to keep a tight hold of him. “This way,’ yelled Wild, as he walked down Newgate- | street towards the Old Bailey, ‘‘ this way. Come on.” They hurried after him. | Jack shuddered when his gaze fell upon the huge black ’ prison. ; } The door by which prisoners entered was quicsly ‘ reached. ‘way fell upon Wild’s face, and enabled the man to see gate officials. *“Kool!”? muttered Wild, as he looked after him, “‘ foo}! | Fortune smiles ou me to- | | them into trouble. EE SS Jonathan himself knocked at the portal. The sliding sbhniter that covered the small grated aper- ture was, according to custom, dashed aside. Some angry question was doubtless upon the top of his lips, but the light of the lamps that hung over the door- who the applicant for admission was. The door was opened with astonishing quickness, for Wild just then was held greatly in awe by all the New- In fact, the governor of the prison and Jonathan were in collusion tegether, and it was well-known that a com- plaint from Jonathan was sure to be the means of getting Hence he was treated with a civility and deference that he would never, under other circumstances, have received. Jonathan, as soon as the door was opened, walked into the vestibule, and beckoned his men to bring their prisoner up the steps. 7 This was done, and then the door was closed with a ang. It seemed to Jack as though it shut him out entirely from the world. “Send for Mr. Noakes,” eried Wild, in his most fero- cious tones, “and tell him to be quick, curse you!” The man vanished. Mr. Noakes was the name of the then governor of Newgate. Now this gentleman happened just then to be in bed; but, upon hearing it was Jonathan Wild who had sum- moved him, he hastened to put on his clothes. Five minutes later, and rather picturesquely attired, lie made his way into the lobby. ‘“* Look here, Mr. Noakes,” said Wild, “‘ here is a young mau I want you to take particular care of.” “Very good, Mr. Wild. Of course. Pope and Bain, see to Mr. Wild’s prisoner.”’ Pope and Bain, two of the turnkeys, took charge of Jack, and they found him by no means easy to hold. But they were used to that sort of thing. “And now, Mr. Wild,” said the governor, ‘f what is the prisoner’s name, and what is the charge you lave against him ?” “One question at a time,” said Wild, as lhe produced his pocket-book and wrote something on the leat. “ Jhis name is John Sheppard. burglary.” “That's quite sufficient, Ma. Wild, quite sufficieut. Dut the prisoner in a strong cell, and see that he does not make his escape.” “ Yes,’ added Jonathan, ‘ use every precaution. I can assure you, you will find him a very troublesonie cus- tomer.” “All right, Mr. Wild, Vl see that he is taken care of. I'll wager my head he don’t get out.” What? Will you?” said Jack, speaking for the first time. ‘“ Wager your head I don’t get out.” ‘What do you mean by talking to me ?” “Ask my elbow. But Pll bet my hand against your stupid old head that I do get out of here. Come now!” The top of the governor’s nose grew quite purple with rage at this audacity upon the part of the prisoner. ‘Off with him,” he eried. ‘ Load him with irons! Escape indeed! J’ll see about that.” Wild in his heart was rather amused, though he did not allow his countenance to give token of it. “T would advise youto keepa sharp eye upon him, My. Noakes,’’ he said, as the turnkeys hustled Jack off down a passage. ‘‘A sharp eye. Confound his impndence to wager his hand to my head! He’s inexperienced yet, Mr. Wild, or else he would know better than be at enmity with the governor.” “Well,” said Wild, “ from what I know of him I firmly believe he would not care a jot either for your friendship or your enmity. He has too independent a spirit by half. I would give a trifle to bend him to my schemes. He would be invaluable, but there is little hope, I am afraid.” “Of course that’s your affair, not mine,” replied the governor. ‘‘ What do you intend to do with him? The sessions will soon be on, you know.” They will, I'll take care about that. The charge against lim is a | There is my ‘ a EO DOO S} SS o(CO) >