Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

ain BLUESKIN : His first step was to take possession of the huge bunch of keys which the man carried in his hand. Upon examining his girdle ke found two other bunches, similar in all respects, and these he took as well. Thus provided, many of the doors in the old prison, if not all, were at his mercy. The lantern, too, would enable him to see his route. “Heis bigger than I am,” remarked Jack, pursuing a new chain of thought. ‘‘ Suppose I was to take off his clothes and put them on over my own? Why, I should be disguised then effectually, if I took his cap as well, and I might pass muster at a distance for being him. That is a capital thought. I will doit. Fortune is, indeed, my friend to-night. I only hope, after favouring me so far, that she will not be fickle enough to turn the tables.” Jack rapidly divested the turnkey of his apparel as he gave utterance to these reflections, and as fast as he did so put them on himself. The operation was one that consumed but little time, but when it was over the transformation was complete. ‘That will do, I rather think,’’ he said, as he buttoned the large coat over him. ‘‘ Noone now would take me for Jack Sheppard.” He was right enough there, for what with the garments being too large for him, and the odd shape of the fur cap, which he pulled as far down as he could over his eyes, he looked grotesque in the extreme. He took one more glance at the form of the prostrate turnkey, and then seeing him quite still, he turned round aud mounted the steps. A great many keys, all pretty much the same size, were upon the bunch he held in his hand, and he was a long time before he found the mght one. In his attempts he took care to make as litle noise as possible, for fear that some one might hear the many trials made, and suspect that something was wrong. At last he found the right key, and turning back the bolt, he opened the door boldly, and stepped into the pas- sage beyond. hen ‘he closed the door carefully after him, and locked it again. A hasty glance which he cast around, showed him that he was quite alone. Impressed now with the importance of being as rapid in his movements as possible, and that he had not a moment he could afford to lose, Jack strode forward and examined the place he was in. It was a kind of chamber in which he stood, from which opened three other doors besides the one through which he had come, and all of the same make and fashion. He hesitated, for he knew not which to choose. Chance alone could guide him, so he stepped towards the one nearest to him. Before he ventured to try any of the keys, he listened as he had done before, to assure himself that there was no one on the other side. But, even while he was thus engaged, he was startled by hearing some one thrust a key into the lock of the door at his left hand—not the one at which he had been listening. Discovery seemed all but certain. He had but one faint chance, and that was that he might be able to find the key that fitted the lock the first he tried, and then he would be able to pass through, and so avoid coming inte contact with the person who, in another second, would have the door open. pack seized a key at random, and thrust it inte the ock. Could it be possible ? It proved the right key. The lock yielded. Jack pushed the door open in a moment, and passed throuh, but not before the other person, whoever he might prove to be, at the other door had entered the chamher or vestibule. “Hullo!” he cried, in gruff tones, as he caught sight of Jack’s retreating form. ‘‘ Who's that?” Jack shut the door, and locked it instantly. Then listened. The turnkey, whose duty it was to accompany the one a I ES, STE SE EG oy A ROMANCE. 109 In fact, he only called out upon the surprise of the moment, upon finding anyone there at all, and chiefly because the door through which Jack had passed, was one never used by the prison officials, as it led direct to the private portion of Newgate, which was used as a residence for the governor of the prison. But this, of course, Jack knew nothing about. Still he listened at the keyhole. He heard the new comer open a door, and pass through #. “If now,” Jack thought to himself, ‘he has opened the door leading to my cell, he will very quickly make a discovery. I will wait here a moment, and then see; for if he’ finds the jailor stripped and insensible, he won’t be long in making an alarm.’ Jack was right enough there, for 2 loud shout came to his ears. He drew a long breath. **There’s no time to lose now,” he said, “and no mis- take. I may not, after all, get free, but I will make a pesperste effort. Where, I wonder, does this passage ead to P”’ - Help murder !—murder! help! Anveseape! Break jail! Help!—help! Oh! murder! Fire!” ‘*Bang! bang! bang! came some heavy blows on the very door on the inside of which Jack’s was. lhe mental agitation of the turnkey must have been very great, or he would at once have unlocked the door, for he carried keys with him. But his object just then was to raise an alarm. “¢ Confoun him,” said Jack, ‘‘ I wish I could stop his voice!” But that was a thing just then not to be thought of, so he ran along the passage as fast as his legs would carry him, until his further progress was stopped by another oor. This one was oovered over with green baize, and studded round the panels with brass-headed nails. Then Jack guessed in a moment that beyond it were the governor’s apartments. Now this passage was one contrived for the special use of the governor and sheriffs, or other high civil function- aries who were desirous of reaching the cells. Jack’s situation was a ticklish one. The lantern he carried showed him that the door had no fastening of any kind, but swung either way on spring inges. here was, however, a brass handle, which was used to pull it open, and thus, having deposited the lantern on the ground, Jack caught hold of it, and just pulled the door a little way open, so that he was able to see what kind of a place there was beyond. It must be borne in mind that though it has taken us some little time to describe all this, it actually occurred in the space of a few seconds. The man still continued hammering and shouting. On the other side of the green baize door all was in darkness, so Jack picked up the lantern, and slipped through it, and observing a strong brass bolt on the inner side he shot into the socket. He was well enough pleased to find that the sounds were very much fainter. He could just distinguish them, and that was all. On looking round about him, he found he had quite a choice of routes. Straight before him, and within reach of his arm, was an ordinary looking chamber door. There was another on his left hand. On his right was a flight of narrow winding stairs, but whether it led into the prison or into the sleeping apart- ments of the governor he could not tell. He saw this, but felt there was no time to hesitate about routes, for he heard at that moment a sudden rush of footsteps, and an attempt made to open the baize door. Preparing himself for the worst, he turned the handle of the door facing him and opened it. As he did so a sudden blaze of light reached his eyes, and some one uttered an exclamation. Jack just saw that it was a comfortably-furnished room, and that it was tenanted, but that was all. “The devil!” he said, and <1‘ the door with great who lay in the inner passage in a round through the| expedition. cells, but who, for some reason or other, was late, could Crash went the green baize door, and he saw the bolt not afford the time to look who it was he had seen, but | start from its position. went on. . Then arose the terrific din of a clanging bell, OO TR LR, AS TAT A TT ACES ACTA EIGEN, 5}