Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

198 Choosing, then, the highest part of the roadway, he laid himself down at full length upon his back, assuming, as wellas be could, the appearance of a badly-wounded or dead man. It was a strange way of stopping a horseman, but it would no doubt prove an etfective one. The rider eame round the bend of the lane. He was quite a young man, and rather slightly snade. The horse he bestrode was a magnitieent creature, and the way in which it put its feet to the gronnd showed its perfect breed. Suddeniy the beautifal animal swerved, then stopped; and refused to proceed, except in an odd, sidelong fashion, It had perceived the objeet in his path. The young horseman seemed at first quite at a loss to comprehend the meaning of Inis steed’s unusual behaviour, but upon leaning forward in the saddle, he saw the body of aman in the read. The first words this youth uttered rather amused and surprised Blueskin. He spoke in quite an exultant tone of voice. © Hurrah!’ he said. ‘*‘ Here is a real adventure at last! Well, I think its time I had one, considering the nights I have been out. low glorious! Woa, Polly, woa! Steady, mare! Why, its a dead man, I beheve! I should just like them to laugh at me atterthis! Dll astonish them! Its a real romantie adventure, and no mistake! What shall I do, I wonder? Dear me, I don't know! I never had an adventure before, and—and—1 don’t feel half as eomfortable as 1 thought I should!) TH holler out! Hilloa, there! Hilloa! Who are you? <Are you very bad, eh ?”’ He waited anxiously for a response, but all remained profoundly stul. The horseman began to exhibit signs of evident fright. ‘What shall Ido, I wonder, eh? Vve a good mind to be off. No, I won’t, though, or they would laugh at me, and no mistake—to run away after finding an adven- ture. I'll get off. Perhaps he isn't so bad as he looks.” Thus speaking, this rather singular and very remark- able young mnan got off his horse with extreme delibera- tion, and, slipping the bridle over his arm, eame forward on foot to where Blueskin Jay, who, now he eame to find what sort of adversary he had got to deal with, was almost ashamed of the artifice he had used. But for all that, it proved to him that the idea was a good one, and, likely enough, some day it would be ot ser- vice to him. As soon as the young man approached hun, he sprang up suddenly, and eanght him by the throat. ** Murder !”’ he eried. ‘ Murder!” ** Silenee!”? was the reply. ‘Utter another sound, and you utter your last on earth! Jama desperate man! Quiek: Hand me over all that you possess, or your lite shall pay the penalty!” Yes, good sir. Don’t hurt me. I'll do all that you want. You see, I was reading the other day about adven- tures ou the road, so I thought I would come out and try and find some myself. I can assure you that is a act.” ‘Then you have nothing to complain of,” said Blueskin, who, in spite of himself, eould not forbear a smile. * Yere’s such an adventure as few have had the luek to meet with. Look here.” Knowing he had nothing to fear from the youth in the shape of resistance, he very coolly mounted his korse. “There,” he said. ‘*This will be a rare adventure. Good bye. I’m off!” 7 **No, no! murder! murder! Stop—that’s too much of ajoke! Hilloa! Murder! Stop! I say; stop!” Blueskin, however, heeded him not in the least, but striking his newly-acquired horse on the flanks, he gave him the rein, and its poor deluded owner was quickly out of sight and hearing, having, it may be fair to infer, had a sufficieney of adventure to last him his lifetime. Blueskin slackened his pace after a little time, for ne neither wished to over-fatigue himself or his horse. His first intention had been to proceed to Oxford, but now he abandoned that idea, and pushed on direct to London. The horse might be reeognised, end himself bronght into trouble in consequence. BLUESKRIN : Dn A ROMANCE. IIe made Ins way across the country by the narrow lanes which interseeted it, and at lencth emerged into the Oxford-road, at some considerable distance from that city. Feeling the firm, smooth road beneath its feet, the horse showed himself impatient for a gallop, so Blueskin gave him the rein. Tis ummediate purpose was to proeeed to London with all speed possible, and endeavour to aseertain what had Leen the fate ot the two young people in whom he felt so creat an interest. That Jonathan Wild had left him in the 4urret under the impression that he was dead he felt quite sure, and so he resolved that when he did get to town he would eare- fully disguise himself, which would make his task all the easier. But he was not destined to reach London without meeting with a strange adventure. Besides, he himself determined not to let any chance of getting money pass him by, for what he had taken from the voung man who was so fond of romantic adventures was but trifling in amount, and he did not know, of course, how much he would require on reaching London. The saddle of the horse which he bestrode was furnished with holsters, and he had already satisfied himself that they contained a braee of well-loaded pistols. And among the various articles he had taken from tl:e owner ot the horse were a powder-tlask and a ease of bul- lets, so that he was well qualified to make an attack. His head, too, was wonderfully better; im faet, he only occasionally felt any inconvenience from it. And so Blueskin, fully equipped as a “knight of the read,’ rode on at a swinging paee towards London, determined to ery Stand and deliver !*’ to whatever pas- sengers he might meet. Nor was he green at the trade. It was not the first time in his long and adventurous earcer that he had played the highwarman’s part, and always with success. A. glance at his burly frame was sufficient to make even the courageous think twice before they attempted to attaek hin. But on that night the road appeared unusually deserted, and he travelled many miles betore he met with a single person. In faet, the hour was rather too late a one for many people to be abroad. Presently, however, he heard a horse coming towards him at a furious gallop. ‘*Some one at last,” he cried, as he pulled up at the side of the road. “I will stop him, at all events, be he who he may. What a terrific speed he is coming at, to be sure.” The beat of the horse’s hoofs, as he bronght them both together to the ground, succeeded each other so quickly that they almost made one continuous sound. It was an unusual circumstance for any one to travel at such a speed. Few horses could have performed it. Of course, one effect of this was to quiekly bring him to where Blueskin laid in wait. On eame the horse like a whirlwind. ; Blueskin dashed out into the eentre of the road, and then pulled up, faeing the approaehing steed. y He drew a pistol from the holster. Stand!” he eried, at the top of his lungs. and deliver! a * Stand Your money or your jife! As he commenced uttering these words, he saw, faint and indistinct before him, the outlines of a man on horse- back. He fully anticipated that npon seeing such an obstaele, as he was, planted full in lis path, that he would pull up, or at least eheek the headlong progress of his steed, but he appeared to do nothing of the sort. The horse, however, upon pereeiving the obstruction, swerved aside with great suddenness, and before Blueskin could move in the least to prevent it, swept past him on his left with unabated speed. But the rider was unhorsed, for the sndden movement had caused him to lose his seat. He fell heavily upon the hard roadway. This was a result that Blueskin had not expected. His horse grew alarmed at the strange things taking plaee, for it was quite unused to them. Blueskin, however, who was on excellent equestrian, | re hee al OTT cca . COmicboooks.com Cc