Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

938 a, 66 Nothing more unmirthfal could well be imagined. There was no movement of the facial muscles, as there always is in genuine, and usually in simulated, laughter. The same expression of feature was preserved, and the gound produced by simply opening the teeth a little way, and suddenly expiring breath. Jack Sheppard shuddered imperceptibly as it graaN upon his hearing. It sounded in his ears like the mocking Jergutver of fiends. ** So you’re safe again, Master Jack,” said Wald, after another, but shorter pause. ‘‘ Your lodgings are not very comfortable, but then you have one consolation, you won't have long to put up with them. Ha! he’” Again came that horrible laugh. It seemed to freeze the blood in Jack’s veins. But he took no notice of Wild’s words, he only gased yet more fiercely upon him. ‘Had a lawyer in to see you, I hear. [ hope He will be successful in getting you off, but I am going to appear against you myself, and you know what that means, I dare say.” Still Jack made no reply. His silence enraged the thief-taker more than he would have hked to confess. It was only by an effort that Jack maintained his composure. You won't speak, won’t you!” continued Wild, sneeringly. ‘* Ah! well, as you like, it dou’t matter to me, but I could tell you something that would make you open your mouth, or I am mistaken.” Jack felt, as might be expected, a stroug desire to know what his foe alluded to, but still he persisted in his deter- mination not to speak. “Never mind, my fine fellow, you'll ask me just now, and then I shall have my revenge upon you. Jack, you’re doomed! You may have got some false hopes or other from your lawyer; they always misrepresent facts. There is no hope of escape for you! You will as surely swing at Tyburn next Monday as the sun will rise upon that day!” Another pause. **T shall come and see the show, and I shall take care to bring another with me to witness it. To be sure, she 18 In rather a delicate state of health, owing to the way she has been knocked about lately. But by Monday she will be well enough to accompany me, and I shall take care she does 60.” “Who?” roared Jack, uired to be told. ‘°° ‘So you have spoken at last, eh? That was the charm that had power to loosen your tongue. I thought I should be able to do so, 1f I had alittle patience. Ha! ha! Can’t you guess, Jack, who itis? Iam sure you can, if you try. It’s your old sweetheart, Edgworth Bess—my wife, that is to be. She has promised, and it’s all arranged. She’s at my house waiting for me now. You wouldn't believe how oving she has got. She”——~ “Liar!” yelled Jack, “ liar!” hoareely, though he scarcely oO P TZ CHAPTER CLXV. JONATHAN WILD HAS A NARROW ESCAPE OF HIS LIFE FROM JACK SHEPPARD, BUT IS RESCUED BY His FRIEND, THE GOVERNOR. As he uttered these words, which he did with extraordi- nery vehemence, Jack seized his manacles near their junction with his wrists, and, swinging the massive chains over his head, aimed a tremendous blow at his tormentor. Jonathan had succeeded in his object of arousing Jack’s passion. He was pleased accordingly, and sought to aggravate him still more. He thought, however, that where he stood Jack could not reach to harm him. But in this he was deceived. The heavy fetters came down with fearful violence npon his right hand. The pain was great—so great, indeed, as to extort a yell from his lips. Ere, however, it,had died away upon his lips, he sprang forward with the intention of strangling Jack, so greatly «id the pain from the blow inflame his passion. But Jack saw him coming, and stepping back a pace or I a a en BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. two, ke swung the fetters once more in the air, and this time brought them down upon Jonathan’s head. An enormous crack was the result. But Jonathan’s skull was not made of very tender stuff, | or it vould have given way long ago under the blows it had received. He was half stunned, however. e staggered. But before Jack had time to give him another blow, he elosed with him. Jack lost his footing immediately. Upon equal terms Jonathan weighed at least thrice as much as he did, and now ho was incumbered with the iron work, he stood no chance at all. It was impossible for him to keep his feet. In his rage, Jonathan evidently forgot the elaborate plan of revenge he had concocted against him, and which had so nearly reached a consummation. He was intent only upon putting his enemy to death. When down, however, Jack grappled firmly with him. é A great noise, of course, had taken place, and still con- Inued. ‘ It reached the ears of the turnkey withont. He just gave one glance at what was taking place, and then hurried off to spread the alarm. In less than a moment he returned with several of his mates and the governor of Newgate himeelf, by whose orders the frantic combatants were parted. But the separation was not effected without a great deal of trouble. : When accomplished, both looked very much the worse for the encounter. As for Jack, he lay almost in a etate of insensibility, and he was allowed to do the best he could for himself, for, of course, Mr. Noakes had every attention paid to his villainous friend. __ In addition to the blow upon his nght hand and arm, and the one on the head, which had been given by the fetters, Jonathan had received a number of scratches and contusions. ** Brandy!” he yelled, as soon as he recovered the use of his voice; “brandy, I say! Curse you all—brandy ! It’s in my coat pocket, I tell you!” Jonathan spoke as though he had mentioned this cir- cumstance before, but the hint was quite enough, so the turnkey put his hand in the pocket, and bronght forth a tolerable-sized flask. " As soon as he caught sight of it, Jonathan clutched at it with his left and uninjured hand, and, carrying it to hia lips, did not move it again while a spot of the contents remained. Then he flung it down on the dungeon floor with a shout, and had not the turnkey, kept a firm hold upon him he would have again sprang upon Jack, defenceless as he was. It was at this moment, as it so happened, that Sheppard recovered himself sufficiently to sit up and look around. ~ ano governor approached the thief-taker and whis- pered— **Come, come, Mr. Wild, do not Jet us have any more of this; remember, I shall get into trouble. Only wait till to-morrow, and then all will be well.” “Ha! ha!” said Jonathan, in shricking tones. ‘ Of course, to-morrow. He will be sentenced to-morrow, and on Monday he will swing at Tyburn, as his father did before him. I had forgotten that. Ah! a thousand curses ! ” Jonathan had forgotten something else. That was his arm. But pain soon reminded him of it. His fury rose again, and imprecations of so terrible of a nature came from his lips, that the very turnkeys, used as they were w that sort of thing, fairly trembled. “Call back your words,’ screamed Jack, vainly endea- vouriug to regain his feet. ‘‘ Call back your words. Admit that you lied when you spoke to me.” ‘That touches you, does it ? ” said Jonathan, who, after his storm of curses had hegun to subside into a calm. You shall smart for this. It is one more score against you, which will be wiped off at the same time as the others.” = ‘* Call back your words,” again cried Jack, who, finding he could not rise to a standing posture, had crawled as far towards his enemy as the chain by which he was <p 42 (SO) (SO)