Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

eal BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, Pe ee ‘ney paused occasionally to listen for any sounds that would show their pursuers to be on their track, and at ‘ength the noise caused by breaking up the box came very ‘plainly to their ears. This let them know that danger from their foes was far from at an end. The poacher seemed much troubled when he found the entrance to the seerct passage had been discovered. * Quick! quick!’ he said, himself setting the example of going at an increased speed. ‘* Quick! or else they will catch us after all. further we shall be quite safe. Haste! haste!” The others ran after him as fast as they were able. And now the passage began to grow much more limited in its dimensions. The wails were closer together. ‘The roof lower. Indications of moisture, which they had not cefore noticed, made their appearance upon the walls. * We shall baulk them yet,” said the poacher, as he gasped for breath after his exertion. ‘‘ Look, my friends, there is a large wooden plug above your heads. Pullit— pull it out, I say; but stand aside quickly, for water will follow !”’ When they heard these words, our three friends looked up to the eeiling of the passage, and there they saw, depending from it,a piece of wood, shaped something like a plng—that is to say, it was round, and grew thicker towards the bottom. Blueskin did not stop to hesitate or question, bat lifted ap his arms, and seized the plug with both hands. It seemed very firmly imbedded, and he had to work it about, first backwards and then forwards, before he could communicate to it a downward motion. But he was strong, and soon overcame the resistance offered. © Recollecting the warning he had received, he stepped aside quickly when he felt 1t coming. The plug fell to the ground. Then through the round opening which it had filled up there rushed, with incredible violence, a stream of water about the thickness of a man’s arm. Although they felt a good deal of confidence in tho smuggler, our friends viewed this with something lke dismay, for how were they to escape drowning ? But the wounded man still urged them forward, and, after going a few yards more, they came to a place where another plug was fixed. This was also drawn, and the same result followed. Another and another were pulled out in their hasty progress, and the floor of the passage was ankle deep in water, although for some time it bad had an upward tendency. ‘* A few more yards, and we shall be all right,”’ said the poacher. ‘* There is a door which we can close behind us, and secure, and then I think we can laugh at all pursuit.” “The quicker the better, then, or we shall be afloat.” “No fear—no fear. The main body of the water will flow towards our pursuers, and in three more minutes the lower part of the passage will be full. Ah! here is the door.” % P At this moment the little party came to a small wooden oor. It was not as large as the passage, but was a small square aperture, considerably above its level. It was not fastened, and the poacher pushed it open, ageing a sign for Blueskin to pass through and assist im. This was soon done, and Blueskin closed the door again. He gave one look down the passage before he did so, and saw that it was literally filled with water. He was astonished. The water had rushed in with great swiftness, he knew, but still he could hardly believe that in so short a time a sufficient quantity could have entered to fill up tlie passage in the way it had. A more effectual means of putting an end to the pursuit could not have been found, though from what he had already seen, Blueskin could tell that his pursuers were not to be turned aside very easily. He fastened the door without more ado, and then glanced round to sce into what kind of a place fortune had led them. ; Jack Sheppard held the lamp, but its services were not z = eth Gising he AI PCD: Rew a A ae S Make haste! If we can hut geta little | here Se SPT Re SE ET R7y —— as really needed, inasmuch as a soft gentle light very grateful to the vision filled the place. ** Where is this?” he asked. *‘ This is a cavern,” replied the poacher, ‘* beneath some hills. I ought to say it 1s one of a series of caverns, and as this is the innermost of thein all, it is seldom, if ever visited.” ‘* And this light—where does it come from ?” ; “Through numberless chinks in the roof above. They are too far off, and too small to be distinguished from wn foam, — *¢ And do you think we are safe ?”’ **T am sure of it. The officers will never follow us; but the sooner you leave the cavern aud this part of the country the better.” “Can you guide us out P” ** T ean.” ‘** Pray do so, then.” “This way. I don’t know who you are, but you have saved my life. Thatis enough. I want to know no more. Wheu we get to the open air we will separate. I have my own business to attend to.” “ We shall ever be grateful to you,” replied Blueskin, as he followed his singular guide through the caverns in the direction of the outlet; *‘ for you have rendered us a signal service. Without you we should never have escaped from our enemies.” ‘* You have not quite done so yet; not that I think you will meet with the same lot outside; but then there may be more.” ‘You seem to have recovered from your wound very rapidly.” ‘**T have. J cannot have been so severely hurt as I at first imagined.” “Tam glad to hear it. shift for yourself?” “Oh! yes; besides I know not where you may wish to go. Iam known to the keepers, aud shall have to lose no time in getting out of the kingdom, and I have some to whom I should like to say good-bye before I go.” “Well, well. You have your own way; but if we can do anything to assist you I am sure you can command us.” But are you well enough to “No, no. Look! here is the entrance to the caverns.” The peacher pointed to a large opening, after having passed through which our friends found themselves once more in the open air. “And now we will separate,’ said the poacher, who seemed impatient tobe gone. ‘“ Farewell. And it before I go you will condescend to take from me one piece of advice—” “ Whiat is it?” ‘Separate yourselves, and go each of you singly to your destination. You will thus have an opportunity of eluding your pursuers, who will before long be upon the track.” ‘They will. Your advice is good, and shall be adopted. Farewell.” The poacher hastened away, and, turning the sharp angle of the rock, was in a moment out of sight. Our three friends looked at each other in silence for a little while. They were breathless, bruised, and tired. ‘This is a wonderful night of adventures, Jack,” said Blueskin. “ I thought at one tine that there was no hope for us.” “So did I.” ** How strangely that poacher behaved. I cannot half make the fellow out, and do not altogether like his ways. I think the best thing we can do is to be off.” ‘* Bnt not separate ag he said P” **T don’t know. At all events let us go on for a hitle while together in the direction of Loudon.” ** Agreed.” ‘* We might then part and each go to separate portions of ihe town, first arranging were we are to meet.” ** Agreed to that.” “Come on, then. You are tired, and soam I]; but an effort must be made. We are much too close to the hut to be safe or comfortable. Make all the speed you can. Ve shall be the downtall of Jonathan Wild yet.” 99 cComiclboooks (SO) 5}