Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

ore OY eee Pom ee eee ee BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. een aie ate on el RES AR ete a TIE ZO —a 7 ee The importance of having men of lhis description is! wherever they went, and on no account to lose sight of obvious. They put Jonathan on the track of many things which he would have known nothing about. “What is the news?” asked Jonathan. “ Anything im en ?” a “Ieit it about Jack Sheppard? ” es,’ “Then you shall be rewarded amply. search of him. Have you seen him if ‘** Not a quarter of an bour since.” ‘* Where, where! ” “And Blueskin with him.” a did, Mr. Wild, and so I ran off to find you.” “ Where did you see them r” * At Charing-cross.’ At Charing-cross e” * Yes.” ** Go on, and be quick. “ T will, Mr. Wild.” “Pell me all, that I may know how to act.” * I was standing close to the railings of King Charles's statue, sheltering myself, a3 well as 1 could, from the rain, when I saw some one cross the open space and stand in the shadow of the statue.” ‘* Go on, go on.’ “T thought ina moment that it was an appointment of some kind, so I did not move an inch, but screened myself as close to the railings as I possibly could.” ‘“* Make haste.” ** You said I was to tell you all, Mr. Wild.” ** J know I did.” ‘JT waited and listened, and presently I saw another figure come across the square, and I could have taken my davy that was Jack Sheppard. ‘* However, | did not move, and up he came to the statue railings, and the one that had got there first stepped forward and spoke to the second. I could not tell what I am oow in the words were, becanse he spoke m a very low tonc of voice, but | I could tell by the tones who it was. Bluesiin.” “ Make haste.”’ “You needn’t trouble, Mr. Wild, they are quite safe. However, li tell you more. I stopped quite still, for | thought if I moved they would take the alarm and be off ; so | listened. ‘They cane back to the statue, and stood talking for a good while.” ** And could you hear then what they gaid.” ‘** No, only a word here and there.” “And what weve those words ?” “T ean’t recollect, Mr. Wild.” “ Not recollect ?” “No. It was only a word here and a word there that 1 hear Ton they didn’t make no sense at all.” lt was ** However, L kept quito still, determined not to move an inch till I had housed them. As it happened, I had not long to wait. One took hold of the other by the arm, and straight across the square they went, in the direction of Northumberland House.” ‘You followed.” “Of course I did. I never let them be out of my sight one moment, Mr. Wild. ‘They went past Nor- thumberland House, and turned down one of the streets leading to the river. I followed them still, bunt more cantiously than before, because the street was ‘empty, and there ao cousequently all the more danger of their hear- in a What next ?”’ ** At the bottom of this street, and built quite upon the river's side, is a thieves’ ken, which Tam sure, Mr. Wild, you must know very well. ‘‘ITdo. Are they there?” ‘* Yes, they are inside. I watched them go in.’ ey “ But, while we have been talking here they may have r-) > he i peazdly think so, Mr. Wild. matte af Why not ?” “'t know a man who lives in the street, so I went to him, and RO ot him to stand in front of the door and watch whether they cama out, and if they did, to follow them If they have, it don’t them,’ “Very good, Stevens. You have acted most sensibly throughout this matter. You shal] have an ample reward if you will come to my house in the morning.’ 7 Shall I go with you now, Mr. Wild? I can show you the way.” “And you can speak to the man you have left on the wateh.” ** To be sure I can, sir.’ ** Then get np behind one of my men, and now, quick— forward !” At the word the little troop put itself in motion. Across Fleet Market—up the ascent of Flect-street-— and nndei Temple-bar they went. Upen reaching the narrow turning by the side of Northumberland House, which led down to the river, the men, by Wild’s orders, dismounted from their steeds. ''wo were left in charge of them, and the remainder, headed by the thief-taker and Stevens, procecdcd stealthily down it. “That is the ken,” said Stevens, presently, as he pointed to a faint light in the distance. “* Where is your mau P” “A little further on. I told him to keep out of sight. I dare say he is in one of the doorways.” ‘he houses in this little narrow street were very ancient structures, and furnished with very curious porches over the doorways In old- faaliioned country-towns others of a similar fashion may still be seen, like little houses projecting out, with a seat on each side. Better hiding-plaees than these could not be wished, and,as Stevens had foretold, upon passing one of these he found his man. Upon inquiry, he found that no two persons answering to the description of Jack and Blueskin had emerged from the ken, So far, then, all promised well. Jonathan Wild’s next proceeding wag to carefully surround the ken upon the three sides, whiecre it was practicable, with bis men. The fourth side overlooked the river which was now almost at full tide. It was not possible to post his men there. Having taken all these preeautions, the thief-laker pro- ceeded to commence bis attack upon the ken. He knocked in the manner of the initiated, and the door was Opened. Then in a moment his men rushed in, overcoming all the resistance which the man who guarded the door could offer them. ‘The interior of the ken was well known to Wild. It was about as celebrated a one as any in London, and he had made visits there before to-night. He heard the alarm sounded. His wen were provided with torches, which they lighted, then drawing their swords, they hurried forward. We have previously set ‘down the temporizing speech which Wild made to the inmates of the ken when he requested them to give up the two persons of whom they were 1n search. We know, also, | how the speech was responded to by those members of the “ Family” who were present, and having bronght our narrative down to this point, and accounted for Wild’s presence, which at first seemed rather remark- able, we will resume. Finding that the only hope he had of obtaining his pri- soners was by taking them at the sword’s point, Jonathan waved his banger round his head, and uttering a shout which was echoed by the men behind him, he sprang for- ward, and headed the attack. But in return he was attacked with cool determination, and he found that he should have far more trouble than he had at first expected. The “Family” was for the most part composed of strong and desperate men, well skilled in the use of war- like weapons. Jonathan’s janizaries were a long time making an im- pression on them. But we will follow Blueskin and Jack Sheppard. It will be remembered that the former had caught hold of the latter and led him across the vault, when Wild effected his entrance. oe enema pee OTT <a Zn NETRA PURE, IPED ERO A ROE a AP a TE a ALE OE AT ATT BOT BS IO IE Lae RIE IE INE a NE TE A a LOT TTT ED BE I TER! A TE RE AE 2 eT Dae EE UL SS et rE (LD Sil NE MICLOO© CC S am a) (SO) (SO)