Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

PIM, gl. atin, Fey w= oe ee ee ee ee ae ee ey oe ~ cee mon ~~ nee, “And now, Tumposki, we want your assistance. I know you will give it us, will you not ?” ‘What is itr” “That you shall know presently; but, first, ean nor you find us with a bed, and have our clothing dricdP We are most uncomfortable, and are sadly in want of rest. Will you oblige us? We wil! tell you our plans atter- wards.” “Yes; come with me. I can take you to a place where you will be perfectly sufe and secure from all discovery You, Mr. Blake, 1 know; but what is the name of this young man who is with you?” ‘* Sheppard.” *€ Jack Sheppard ?” 6<¢ Yes 92 Excellent. I am glad to have so bitter a fce of Jonathan Wild’s beneath my roof.” CHAPTER CCYVII. AARON TUMPOSKI, THE JEW, AFFORDS BLUESKIN AND JACK SHEPPARD MATERIAL AID. THERE was npop the table in the centre of the room a curiously-fashioned bell, and as he uttered the words which concluded the last chapter, the old Jew, who gees in the rather peculiar name of Tumposki, rang 1t sharply. The summons was answered by a woman, who looked as old and as shrivelled-up as himself. “Ruth,” he said, ‘‘ take these two gentlemen upstairs, and show them into a bedroom. They are going to sleep here for a few hours. You will also dry their clothes.” “This way, if you please,” said the old woman named Ruth. ‘ You will not require a light—it is already day- break.” “At sunset, Aaron,” said Blueskin to the old Jew, “we will deseend, and talk over this business, which doubtless will turn out to your profit in more ways than one.’ So saying, he followed Jack and the old woman upstairs into a comfortably furnished apartment, fitted ap in an oriental fashion, as a bedroom. Here she left them, having first thrown open the shutters, and allowed the early morning’s light to enter. Both Blueskin and Sheppard were very much fatigued, and no wouder, for the exertions they had been ealled upon to make were enough to make them. The shelter they had so opportunely found was most weleome, and besides which, they had the delighttn! feeling that they were perfectly secure. They oceupied themselves for some time in talking over the past and speculating upon the future, but at length they dropped off into a sound slumber. How long this sleep would have lasted it is hard to say. but at sunset the old Jew tapped at the door, and awoke them. Their elothes were well brushed, and clean, and dry, s% hastily putting them on, they descended. They found the old Jew seated in the same apartment as he was on the preeeding evening. On the table, howcver, was spread a substantial and tempting repast, to which he invited them to sit down and do justice to. ur friends awoke hunery after their long sleep, and the viands spread out before them seemed appetizing in the extreme, so they at ence availed themselves of the “ew’'s invitation. After this meal was despatched, they diew up to the fre und conimenced the conversation. * Auron,” suid Blueskin, “ Jaek Sheppard and myself have certain plans which we are resolved to carry out, but we cannot do so, mird you, until we possess a tolers bly large snm of money.” The dew nodded. “To obtain this sum of money will be our first cere, and 1 daresay you know how we shall procure it.” “Crack a erib?” ** No, by high toby.” “Well, well 2?” “We shall run a great risk, of course, for the officers ere out searching for us in every direction, but we do not sind that.” ce oN Certainly not; but what de you want with mo?” a ae ° Se ee Sa Matern -- ee oe Ooo eS —e eS | BLUESKIN: A ROMANCR. a, =L “Simply this: we are quite unprovided with the neces. suries requisite for our enterprixe, but it is in your power to supply us with them. Wull you do so?” The Jew was silent tor a moment, and thex, as if ashamed of his hesitatzon, which was caused solely by his natural eupidity, ke said— “Tt will and willingly ; bet what shall you de with yeur swag?” “ Bring it to you, of course, my dear Aaron, and we shall trust to you to give us a fair and liberal price for it, for the sooner we can obtain the sum of money we reguire, the better it will be for us.” “Very good. You can trust me. Now, when do you intend to start upon your expedition P” ** In about two hours’ time.” ** So soon ?”’ ‘Yes. Why not.” “Oh! I don’t know, only I should have thought it would have been most prudent to have waited a little while, so that the officers should have abated their vigi- lance somewhat.” “Pho! pho! Weare more likely to sueceed to-night than any other; besides, I tell you we are pushed for time, and Wish to amass a certain sum as speedily as possible,” ‘* Do so, with all my heart.” * Well, then, I hope we understand each other?” ** Perfectly.” *'That is all right, then.” ‘What next P” ‘‘ Nothing, except that we shall want you to equip us.” “What with ?” “We are short of everything.” ce Oh ! 33 ‘You know what is required quite as well as we could tell you. Uorses, pistols, and ammuuition are the most important.” “ Of course they are. You shall have them. I will leave you here, if you like, while I go out to see about them myself. 1 never like trusting these matters to another.” ** Much the best plan.” **T have always found it so.” ** Where shall you get the horses °° T don’t know yet.” ** Well, don’t go to the stables in Long-acre, for 1 fancy, som eh ows the people there are in league with Jonathan ild.”’ “Thanks for that cauticn. gone there.” ** But you will not now ?” *€ Certainly not, as there is a doubt in the matter.” With these words, the old Jew took a hat and cloak off a peg, and putting them on, sallied forth upon his errand. As soon as the door had closed behind him, Jack said— “Do you know much of this Jew?” ** Not mueh.”’ ** No more than you have told me, I suppoes.” No. Why do you ask the question P’ ** Do you think he is to be trusted?” Ves.” All right.” What makes you suspicious P” ** Be seems avaricious.” * All Jews are.” “Therefore I should not feel surprised * —— What?” “If he was to sell us to our enemies.” “No, Jack, I don’t think that.” Why not?” “1 grant you, that to a Jew money is almost every: thing, but there is one passion which will always maze avariclousness succumb.” ** And what is that P”’ Hae, and the determination to be revenged.” ** 7 think [ understand you.” ; You do him an injustice, Tam sure youdo. if he intended to betray us he has had plenty of chance Of doing so ere now, and you may rely upon it he would have embraced the earliest opportunity.” “So he would.” ‘Trust him, Jack. He will be ef wii Rinse rp”? I should very hkely have }an more ways than one.” a ar > ames oe eee als ee ee RO oe ee — we mer tw Oe of fore GOMLGIOO SS (SO) 5}