Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 309: what you’re looking at

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

| } PFE TEED a oumerggitn. = BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, oc rr TE a ET I IIE __E AALS E POR, down the Jane, while in the meantime they hide in the hedge. But we can prevent them escaping us b any such means as that if you will attend to what I say.” The men gathered eagerly around him. The large reward he had offered, and the vexation they felt at the two fugitives having so often slipped through their fingers, made them exceedingly desirous of their capture. ; © I shall want four of you to separate from the main body and go on the other side of the hedge—two on one side of the road and two on the other. You will be able to make your way over the meadows easily enough, and mind you keep as close to the hedge row as you can, so that, if they are hiding there, they will be sure to be discovered. Quick, now; two on each side.” The men understood him in a moment, and saw how admirably the scheme was calculated to effect the end proposed. With all speed, therefore, two men got through the hedge on the right-hand side of the road and two on the left. There seemed nothing but meadows for a con- aiape Die distance, so their progress would be easy enough. cine all was ready, Jonathan gave the order to move forward. Those behind the hedge, of course, had to keep pace with the others, and they found this to be rather hazardous work. Still they went on without the occurrence of any aceident. From this it is certain that if our friends had simply hidden in the hedge, as Blueskin had proposed, they would most unquestionably have been discovered. Their safety, then, was attributable to Jack, who had proposed the amendment on the original plan of chmbing up the tree. Jonathan Wild came to the spot where they were hidden. So absorbed were our two friends in listening to his approach by the roadway, that the first intimation they had of the men being in the meadows was when they ae peasy beneath the trees in which they were con- cealed. Of course they made no discovery of them, and the whole troop went on their way down the lane. Jack and Blueskin did not venture either to move or to speak until some few moments after they were both out of sight and hearing. Seeing this little bit of policy on Jonathan’s part, they could not tell how far his cunning might extend. Then they thought, reasonably enough, that there might be some more to bring up the rear. But in this expectation they were disappointed. All sounds, save those slight uncertain ones which are always to be heard at night, died away. Then Blueskin ventured to speak. But it was in a very low tone of voice, ** Jack, Jack.” ‘Yes, Blue.” Do you hear me?” Yes.” ‘Do not speak any louder than you are obliged.” ‘*The coast seems quite clear.” 7 know it. But then ’”—— What P” ** Hark!” **T hear nothing.” No, it’s all right, I fancied I did.” *¢ Will you descend ?”’ ** Not just yet.” A Wild has gone.” ’ “Tam not so sure of that.” **Did you notice these men who came behind the hedge ?”’ Cé Yes,”’ re “That was 1 close touch.” *T know it.” “Do you see his cleverness ? ” ¢e¢ Yes.” ““He had got the idea in his head that we intended to trick him.” ** Aud we have done so.” * Perhaps.” a ett thn Ren anne S ad 807 ewe aS re = “Why perhaps ?” “His men may not have all gone by. They might be lurking somewhere close at hand, and would pounce upon us the moment we got to the ground.” ** How shall we ascertain that ? ” * By waiting here a little while.” © ¥t will be best not to talk, then P” °° Tt will.” ‘Then I am silent; but say when you think we have waited long enough.” TT will tell you when I think it ig safe.” ‘Very well. I leave it all to you, because I think you know Wild and his ways better than I do.” Blueskin did not seem to think it worth while to make any teply to this speech. @ remained silent, and listening for any little sound that might indicate the presence of his foes. Half an honr, perhaps rather more, elapsed. During that time no sound had occurred that seemed at all of a suspicious character. Feeling by that time tolerably secure he was about to call out to Jack to descend, when the faint tramp, tramp of horses’ feet struck upon his ear. He became still again instantly. The sounds rapidly increased in loudness. Jack heard them, too, but he neither moved nor spoke. At first it was difficult to say what the sounds meant, but in a little while they both came to the conclusion that it was Wild and his party returning. The horsemen, be they whom they might, were cer- taiuly coming from the direction in which Wild had gone a little while back. On they came at an easy pace. Suddenly, however, when the whole party was on a level with the trees in which our friends were concealed, a voice cried out in a loud tone— “ Halt!” The order was obeyed with military promptitude. CHAPTER CCXIV. JACK SHEPPARD AND BLUESKIN AGREE TO ROB WILD’S WAREHOUSE AT WESTMINSTER. IF there had been any doubts in the minds of Blueskin and Jack Sheppard as to who the horsemen were, the sound of the voice which pronounced the word “ Halt!” would have dispelled them. There was no other human being than Jonathan Wild who possessed such a voice. The very natural apprehension filled the breasts of both the fugitives that Jonathan’s motive for halting just thera was because in some mysterious and mcomprehensible manner he had been made acquainted with their hiding- place. But they were wrong in that supposition. Jonathan’s halting there was a mere matter of chance, and the same thing might have happened a hundred yards further up the lane. After giving the word to halt, the first thing that Wild did was to pour out a volley of curses of the most awful description, which were chicfly levelled at our two friends. But having expended his wrath in this manner, Jonathan grew calmer. ‘They have bilked us again, by all that’s holy!” he said. ‘*I do begin to beheve that they have got the devil in league with them to aid them, or how could they have disappeared ? Keep a sharp look all around you, my men, and go gently back to London. We may light upon them yet. They must be lying hidden somewhere, I am certain. Forward, gently !”’ At a gentle trot Wild and his band now made tlieir way along the Jane back to London again, looking carefully all about them, but unsuccessfully. As on the former occasion, Blueskin did not speak or et until they were quite out of earshot. Then he said— ** Descend.” ** All right, Blue.” Jack had been waiting for this order, enough to receive it. He was down on the ground in a trice. Blneskin descended more slowly, but only a short time elapsed before he was by his side. and was glad , an GOMLGIOO (SO) 5}