Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

ELUESKIN: A ROMANCE. 835 “We shall see,” enid Jack; but come, I forget myself. This is not the time for talk or explanations. Blneekin witl be wondering where I am so leng.” ; “Oh! yes, Jack. Fly now. I hope we shali have many epportunitics of talking to each other.” eluctantly Jack went to the door of the chamber. Ile knew Steggs was there not a moment before, for he hed scen him, but new he was nowhere to be found. Jack’s mind was always full of sugpicicn a3 regards Steges, and he locked upcu his absence in an unfavourable light. Prt was net with noticed it. a Could it be possible that he had gone to betray him: That he was entrapped ? Taking his comparicn by the arm, who could tell by his looks and manner—fer he said nothing—that some- thing was wrong, he paszed out of the chamber on to the landing. But there was no Steres to be gecn. te made his way to the top of the stairs that led down mito the hall, and looked down and listened. Tho moment, however, that he stooped to put Limeelf in a listening attitude, he heard the sounds of some unusual disturbance taking place below. There was the trampling of fect, the shonting of voices, and among these last Jack fancied he could distinguish the tones of his arch enemy, Jonathan Wild. But before ho eou!ld decids upon this, he heard some one ascending the stairs rapidly. He drew back, and put his left arm around Edgworth Bess, who was halt fainting with terror. Jack coolly drew his sword from its sheath. Then turned to the other flight of stairs leading up to the attics. “Bly!” he said, “fly! Be quick, for yourlife! I will guard this staircase, and cover your escape. Make your way out on to the roofs, Yon will see a ladder on the landing above that will enable you to do so.” “ No, no, Jack; I will not fly and leave you here. You must come with me, or I stay.” ‘No, no, that must not be. I ean ascend the stairs much quicker than yourself. Goup, I pray you. Don't waste time in needless argument. Ascend, ascend. will follow you.”’ Thus adjured, and half terrified by the vehemence and rapidity with which Jack spoke, Edgworth Reza ran up the stairs leading to the attics. At the same’ moment Steggs reached the tep of the other flight. Ile looked heated, alarmed, and breathless. Behind him Jack con!d hear some one else comin. His heart told hin it was Jonathan Wild. The impression was firmly fixed upon Jack’s mind that Steggs had betrayed him, and that conviction continued, although the first words Steggs spoke ougkt to ave cis- sipated it. “Fly!” he eaid, “fly! with all speed! Jonathan, hy some means, has got upon your track, and 1s coming up- atairs. Fly! fly!” And Steges came on np the attio stairs, which Jack gradually ascended sword in hand. Edgeworth Bess stood at the top. “Villain!” eried Jack, his eyes still blinded by sus- picion; “villain! you havo already betrayed us to tue raseally thicf-taker, and now you wish to make our eap- ture certain. ‘Take that as a reward for your treachery !” cat much misziving, too, that he CHAPTER CCAAYVII. JACK SHEPPARD AND JONATHAN WILD HAVE A STRUGGLE ON THE ROOF-TOPS, AND THE LATTER 1iAS A NARROW ESCAPE OF HIS LIFE. As Jack uttercd these words in a loud and furious tone of voice, he made a sudden thrust with his swore at Steggs as he was ascending the stairs. Jt was impossible to avoid the stroke. The plunge was a rapid and a vigorous one. The sharp bright sword piereed his breast, ead uttering a yell of agony, Steges fell backwards down the stairs. Jack Sheppard hardly stayed to see the consequences of this rash and foolish act, but turned and ran upstaire himself, Bess was before him, WO nee £0 ES PORE LY SOP, Fs AE SR NS ET EE tS She had witnessed what had taken place, and was almost too horrified to more or speak. Steggs had shown himself her friend on so many ocea- sions, aud dane her so many eervices, that she had growa lo like him, saad was quite asgured of his fidelity. “* There is the ladder,” cried Jack. ‘‘ Iaste, haste, oz if wiil be foo lata! You will find Blaeskin abova.” “Tere I am,” said a vaieo, and immediately a ray of light from the frap-door above was sent down upon the anding. It was Blueskin, who held a dark lantern in his hand. ; Soswonth Ress saw the ladder, and commenced ascend- ing it, ** Bo quick, Blue! Steegs lias betrayed ua to Wild, but he has paid for hig treachcry with his death! Take Bess up and over the roofs safely. JI will stay behind, and cover the retreat. Quick, I say, cr Jonathan will be upon us! Ha! he is here! ” Jonathan had by the greatest chance escaped being thrown down by the body of Steggs, but he had just time to step back. lie paused for a moment, end then ran up the attic stairs, all the time calling lustily to his men to follow him. Blueskin took in the aspect of affairs at a glance, and, stcoping down, eaught hold of Bess by both her arnis, and crew her up throuch the trap-doer. Jack Sheppard ran to the foot of the ladder and asceaded it rapidly. Iie was in hopes of being able to reach the top and get on to the roof in time to either draw tho ledder up after bim or throw it down so as to impede the progress of lis 10°. But Jonsthan was too elose behind him. liis feet were on the lowest rounds of the ladder before Jack could get on to the roof. Passion lent Jonathan strength and speed, and he ascended the ladder with marvellous quickness. But, on reaching the roof above, Jack once more grew calm and cool. Blueskin had not got far off with Edgworth Bess, and they would have some awkward ridges to surmount before they reached the window leading into the attic of the next door house. Jack did not know the reason then, but we may as well aeqvet the reader with it now. t was well that Blneskin caught hold of the poor girl and drew her through the trap-door on to the roof in the manner we have récorded. Ifad he not done so, she could never have got out by her own powers. Althougii much better than she had been, she was far from recovered from her dangerous Ulness. She found herself even weaker than she anticipated. Tho excitement, too, of her unexpected meeting with Jvack—the sudden appearance of \Wild—and the encounter with Steggs, all had their full effect upon her debihtated irame. Indeed, we have hinted that on the landing, whon Jack put his arm around her and led her to the bottom of the stairs, she was in a half-fainting eondition. Dut on the Jadder, as soon as Jack pronounced the words in reference to Wild, ‘‘ tie is here!” she involuntarily turned round and caught sight of the countenance of the . villainous tlief-taker, which was fully revealed by the light of the lantern. Her strength seemed then to utterly desert her, and Blueskin eaught hold of her at a most opportune momert: otherwise she would have fallen to the ground. By the dead weight she hung upon his hands, Blneskin guessed what had taken place, and when she was fairly outside he found his worst forebodings were confirmed. She was in & swoon. This was an uulooked-for dilemnia. However, he took her in his arms, and carried her for a short distance, until indeed, owing to the awkward sepes of tho tiles, it became impossible to carry her any onger, Yheu he placed her down carefally. Ifow was he to revive her ? He felt hot and cold by turns as he thought Jonatnan would be upon them ere they could make good their escape. He felt in his pockets, and the first thing his hand encountered was a flask containing some brandy. WR Rt ry Fe EO DOO C SS (SO) >