Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 340: what you’re looking at

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

(p See ONE CE ETE =— o- rhc “| ‘That I have no idea; but what shall wo do? Hark, here he comes.” ae ‘We can do nothing but remain whero we are,” said Jack, ‘and trust to bis passing this place and not finding “But that is a very slender chaneo.” T know it is, but it is our only one. Keep still, or he will hoar us. We can do nothing but trust to his going This wag trusting to a very frail thing indeed, and s0 Jack and Blueskin both felt, for Jonathan Wild was a man possessed of no ordinary skill in hunting down human amo. . . Some trifling thing, that would escapo the observation of most persons, would indicate to him that our friends were hiding there, and if he did take such an idea into his head, their case would be a deplorable one indeed, for what would be easier than for the thief-taker to surround the scaffolding and cither slay them or tako them pri- soners They heard him and his ruthless band come on. Instantaueously they crouched down, as though by so doing they would reduce the chances of their being found, and with bated breath thoy looked out from their place of concealment. The next moment Wild and his band eame in sight. The thief-taker himself, in a shocking plight, led the way. Ilis apparel wag droneched with water and besmeared with unctuous mnd. Large rents appeared here and there, while down his face trickled several little rivulets of blood. His appearance was ghastly and horrible in the extreme, and 3ufficient to strike terror into the boldest heart. Several of the men behind him carried torches. They held them high in the air, and they diffused a bright, raddy light all around them, and by the aid of this light Wild and his men looked about in search of the three fugitives. On they canne—along the narrow, broken pave ment of the churchyard, until they came opposite to the scaffolding in which our friends were concealed; another moment aud they would have passed it, when suddenly Wild called * Halt !”? and the whole throng came to an imme- diate standstill. The hearts of the three friends sunk within them when they heard this, and they mentally gave themselves up for ost. Still they had the prudence and the presence of mind to remain quite still,and not to utter an ejaculation, or, in fact, do anything calculated to put Jonathan upon their track. From where they were ccncealed they could both hear and sce the proceedings of their cnemies. ' “ Halt!” cried Wild, again; ‘and listen some of you. Who can hear their footsteps? Silence! Hark!” The whole band now became intensely still, and evcry member of it hstened with the utmost cagerness for any sound whieh they could construe into the footsteps of their prey. But all was still. ‘fj Not one of them had ears quick enough to eatch the sound they so much desired to hear. “Curses on it all!” said Wild. “ We are here just two miuutes too late. They have come this way, I am eertain, and whether they have gone up Cheapside, or down St. Martin’s-le-Grand, is more than I can tell. We must trust tochance. We must not wait here, however. Down St. Martin’s-le-Grand is the most likely way they would go. Forward—forward!” Upon reccipt of this order the little troop put itself in motion, and away they went in the direction Wild had mentioned. That he should halt just where he did was nct at all extraordinary, because, as may be gathered from tie thief- taker’s words, a choice of roads was spread out before him, and ho wanted some better guide than probability to direct him as to which he ought to take. | Our readers may imagine with what joy our fziends lis- tened to these words uttered by their enemy, and learned that he had gone upon a wrong scent. Jack drew a long breath as he said— ‘* That is one more narrow escape. Thank goodness he | But then Ras gonc!” Nene agp mene: 2 A eae IE Re = Et Re Pee EBLUESKIN: A ROMANCE CN ** Ho has. I made suro he halted just where he did because he knew where we had hidden ourselves.” ** But you new see how wrong it would havo been fer ug to expose ourselves in any way.” “Tt would, indeed!” = “ What are we to do next ?”’ asked Blueskin. “ T do not know what we can do better than follow ap oa? onpinal idea of taking refuge in the cathedral.” *€ Do you think it will be best ? ” ** Decidedly, if we can effect an entranec.’’ ** Why not be off while we have the chance ? ” TI have thought of that, and there are two or three reasons why we should not.” ** What are they P” ** One is that Edgworth Bess is thoroughly exhausted, and almost incapable of making any further exertion, and the other is Jonathan would be too soon upon our track. You may depend he will soon find he is on a wrong scent, before he goes far down St. Martin’s-le-Grand, and then he will be back upon us.” ** Those are too very good reasons, Jack.” ** And not only that, Jonathan Wild would never think of looking for us in St. Paul’s. Now, if we were once to get in there, the place is large enough to hide us without much fear of our being found by any one entering it. It will be neeessary to talk over matters and re-arrange our plans. Now, that can be done here more safely than any- where else, and Edgworth Bess will rest herself at the same time,” ‘Your reasons are very gocd, Jack, and quite eon- vince me that what you propose is the best thing to be done, so make your way into the churchyard at once.” Jack did not require to be told twice to do this. Hoe crawled among the scaffolding, and at length fairly stood on the piece of ground which surrounds the old cathedral. To this place his two companions followed him, and then they set about looking for some breach through which they could obtain an entranee. For a long time they were unsuecessful, but at length they found a place just large enough for them to erawl through, and no more. They wero particularly careful not to disturb anything, for they by no means wished the workmen to see any signs of their having been abont that spot. Ina few minutes more, then, Jack and his two come panions were within the sacred edifice. ; Even in daylight it is, in many places, shrouded ina semi-darkness, but now, on a dark night, the darkness was intense. For some moments after they got in, all three stood profoundly still and listened. But no sound came to their ears. In that place a silence which cannot be deseribed pre- vailed. The very air itself seemed to be hushed. Strange sensations will creep over every one upon en- tering St. Paul’s, but how much more must those sensa- tious be intensified when the place is entcred at night? — The three fugitives were by no means exempt from this influenee, and they instinetively hushed thcir voices to a whisper. A very little while served to show them that they had the place all to themselves, and then they had the confi- dence to advance a few paces, * Jack!” said Blueskin,. ¢¢ Yes.” ‘Where are your” ** Here.” * T cannot sce you.” **Nor I you.” Aro yoa safe, Elgworth Bess ?” Quite. J have hold of Jack’s hand.” “ Allis well, then.” **T hope so.” * But, Jack.” What?” ; Tell me, what are we to do in this place? It will not do to stand here, nor will it be very safe to walk in the dark.” * There is no doubt about that.” “Then what are wetodo?” | Wave you the means of procuring a light? ” “Oh! Yes; I never fail to carry them about me. “What?” — "| — (CO) 6)O (0) C SS} o(CO)