Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

~ ~ SR ee SO Eee 2 Se SP eee Te. ar » BLUESKRIN : But the watch-box, after several oscillatory movements, reciined its perpendicular position. re trem REET. TIES TE ee TT TT. ATP SC aT ARR, A ROMANCE. But this was only his opinion, and it might be incor- rect; and he had no opportunity of conferring with his The watchmau, however, could not fail to bea aroused | comrade, for he kept steadily ahead of them, maintaining from his nap, for the seat, and the end of his nose came iuto violent contact with the wood. Witb a kind of instinct he sprang his rattle, before he was niore than vaguely conscious that something unusual had taken place, At the same time, as he rapidly recovered his faculties, he commenced shouting murder and thieves at the very top of bis lungs. Jack Sheppard could not refrain from uttering a curse at the occurrence of this aulucky incident, fur he Knew how soon the alarm would spread from one watchmau to another, But he put a stop to the exertions of this one by coffiu- ing him. In some other porti the meaning of this term. But li stit should have been forgotten, we will describe whot Jack did on this occasion, As the old watcliman sat inside the box making all the uproar in his power, Jack ran up te it, and by main lorce threw tle box over on to tts face. It, as a matter of course, carried the watchman with it, and there lie lay beneath his house, buried and unable to do anything towards effecting his own release. But the box itself reaghed the pavement with a bang sufficient t) aronse a whole neighbourhood ; so, bowever effective it might have been so far as the watchman was individually concerned, it had that drawback. Besides which, the alarm was already given, and this only served to increase it. The watchman continued to spring his rattle ina most praiseworthy manner, but the sound was muffled. © Come on, Jack,” cried Blueskin. ‘ Use your best speed. Put forth your utmost exertion. Hark how the watel- men are taking up the alarm.” They were indeed. In every quarter rattles were sprung, and then the trampling of teet follom7d. Not only were the fngitives in imminent danger of being surrounded and captured by these, but the uproar raised could not fail to set Jonathan Wild upon the track—even supposing him to have Jost it. But Blueskin continued to run at full speed, and Jack and Edyworth Bess had no resource but to follow him in the best manner they were able. Jack could manage pretty well, but the poor girl who was hiscompauion, not only was suffering from extreme de- bilitation, but was not used to such violent exertion. Still, the dread of falling inte the hands of Jonathan Wild ennbled her to keep up very well. How fervently Jack wished that he was strong enough to iift her in his arms, and so save her from all this fatigue. But such athing was quite out of the question. Morning, too, was very close at band. Every moment they could see the light increasing, and distant objects coming more plainly into view. Suddenly a man darted out from a side street. His’ attention bad doubtless beon attracted by the gpringing of the rattles, He was just in advance of Blueskin, so he held out his arms and tried to stop jhim. But be might as well have tried to stop an avalanche. Increasing his speed as much as he was able, and clenching his rigbt hand tightly, Blueskin burried on. 2 Too late the man made an effort to step aside. He received the reward due to his folly and inter- ference. Blveskin raised his arm, and, as he passed at fullspecd, he struck the man a terrific blow in the face. No buman being could possibly have withsteed the effect of such a blow. Down went the man like a shot. He luy in the road quite motionless, Another second and Juck Sheppard and Edgworth Bess passed him. - trom the steadiness with which Blueskin, in spite of all obstacles, persisted in keeping one direction, Jack argued that he had already settled iu his mind what their destina- tion was to be. on of this bistory we have explained ; at intervals: shock threw him forward on the about the same distance as he bad done all through. So quickly did he turn the corners that Jack and Edg- worth Bess had some difficulty in keeping him in view. _ They had the satisfaction, Lowever, ere long of learn- ing by the sound that they were rapidly distancing their pursuers. The sounds of their footsteps had entirely ceased, and it was only occasionally that a cry was wafted to their ears, Atlength even these ceased to be andible, and when they were, Blueskin slackened his spoed, and allowed his ties Companions to come up to hin. ATL three were breathless, panting, and exhausted; so hefore they conld speak to each other they were co: pelled to support themselves and pause a litde while. As sour as he could, however, Blueskin spoke, fer be U kuew the pre ciosity of time. “Thank heaven!” lhe gasped out, catching his breath ‘“we are safe so far, and that you have been enabled ra sustain the faticue of so longarace. I was afraid it wonld overpower yvon.’’ : soth Jack Sheppard aud Edgworth Bess made an eudenvour to reply, but failed. : ‘They could not speak. Blueskin coutinued. ‘“ Never miud answering me. more valuable purpose. It is impossible to tell what may vet be required of you. However, close at hand here is a place where I have good hopes of being able to obtain temporary shelter, and that we must have, for we eannot keep up this sort of thing.” Jack nodded, “T know the landlord of a publie-house close by. I once reudered him an important service. It 1s very many years ago now, aud he has more than once displayed _his eratitnde forit. I think I shall be able to interest him in our behalf,and induce him to find us with a safe refuge until we have to some extent matured our plans.” Jack nodded again. Tf you feel strong enough,” continned Blueskin, “you had better follow me at once, because the sooner we are under a roof of some sort the better. You need not run, but proceed at a gentle pace. This will enable you to recover yourselves, and we siall be gaining time as well.” “ Tam quite able,” said Bess, faintly; ** but I hope we have not much further to go. If we have, I had better lie down here and-.die at once, for I am all but exhausted.” “Cheer up,’ said Blueskin. “Do not think of dying yet. It is but a couple ot hundred yards at farthest that we have to go, and you can take your time.” © T will assist von, too,” said Jack, speaking with diffi. culty, for his heart throbbed so from the excessive exe rtior Heuad Ju t taue. dha Wiwue bait tuerlas di every monieut it must burst. ‘Lean as heavily as you like upon my arta, and I will assist you to follow Blueskin. It is very lucky that we have fonnd a place at all. I cau assure yon it is more than [ hoped for.” Edgeworth Bess was, however, fully aware of the ex- hausted ecoudition in which Jack was, and she refused to leau upon him as he had requested, though, at the same time, she felt how welcome such a support would be to her. Jack Sheppard, though, would taka no refnsal, but in- sisted upon her complying with his wishes, and in order not to lose time in protvacting a dispute, she gave way. Ata walk, then, they followed in Blneskiu's steps. sy this means they recovered themselves in a great ineaspre from their agitation. They grew cooler, too, so that when they presented themselves at the place of which Blueskin had spoken, they would be tbe less likely to excite commentatorial suspicion. When Blueskin said that the distance they had to go was ouly two hundred yards, he was scarcely correct, for it was nearly double that distance. He was aware of that fact, but then he did not wish to dishearten the poor girl, who had already bore up against fatigue in so leroic a manuer, by telling her that she had nearly a quarter of a mile to walk. But at last, and without the occurrence of any further danger, the distance was performed, and the little party Save your wind for 4 > ere en Aan TE SE I EE Ty TE TRE LE: ne eee GO DOO SS o(CO)