Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 359: what you’re looking at

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

BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, which he carried to such a pitch that the legislature were compelled to interpose and suppress it. : Jonathan did an enormous business. But we have already made the reader acquainted with most of the ramifications of his trade, so it is needless to refer to them here. This wife and mother then lived with Jonatizan for some time, but at length he killed her in a fit of drunken passion. He had had rnany a mistress since then, and the last one was Maury Milliner, whose end the reader has already ‘ geen. But this son, as he grew up, proved to be a great trouble to Jonathan Wild. It would not be going too far to say that he inherited all his father’s bad and evil qualities, without any of the redeeming ones. His was afierec, untameable spirit, and one that fairly got the master of the great thief-taker. He had, however, tried to bring him “ up te tho busi- ness,” for so he designated his nefarious traftic. his son, then, whose Christian name was George, was accordingly initiated into the mysteries of the office in Newgate-street. For a time all went well. Jonathan was delighted. He thought that at last the trouble he had had with his BON was over. He fancied he beheld in him one who would shortly become a most able coadjutor and ally. Delusive hope. The darling son wormed his way into the whole of his father’s secrets, and by pretending to interest himself in the proceedings, elicited everything. The thief-taker took him entirely into his contidence. And what was the result ? Just what might have been expected from such a spirit. He took advantage of one of Jonathan’s long absences, and packed up into as small a compass as possible the principal portion of his father’s wealth. Then absconded with it. He had been an apt pupil! The numerous lessons in villainy and iniquity wmch Jonathan had given him were not thrown away. They all recoiled upon the teacher’s head. That was a just retribution. This son, then, knowing the means at his father’s com- mand, took measures te destroy them accordingly. He laid all his plans—made every arrangement for an immediate and rapid flight. Then, when he had the booty safe in his possession, he lost not a moment, and was almost out of the country before Wild discovered his loss. The impotent anger of the thief-taker was terrible to witness. He made instant search for his son. But vainly. And so Jonathan’s iniquity had recoiled upon his own ead. He hittle thought when he was giving lessons to his son that he was preparing a rod for his own back, and that the first person who would reap the benefit would be himself. As we have said, the thief-taker’s anger was terrible. He suddenly tound himself despoiled of the savings of many years. Of wealth obtained only by a constant exposure and risk of his life. Money enough to have enabled him to retire a rich man. Now it was all swept away. He would have to begin life afresh. Registering a fearful oath of vengeance, howevar, against his son, Jonathan Wild, with his usual indomita- ble energy, set about his task afresh. And, what was more, he succeeded, for he amassed wealth more rapidly than before. And all the while he had heard nothing of his son. But there were times when, as we have recorded, Wild could not help wishing that his son had been to him all that he might have been. This was when he felt the want of some one whom he could trust sufficiently to take his place. And go on the present occasion he felt the loss of some Oe 307 amd one trustworthy, and how advantageous it would be to him if he could have a substitute. Aud so, with the thoughts of this son of his occupylog his mind more than they had done for many a@ long day, Jonathan Wild moodily took his way towards Newgate- street. It may be that the words which had beer uttered by the mysterious old woman upon the bridge, and which seemed to have such an evident connexion with his own fate, had some effect upon his mind. Certainly his thoughts went far back into the past. But little did he think that this son of his was so close at hand as he actually was, and that he would so soon make his appearance. Whether as a foe, or whether as a friend, time alone cun determine. Without the occurrence of any purticular incident call- ing for recordation at our hands, Jonathan reached hig own house in Newgate-street. There he remained for several hours during the day, wholly immersed in his business. Towards four o’clock in the afternoon he was made the recipient of some intelligence which produced a remark- able effect upon him. He armed himself—ealled out his men—mounted them —and set out at their head at full speed. His destination was the inu where the fugitives hid found a refuge, and to which they had been tracked by some of his myrmidons. CHAPTER CCXUILII. JONATI[AN WILD CAPTURES THE THREE FUGITIVES AT THE INN. WeE have seen how, as they stood incautiously at the window of the inn, awaiting the arrival of the horses, Blueskin, Jack Sheppard, and Edgworth Bess were seen by Jonathan Wild. This put an end to all doubt respecting the correctuess of the information he had received. With a yell, then, which might have come with better grace from the throat of some ferocious animal than a huinan being, the thief-taker threw himself off his horse and called to his men to follow his example. All this the fugitives had seen with horror imprinted upon their features. In what way were they to escape the clutches of the thief-taker P The horses had not come, and, if they were to arrive now, they would not be able to avail themselves of them. Whet could have brought Jonathan there they were unable to conceive, for, of course, they were in ignorance of the facts with which the reader has been mado ac- quainted. They inclined to the belief that his presence thero was the result of accident alone, and that he would nevcr havo known where they were hiding themselves if they had not unluckily been present at the window. But Jonathan’s information was rather precise, and, even if he had not seen them in the way he did, he would not have gone away from the inu until he had thoroughly searched 1t 1n every part. But now he had the proof which his own vision afforded that they were in the building, and his heart re- joiced, for he felt that at last his pains were rewarded, and that he had got his prey within his prasp. And indeed the position in which our friends now found themselves was by far more critical than any in which they had hitherto been placed. In what way were they to hope to escape ? Jonathan’s first step was to post his men at various points round the house, so as to command a view of the whole premises. Then he stalked into the hall of the public-honse—and that was the first intimation Ross, the landlord, had of his presence. Upon seeing him, however, he expressed his astonish- ment by a low, faint whistle, while he looked the very picture of dismay. Jonathan enjoyed his discomfiture amazingly. He leant his arms upon the ledge of the bar window, in which Ross stood. oe He held a cocked pistol in # nezligent manner in his right band. a a ae eek) EE ST (OY ee EE EE a COmiIcboooks (SO) 5}