Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

PLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. 7 -“ePhat we should fasten the door and erect a barricade before it, composed of all the heavy articles of furmture in the room. “Would it not be best to leave it while we have the chance ? “No, I think not; for all we could do, if we were not captured on the stairs, would be to enter another room. As for leaving the house, I am quite sure that 1s an im- possibility.”’ “Fam afraid, then, that it is all over with us at last,” enid Jack. ‘“T fear so, but hope net. the landlord.” “hen it is a poor one.’ “Not so! J think he vould do his best to save us.’ ‘ But how is he to manage it P ‘That 1 is more than I can exactly see. patiently.” “ 1] think the best thing we can do is to erect a barri- cade, If it does nothing else, it will of conrse retard our capture.” ‘© Come on, then.” It was at this moment that the three fugitives peér- ceived the first indications of the coming storm. Kdgworth Bess, who was already alarmed, was much terrified by it, and Jack had no little trouble in soothing her. Blueskin busied himself in moving the different articles of furniture, and piling them up against the door, thus forming a barricade that would be by no means easy to surmount. In a little while, when Bess grew calmer, Jack came to his assistance. In a few minutes, so energetically did they work, they had their task completed. They would now have te patiently await the current of évents. Scareely had they finished than Jonathan ascended the gtairs, and spoke and knocked at the door in the manner we have recorded. We have already seen that they took no notice whatever of his call for surrender. With what anxiety they listened to him, however, the reader can easily comprehend, uf he can for & moment imagine himself in their situation. Then came Jonathan’s retreat downstairs. They heard it, and could not conceive what it meant. Cunning they knew him to be, and they were certain this was only the commencement of some scheme by which he trusted to effeet their capture. Jack and Blueskin looked carefully to the priming of the pistols, and held them ready for immediate service. Edgworth Bess, sobbing and crying as though her heart would break, cr ouched down upon the floor. Poor girl, she was quite overcome, and realy abandoned herself to despair. She felt that there was no longer room for help, and that it was futile to longer struggle acainst her adverse destiny. “Her two protectors, whatever their feelings might be, determined to defend her to the last gasp. The little room in which they stood wag profoundly dark, and it was only when a blinding flash of hghtning shot across their vision that they were able to see each other. But these transient glimpses thus obtained were terrify- ing to a degree to Edgworth Bess. The booming of the thunder, which rattled fearfully— each peal seeming to grow louder than its predecessor— effectually drowned the slight noise which Wild’s men made in rearing the ladder against the front of the inn. They were in ignorance of these proceedings. Both Jack and Blueskin had endeavoured to account for Jonathan having descended the stairs again, and the con- elusion to which they both came, though a probable enough one, was very far indeed from being correet. They fancied he had gone down in order to obtain some- thing wherewith he eould foree the door. The thought of hig ehanging the point of lis attsek to the window never entered ‘their minds, and the first mfti- mation they had of his having done so was a terrific crash. Looking round instantly to ascertain the cause of ¥, they saw that Jonathan had dashed himself bodily throngh the casement, Our only ehance lies wit) | We must wait ‘atl three alive and unhurt. That we should fasten the door and erect a barricade| ‘The fivst thing Blueskin and Sheppard did upon makine first thing Blueskin and Sheppard did upon making this discovery was to fire both their pistols. The darkness of the place prevented their seeing whether they had taken the effect they wished. Jonathan was well supported by his janizaries, and they poured into the room with extraordinary rapidity. Kdgworth Bess sprang to her feet, and Rane to Jack’s arm. He clasped her round the waist, and endeavoured to reassure her by a tender pressure. “ ane they hear’ a voice, which to them was discord se “Don't fire, my men—don't fire. I want to take them We shall do it easily enongh, never fear, for they can’t get out. Don’t fire, for fear you should wound one of them by a chance shot. It was Jonathan Wild who spoke. At the same moment he rushed forward. - Then a flash of lightning, of such intense brilliancy that the eyeballs of all seemed scorched by it, illuminated the room. It was gone with that rapidity which is perceptible 1 in nothing save lightning. But, brief as was the light, it showed to our friends Jonathan Wild and his band of desperadoes. They, too, were seen, and Jonathan noted the exact position which they occupied. - Then all was dark again. But the Janizaries one by one produced their lanterns. They had not extinguished them, but merely placed them m the eapacions pockets in their coats while they ascended the ladder. Very soon, then, there was a constant light in the little chamber. All the lanterns were directed upon one spot. That was where the three fugitives stood. Their forms were as fully revealed as if it was broad daylig ght. p They, however, had not the advantage of seeing their oes. Indeed, all they could perceive were the round bright lenses of the lanterns. Tn quick succession Jack and Blueskin discharged their remaining pistols at the dense throng before them, and then drew their swords—determined to fight. to the last. “Upon them, bull-dogs,” shouted Wild. “ Upon them! Rnsh upon them in a body, and they will be overpowered instantly. Down with them—but use no weapons but your hands.” On receipt of these orders the janizaries made a simul- taneous and vigerous rush upon their prey. It was in vain that Jack and Blueskin endeavoured ta defend themselves with their swords. They were borne down at once, for the impetuosity with which the bull-dogs rushed at them was irresistible. In a moment they were all three upon the ground, with six times their weight of janizanies to keep them down. There was no hope for them now. In this position they were perfectly helpless. With speed and dexterity they were handcuffed. Then they were indeed prisoners. Jonathan’s eyes gleamed with triumph. He had at last achieved that which had hitherto been attended with so many difliculties. He could scarcely contain himself for joy. Edgworth Bess was ready to swoon with terror, bnt with a great effort she retained her consciousness. The dread of being insensible in the hands of Wild alone enabled her to obtain a mastery over the feeling. Jack Sheppard was silent. He could not have spoken had words been offered him —he was literally choked with vexation and disappoint- ment. Ut was the same with Bluesinin. Jonathan laughed triumphantly and discordantly ag he took a lantern from the hands of one of his men, and flashed its light upon the persons of the three prisoners. At last they were in his power. He could scarcely believe it was real, His joy was, however, extreme, and he swore a mental oath that they should not again escape lnm with life. Then, turning to his men, he said— “Clear awa y that rubbish before the door, and let us go downstairs.’ (SO) (SO) >