Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 365: what you’re looking at

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

BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, Afier a time, as they sat down, the men, and Jonatha es “Thank you, Mr. Wild,” said Ross; and off he went, included, turned their eyes around them listlessly, becanse | apparently in high glee, to execute this order. they had nothing to do. As for Ross, he took good care to keep aloof. He soon returned, bringing with him the haif-dozen taukards, which he placed on the table, immediately in Where he was, or what engaged him, none knew but | front of Wild, who said— himself. Presently, however, he made his appearance in the lntchen. ‘‘ Tt’s no good my sitting in the bar such a nigas, *9 *his, Mr. Wild, waiting for customers, is it P” ** T suppose not.” *‘Tt’s a most unfortunate thing for me, this storm is.” ** How so?” ** Servo it ont—zerve it ont.” Glasses were filled, and one given to the thief-taker. The remainder were handed round to the band. Ross performed this duty, but, as he did it, le never made the least offer to give the three prisoners any. But then their hands were tied behind them. Slight as this circumstance was, however, Blueskin took note of it, and the hope that, after all, they would escape, ‘Why, you see, a large party promised to ecme here to} strengthened and strengthened in lis mind, supper to-night, and that is the reason you see all this cooking going on. piece of beef hanging before that fire as ever was put But he allowed nothing of this feeling tu bo pereeptible Now, do you know, tliere’s as nice a] in his countenance. The ale was drunk with great relish, and Ross filled the upon the spit, and there’s a leg of mutton of equally good | glasses again, and said— 3 quality boiling in that pot over the fire.’ ‘¢ And I suppose you are afraid this storm will keep your gnests away?” replied Wild, who hed sat in his chair and looked at his prisoners so long that he was quite amiable. “Tam more than afraid, Mr. Wild; I am quite certain “Mr. Wild, what do you think of the ale?” ‘Very good; but I prefer brandy.” “Do yousir? Ihave got some of first-rate quality.” “Never mind. I will have another glass of ale, as | have had one already.” “Yes, Mr. Wild. Ab! look, now isn’t that a sight to they will not come now. For who in the world would | fetch the tears into anybody’s eyes? Oh! dear.” start out on a night liko this for the nicest supper mm the world ?” “Very true.” Jonathan turned round to see the sight referred to by the landlord, and saw the cook taking up the joints of meat, having quite despaired of the coming of the expected ‘* And besides, most of them would have a long way to| guests. come; and even if the storm was to cease this moment, It certainly did seem a very great shame that such the roads would be in such a state that, for the next hour | tempting and delicious viands should be spoiled, and yet or so, they would be almost impassablie. I was at the | there seemed no help for it, and Jonathan expressed him- front door just now, and the rain seems to have regularly | self to that effect. dug the earth up, and the depth of the mud is something more than I can tell.” ‘And about this supper?” said Wild. loss fall upon you ?” ‘“*T am afraid so.” *‘That is unfortunate.” “Would you like to have a snack, Mr. Wild,” said loss, as if struck with a new idea. “It’s no good for it to Will all the } spoil, and if you feel inclined I am sure you are very wel- come. ‘Thank you, Ross,” said Wild, who had grown quite hungry through snuffing the cooking. ‘‘ I don’t see auy * T said so, sir; this storm is a most unfortunate thing | signs of the weather improving, so 1 don’t mind having a for me.” ‘© And for me, tco,”’ growled the thief-taker, “cr else, by this time, I should have been a good way on my read to Newgate.” “Just so, Mr. Wild. But then you are not quite so bad taste.” © Very well, Mr. Wild.” ** Here, stop! Ross!” es, sir.” * T’ll tell you what you shall do, and then, after all, you off as me, because your prisoners cannot help being per- | won’t be such a very great loser.” fectly secure while you have got your own eyes upon them.” “Oh! very true. enough ”’——- * Still, you would rather sce them in Newgate P” Just so. But, Ross?” Yes, Mr. Wild?” I don’t say but what they are safe 9) should be glad to hear that, Mr. Wild. How ean it e 33 ‘As I said before,” replied Wild, who appeared, in a most singular manuer, to grow more aud mere good-tem- pered every moment; “fas I said before, Iam very much pleased with the way you have acted all through this affair. You have given me every assistance. Then there’s * You have acted very fairly and straightforwardly with | my bull-dogs, they have behaved themselves well. Now me in this matter, and I am sorry to find you will sustain | I think you ought both to be rewarded.” such a loss.” “Thank you, Mr. Wild.” ‘J think I understand you, Mr. Wild.” ‘You shall serve the supper up to my bull-dogs and *“ However, 1 don’t mind having something for the good | me, and sit down to it yourself, and we will reckou up ot your house, and as my bull-dogs have done their duty | afterwards for the lot.” very well, and as they have got a long ride before them, “Mr. Wild,’ said Ross, ‘I am so obliged to you why, they shall have something for the good of the house } that’”?—— too. But the remainder of his speech was drowned by thie The janizaries gave utterance to cries of unqualified | clamour which the janizaries made wheu they heard how satisfaction as they heard these words fall from the ips of | munificently their employer was about to behave to them. their imperious master. Probably no one was more astonished at seeing Wild in They found sitting there without anything to drink | this vein, than Jack Sheppard. was very dry, uninteresting work. “Tl am very much obliged to you, Mr. Wild,’ replied It was quite inexplicable to him. Even Blueskin, familiar as he was with the thief-taker Noss, very much obliged to you; and no one will ever} and his ways, was puzzled. There was something extra- find me saying a bad word against you. like to take P”’ * What have you got?” ** Almost anything you like to mention, but there “3 one What would you] ordinary in this behaviour, he was sure. Ross, however, busied himself, and soon hada tempting white cloth spread upon the table. Upon this the viands were placed,and tren Jonathan article in my cellar which I cannot help especially cz com- | and his men drew close up to the table. mending.” ** What's that P” ‘‘Some prime old October ale of my own brewing Perhaps I ought not to praise it myself, but I am quite sure, after yon have once tasted it, 1 shall lave no ocea- sion to do so.” Well,” said Wild, “that will suit us, I fancy, as well as anything. You shall bring iu half-a-dozen tankards of this ale yoa speak of, and serve it out all round to my men. Jonathan’s beneficence did not, however, estend to lis ; prisoners. He did not invite them to partake of the feast, ant Ross, though he would have been only too giad for them to do so, felt how impolitie it would be for him to aiuce to it in any way, so he passed it over in sileuce. Jonathan’s janizaries were hungry. - It was astonishing to see with what rapidity the jointa, both roast and boiled, disappeared, and as for huss, La | was quite kept on with carving. 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