Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

Sg ee 4 366 | one oy oe a eA et ae ei eae i a pe a ey EEE Oe “Damme eA § ~ enemy, and that it would be their best policy to put as mitch ground beiween themselves and him as they could before he recovered his senses. But in order not to knock the horses up too soon, they cllowed their gallop to subside into a trot, which, never- theless, took them along at a tolerable rate. It afforded them, too, the opportunity of speech. Jack Sheppard was the first to avail himself of it. °° AJl this seems hke a dream to me,’ he said. ‘* I can scarcely believe that we have actually been aij three ia Jonathan Wild’s hands, and that we have got out of thera sO soon.” * Tt is a fact, notwithstanding,” replied Blueskin; ‘* but you may make sure of this, that if Ross had not chosen to stand our friend in the way he did, we should by this time be safe in the cells below Wild’s house in Newgate-street. T suppose we should.” ‘It’s quite certain. Now, Jack, you heard what kind of a promise 1 made to Ross.”’ ce Yos.” ‘* I did not consult you about it before I spoke, because I thouglit as time was so pressing there was no need for ine to do so.” ‘* You were quite right.” “IT am glad to have your consent. We could not properly estimate the value of the service he has done us, and you may depend Jonathan will make him suffer rather severely for it. Don’t you think he will ?” “ T don’t think anything at all about it.” ‘* You mean you are quite sure.” ee Yes,” ‘Well then, I conceive that the least we could do would be to make him what compensation lies in our-power.” “Tam quite of that opinion.” *“Andso am J,” said Edgworth Bess; ‘and should have mentioned it myself if you had not proposed it.” ‘*T am very much pleased to find we are all so unani- mous uponthis subject,’ replied Blueskin. ‘* You heard what I said to him ?” ce Yes.” ‘* T promised to be in two nights’ time at Poct’s-corner, Westminster Abbey, where I would givo him some com- pensation for what he had done for us.” ** Just so. What do you propose next ?” ‘“*T can hardly tell you. There is one thing that troubles ine very much.” What is that?” “Why, Jonathan Wild being so upon our track. How did he know we were staying at the inn ?”’ “There I am as much at fault as yourself.” ** It is an embarrassing circumstance, is it not?” Ce Ver 2? ‘* I don’t think the meeting was a chance one.” “Nor do I; for if you will recollect he was in the act of drawing up before the inn when he unfortunately saw us.” “Tam afraid we shall learn little by speculating upon the matter. What makes me uneasy is, I cannot divest inyself of the idea that Jonathan have some means of ascertaining where we are and what we are about, which we are in ignorauce of.” ‘* I am afraid so, too,” replied Jack. “*When—oh! when,” exclaimed Edgworth Bess, “ will his persecutions cease ? ‘* You may depend not until ho either obtains the object of his desires, or is utterly defeated.” ¥ Alas! that we should have to wage such a battle!” We are compelled to do so in our own defence.” “ Nay,” replied Edgeworth Bess, ‘* you must not seek to delude me with that idea. I know perfectly well that Jonathan’s enmity to you is caused solely by your cham- pionship of myself and my cause, and I am also conscious that I alone am the cause of all that you have suffered since vou knew me.” ‘“f don’t pretend to deny,’ replied Blueskin, * that a great portion of Wild’s enmity proceeds from the cause vou have referred to, but that it does wholly, I must beg leave to deny.” Pa ‘“* You would fain deny the other if you could.” - ‘‘Nay—nay. But never mind. We have culisted our- selves in your service, and we will never quit it until we are Inid low by the hand of death, or until you succeed in gaining possession of your rights.” “<I shall have much to thank you for if ever that happy time arrives. When it does, I trust I shall be provided 3 es “Ag PT ea -"S-" SAN la PO ee - BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE with sufficient means to reward you both as you deserve to be rewarded.” “We wish for no reward,” said Jack Sheppard, “ and, for my own part, I should accept of none. What I have done has been done willingly and voluntarily.” ** I know that, Jack. I know that. But, nevertheless, 89 Juld the time ever arrive, I know you would not pain tr@ ss nich as to refuse to accept of what I offered to testify to ray gratitude.” ‘ T don’t know for that,”’ said Jack. Excuse me,” remarked Blueskin, “if I call you back ties speculating upon the future to our present situa- ion.” Tt is fill of perils.” “Tt is, indeed.” “What do you propose ?” 1 In the first place, that we get as far away as pos- sible.” ** But, how for Ross ?” ‘* You must leave me to manage him.” ‘But how?” ** T have not quite made up my mind.” 2 rare you any thoughts upon the matter fF” es. ** Let us hear them.” ‘* T should like for us to make our way as far as pos- aera from London, and find you a safe place of shelter.” ¢ vas,”’ ‘** And, when that was done, I should sect out alone for the spot where we buried the treasure, and dig up a per- tion of it.” “Well?” ‘I should then proceed to keep my appointment with Ross at Poet’s-corner, having done which, I should get the other ingots of silver converted into money.” ‘“* And all this time, you think of our being safely be- stowed somewhere awaiting your retarn?”’ cc Yes.” **' Then, that will not do.” ‘Why not?” ‘* T cannot consent to it.” * But why not?” ** Did you not say just now, that what puzzled yon most was that Wild had some means of learning our inctions which we knew nothing about ?” ‘I am afraid that is the case.” ‘Very well, then, that is an answer to your question.” ** Explain yourself more fully.” , me shall be divided, shall we not?” res.” ** And Jonathan will find it out. Then how muel easier it will be for him to overpower us when we are apart. No, Blueskin. You may rely upon it, it will not do. Our only chance isto keep close together. Ifweure once parted, it will be all over with us.” * But, Jack.” What P” ** Don’t you consider that it would be trebling the risk for all three to go to find the treasure ?” ‘*No, I don’t.” ** You don’t consider it would ?” **No, and even if I did, I should not think we ought to separate ourselves for a moment.” ** Well I will give in to you.” ‘Tam glad to hear that.” But I think we shall be running a very great risk, ond yet I have a great horror of our parting from cach other.” “So have Il. United we may do much, but singly, very httle, or, I might say, nothing.” ‘ You are right there, and so let us consider the matter so far settled. All that I have proposed to do must be done—the culy difference being that you are to be with me instead of my being alone.” * Just 3.” ““Then, my friends,” remarked Blueskin, something else to consider.”’ “What?” ‘© Tn a little while it will be dawn, so it hehoves us to lock ont for a shelter of some sort.” ** Phat is true.” ‘We have been coming at a good rate from the inn. Havo you any idea whereabouts we are, for I confess my- self to be completely at fault in that respect.” we have cComiclboooks RF qe Py 2 eae CEES, X 72 eee eee ee, Ar a PS SE iy, Gp UE Par nfmer—en “ecb ——— ee a a Coll