Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 370: what you’re looking at

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

SE & ea 86§ — a During the day many arrivals and departures took place BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. “There are no clouds to hide her light, but I fancy she at the inn, but in the rooms which they had hired our | will not rise for some hours to come.” friends were unmolested. And now one of the things they wished to svoid was giving the landlord any clue to where they were going. They did not want their horses. In their present excursion they would have been quite useless. If they left them behind, ten to one if ever they came for them again. Circumstances might arise which would make a return to Isleworth impossible. They resolved not to return, but to lead the landlord to suppose they would. ; We shall understand best by their conversation. It was just as dusk was deepening into mght that the three friends, who were altogether in one roon), resolved at once to set out upon their excursion. Accordingly the landlord was summoned, and Blueskin said— “ We are going out fora few hours. In the meantime we will leave our three horses in your stable, which will be aniple security for whatever expense we have incurred.” “Shall yon be longer than the time you specity P”’ Not without anything unforeseen happens, and then perhaps we may.” “Very good, gentlemen,” said the landlord, who saw nothing in this arrangement to grumble at. “Shall you require any further refreshment before you start?” “ No, we are ready now if you will lead the way.” ‘he laudlord did so, and the fugitives emerged into the lhich-street of the village. By a circuitous route, for they did not waut to be watched to their destination, they proceeded to the banks of the river. They were some time before they found a place where they could hire a boat. At length, however, by the payment of a hberal sum, they secured a light wherry, furnished with two oars, and which wonld carry them comfortably. It would require, too, in consequence of its lightness, very little exertion to urge it through the water with con- siderable speed. It was just the thing they required. Edeworth Bess was placed in the stern of the boat, and her two protectors seated themselves in the back, each one tnking an oar. The surface of the water was covered with a deep wloom, and as they shot out imto the current, they could only just discern the banks on either side of them. ‘They had a long pull before them, and over rather a dangerous portion of the river bed, for the water was very phallow in places. There was plenty of time, however, so, using the ntmost circumspection, they rowed onwards. After a time the stream grew broader and deeper, and then they made better progress. On their journey very little was said. They were too intent upon what they were about. Kidgworth Bess had turned round in the stern of the boat, and was looking steadily behind her. ae they seemed to have the river almost to them- selves. It was an hour when none would be upon it from choice, bnt merely from necessity. In this way, then, they proceeded smoothly enough, until they neared the spot where the treasure had becn deposited. ‘So much the better, then.” “While speaking, the direction of the boat had been changed, and presently the prow grated against the bank, and the body swang round to the land. Blueskin sprang out first, and moored the toat by a rope which lay in the bottom of it to one of the trees con- tiguous to the shore. Then Jack followed him. Kdgworth Bess remained in the boat in order to keep watch, and with strict injunctions to give the alarm thie moment she saw anything unusual. The quicker they dug up what treasure they wanted, the better it would be for them, for fear any one should appear upon the spot. Without any trouble they recognised the locality, and, as the ingots were buried separately, and only a few inches beneath the soil, they could dig them up with tolerable celerity with the aid of their clasp knives. It was while thus engaged that they determined to em- brace the opportunity of removing the whole of the treasure, and endeavouring to turn it into money. Still, as may be supposed, although the time each ingot took to be unburied, the task of raising them all was a tedious one, in consequence of their great number. But, at length, they were all piled up into a hesp. The next thing, now, was to transfer them to the boat, aud care would have to be taken in loading that they did not overbalance the boat. All this, however, was done satisfactorily and safely, and, such being the case, there is no need tor ns to dwell upon it. Regaining their places in the now heavily-freiglted boat, which, when it received the addition of their weight sunk to an alarming depth iu the water, was unmoored, and Jack and Dlueskin resumed the oars. They had to row with very great care, for the gunwales of the boat were at times all but under the water, and any sudden lurch from one side to the other would inevitably capsize them, But Blneskin knew their load would be much hghtened as soon as they got to Westminster, so he steudily took his course in that direction. Nothing had been said as to the amount which was to be offered to Ross, but Blueskin did uot trouble abont that. He knew his two companions would be disposed to be quite as liberal as himself. To reach the appointed spot the boat was stayed at a place upon which a portion of the Houses of Parliament now stands, and from which a walk of less than two minutes would take him to his destination. Leaping from the boat on to the shore, Blueskin directed his two companions to remain in the boat while he went upon lis perilous errand. ** Now, Jack,” he said, “ give me as many of the ingots ag you think he ought to have for the service he has done ‘Tf IT did that, I should give you more than you can carry.”’ ‘‘T suppose so, but yon must uot do that. Give me as many as will represent a respectable sum.” Jack did so, and when he had received six, Blueskin eried hold, for he could not with convenicnce carry more. As it was, he was heavily burdened, for the ingots were a good weight each. Ilowever, he staggered on, and in a few moments was out of the sight and hearing of Jack Sheppard and ide- They were compelled to look keenly about them to]{ worth Bess, who could now do no more than patiently sit ascertain whereabouts to seek it, but the clump of trees] in the boat and await his return. «as a tolerably good guide. When he first started, Blucskin found the quantity he They had only seen it once, and then not from the river | had taken was quite as much as he could carry, but when but the land, and, moreover, upon a very misty morning, when ohjects were scarcely discernible. At length Jack raised his arm, and, pointing to the ahore on jis left, said— 7 . That is the spot, Blueskin, I am sure. it. “Yes, that is it, sure enough, but land carefully, sot waut us to be observed.” ‘You need not fear that, I think. The darkness in- creases momenianily.”’ ‘It does. We had a moon last mght, but I hope we Row towards tT eo | ahall not be troubled with her presence to-night.” oy = — he had gone alittle way, their weight appeared to increase, and he was fain to rest himself in the shelter of a build- ing. But encouraged by the knowledge that he had not far to go, he bent again quickly to his task. Tn less than two minutes he was at the appomted place, ' and, so far as he could tell, he had reached it unperceived by a single soul. Selecting the most remote and least frequented corner in the building he could fiud, he deposited his burden 1m it. Right glad to do so, he folded his arms and leaned his back against the wall. ee FO I a a a Raat COMICLOO© S (SO) > MirwTe Calanni«a Pea | Beaducmac ee TS ti" niannan \4 CenlanaAcs AnNr ‘DPintuvaa STW Calawsreas