Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 399: what you’re looking at

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

Pe el 4 BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. a — ‘That was indeed most beautiful, and Blueskin, as he gazed npon it, felt charmed, and he mentally determined +o be her champion, and place her somewhere in security. He wondered, too, how any one could be found who was williag to inflict injuries of any kind upon such a beavsiful creature. But the man who had to all appearances carried her off, looked just such a being as would exult in the destruction of anything beautiful. - The contrast between the two was stnking in cae extreme. ‘¢ What can I do for you?” asked Blueskin, as he sup ported the trembling form of the girl with hisarm. “™ 1 should not have known anything amiss was going on hand it not been that I wished to ask the coachman a simple question as to whether he had passed a troop of horse- men who I fancied were on the road before me.” The man ground his teeth with impotent rage when he heard this. Blueskin continued. ** It was the behaviour of the driver which excited my suspicions. Instead of pulling up to answer me, as in common courtesy he might have done, he lashed on tothe horses to make them go faster, and then, amidst the din, I heard a faint muffled voice call for help.” **That was me.” “IT thought so. The rest you already know.” **T do, indeed, know it, and I shall never be able to be sufficiently grateful to you for what you have done. Give me something to do which will prove my gratitude, and see how readily and how gladly I will do it.” These simple words were uttered with an impressive earnestness, that left no doubts as to the sincerity of the speaker. ‘You have saved me from a dreadful fate,”’ she said. ‘* A fate to me ten times more horrible than death in its most hideous and revolting form. Oh! sir, I cannot. thank you.” “You have done so,” said Blueskin. ‘ You have thanked me more than I deserve.” ce No—no.” ‘°T say, yes. I did but do my duty as a man, and act in the manner my inclination prompted me. Say no more upon the point of thanks, I beg you.” ‘You are unkind.” ** How 60?” ‘ ** You will not give me the opportunity of expressing my feelings.” ‘*T can fully comprehend them. SBelieve me, I would much rather you told me, with as much haste as possible, what I can do to still further assist you.” ‘* I cannot trespass any further upon you. Doubtless, you have other matters of your own”’ **No more—no more,” said Blueskin. ‘I cannot leave you on the high-road like this. I should be unworthy of the name of man were I todo so. You must tell me of some place where you will be secure, and I will take you there.” ‘J have friends in London,” said the young girl. ‘Then I will take you there. But, stay a moment,” he added, when he saw she was about to speak. “ We will dispose of the gentleman first.” ‘* No—no,” vociferated the man who was tied to the wheel, and who, by his dress, could claim the title Blue- skin had apphed to him. ‘“ No—no. [eave me be, or you may suffer for it.” ** Do what?” ‘* Suffer.” *¢ Bah.” CHAPTER CCLXITI. BLUESKIN INFLICTS UPON AN INFAMOUS VILLAIN A WELL-DESERVED CHASTISEMENT, AND TAKES THE YOUNG GIRL TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. Wit this contemptuous exclamation on his lips, Blueskin Icft the young girl’s side and advanced towards him. The cowardly fellow crouched down when he saw our friend approach him. ‘*No—no,” he said. off.’% ‘Spare you? Yes,so I will when I have punished you in the manner you deserve, but not before.” “* Mercy—mercy.” ‘* Spare me—spare me. Keep ne | 397 ‘* How can you expect me to listen to such a plea when coming from your lips—you who have turned a deaf ear to the werds of this young girl when she addressed the same supplication to your” The man was silent. * T will punish you—not as you desorve to be punished —but I promise myself you shall have an instalment of what is due to you.” ‘*No—no. Keep your hands off me. Keep them off, Isay. What have I done that you should touch me? I don’t want the girl. Itisn’tme. Iam only acting under orders.” ‘* Undei orders ?”’ €¢ Yes.” ‘* What do you mean by that?” ‘Simply what I say.” ** That you are obeying the commands of another P” ** Exactly.” ‘*That you have been mean-spirited and base enough to become the panderer to the lusts of some greater villain than yourself ?”’ The man was again silent. “* Tf so, then there is all the less excuse for you, and the crime you have committed all the more unnatural. You have no excuse whatever.” *“* Who wants an excuse ?” said the man, endeavouring to pluck up a spirit. *“* Why vou want an excuse,” said Blueskin, “and badly, too. But I can tell you beforehand, you will not be able to find oue that will satisfy you. No, villain, you shall receive the reward your conduct so richly merits.” Thus speaking, Blueskin took from his pocket a piece of strong twine, aud with this, under threats of immediate death if he resisted, he bound the man’s hands together behind his back. The mean-spirited wretch glared at Blueskin with the utmost dismay. He had no idea for what kind of fate he was intended, and was apprehensive accordingly. Blueskin did not keep him long in suspense. Having made him thus secure, he mounted to the driver’s seat, and took the long horsewhip from its socket. He gave it a preliminary swish in the air, which sounded most unpleasantly in the man’s ear, and caused every hair upon his head to bristle up with anticipated torture. J Agam and again did Blueskiu crack the whip, so as to get used to the feel of it in his hand, and so as to be able to use it with the utmost advantage. Each time the man gave a sympathetic start, and in ange ngetou he almost felt the pain which the blow would produce. ‘* Now then,” said Blueskin, ‘* you shall have some idea of what retribution is, and I hope the punishment I am about to inflict will make you hesitate before you attempt the abduction of another girl.” A dismal howl followed these words. Blueskin swung the whip round his head. It was one of first-rate quality. Crack it came down upon the man—crack—crack—each blow coming with greater speed aud force than its prede- cessor. His cries were terrible. He writhed about like a serpent, but all in vain. He tugged at the scarf round his neck until he had pulled it so tight that he was all but strangled. Maddened with the pain, however, he gave yet another snatch, and then the knot gave way, and he fell with his face on to the ground. “ But Blueskin’s blood was up, and he felt he had by no means done with him yet. Our friend’s indignation knew no bounds, and he could think of no fate bad enough for such a wretch. When he fell, therefore, he continued to rain blows upon him. Shrieking with pain, the man started to his feet. A cut with the whip, however, dexterously applied, sent him down upon his knees. Another made him start up again. ; Ther he set off at full speed, with Blueskin after him, who never thought of giving up the chase. But he was no match for the man in fleetness of foot. Besides, there was this difference, he was flying from unendurable torment, and he knew that the only means by pee A EO DOO GC SS (SO) 5}