Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

7 OSD AAR EN anita ES OD Sa “AEE a A TOE LE NT Te: Wie MEAN i a Se eeEEEMENEE OT cee et oA Hadley’s bed-room, brought out the bag containing the boaty. ‘The servants shrank back further and further before the muzzles of the pistols, but, just as they were about to beat a retreat they heard their master shout to them to ptund fire. Mr. Hadley, who had recovered from his swoon, emerged unto) the passage; le, too, held a brace of pistols in his ands. He took a steady and deliberate aim, and pulled the trigger. Jack felt a sudden ecssation of pulsation about his heart, and the blood turned cold in his veins as he heard the euck of the pistols. But they flashed only in the pan. This, doubtless, was owing to the time they had been disused. ‘The servants turned and fled. Blueskin turned round suddenly, and fired one of the pistols along the passage in the direction of Mr. Hadley. A Joud report filled the air, and was succeeded by a ery and a fall. “ By Jove you have hit him, Blueskin,” said Jack, as he looked half territied around. “Never mind him,” replied his companion. ‘ Follow meatonce. Ii I mistake not we have by no means got to the cud of our difficulties. Quick—quick!”’ He rushed down the staircase as he spoke, Jack fol- lowing closely at his heels. But they did uot descend the flight that led from the first to the ground floor. A nuniber of men were congregated 1n the hall. The servant, who had at the commencement of the affray been sent out for assistance, had returned, bringing a furmidable force with him. The situation of the two housebreakers was cnitical in the extreme. But Blueskin was prompt to act. “ Back, Jack!” he said. “ We can’t fight against such a lot as that, unless we eutrench ourselves somewhere so us to gain an advantage over them. Back—back!”’ Sheppard had no choice in the matter, so he perforce obeyed the directions given him, and, turning round, re- aseeuded the stairs. ‘ The retreat of the burglars had of necessity an em- boldening influence upon those below, and they rushed up the broad staircase in a tumultuous throng. On the second landing Blueskin paused a moment to look round, but perceiving no place where he could make a sucecsstul stand, he ran up another and narrower flight of stairs. They were closely followed by their pursuers. The heavy bag of plunder was a great incumbrance to Jack, but he kept up bravely. This narrow staircase was, of course, well adapted for defence, though Blueskin could by no means see his way to ultimate escape; ror that they would be able to over- conmie or even keep at bay, tor any Jength of time, so many Joes was beyoud the bounds of posibility. As soon as they reached the top of these narrow stairs, Blueskin fired his remaining pistol. The men who were ascending were packed so closely together, that the shot could not fail to be most efective. A scene of the greatest confusica followed. Then Blueskin tlung, in quick succession, both his dis- charged weapons down the staircase. Jt was the best use he could put them to, for he would have no opportunity of loading them again. ' Then, with great rapidity, Blueskin drew anotuer brace | of pistols from his pocket, and discharged them simul. taneously, and flung the weapons at the heads of his foes. This vigorous and deadly resistance struck a panic into the hearts ot the domestics and those who had come to their ascistance, and they hesitated to advance. ; At the moment when he fired tlis last volley Biueaskyn heard Jack calling to him in a suppressed voice. Then a rush of cold air blew upon him. Being unprovided with fire-arms, Jack had taken no part in the affray, and theretore turned his attention to the dis- covery of some means of escape. The first thing his eyes hyhted upon was a ladder resting against the wall. zimmediautely over the top of this ladder was a trap-door. " vers = ew “Fo oe ee oT eh * ag sie: SEVIS. UE Og ES gL ADR ee - Varta TH lee ‘ ay BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. - Re EE AE VO oe Quick as thought Jack ascended the ladder. ‘The trap-door was secured by a couple of bolts, 2nd these Sheppard without much difficulty withdrew. Jt was ther ite called to his companion. ‘I‘he trap-doo. was, on the outside, covered with lead, and consequently very heavy; but, exerting all his strength, Jack pushed it open. As he expectcd, it was 2 means of reaching the roof-tops of the mansion. Without another moment’s delay, and before those below could recover from their panic, Blueskin sprang up the ladder, and was out on to the tiles as soon as Jack was. Then with great presence of mind, he, hearing that thie men were rushing up the stairs, pulled the ladder up after him, and closed the trap-door. Some little time must now elapse before the pursuers could reach the roof, and it was obviously the best policy for our friends to descend as quickly as possible by some other means. . But this was no easy task: an apparent impossibility, in fact, for neither could at all see how it was to be accom- plished. s , They had not much time to spend in dehberation. ‘‘There is only one way of doing it, Jack,” said Blue- sil who had made a rapid but careful examination of the roof. ‘¢ And what is that ?” “To descend this pipe here in the angle of the building. Do you think you could manage it ?”’ CHAPTER XXVIII. THE BURGLARS CONVEY THE ‘“‘SwaG” TO WILD’'S WARE- HOUSE IN THE HORSEFERRY, WESTMINSTER. Jack SHEPPARD looked rather scared as he contemplated the very hazardous mode of descent proposed by his coim- rade, and then shook his head. He might well be excused for feeling rather dubious, for it really did not seem possible for a cat to descend. In one corner of the, building was an iron pipe, used for conveying the rain-water off the roof to a cistern below. In diameter it was about four inches. “Tt is our only hope,” said Blueskin, “and we had better risk that than stay here and be taken, as we as- suredly shall be if we delay much longer.” - “We shall; that’s true enough.” ** T will go first, and you can follow me.” “Agreed; I would rather you try it first. But what shall I do with this bag of swag?” “Oh! drop it down.” ** But the plate ?” “Oh! it won't signify if it 1s bruised a bit. Drop it.” ‘Very good,” said Jack, and leaning forivard he let the bag fall from his hand. It was heavy, and fell swiftly. It reached the earth with a jinglng sound. ‘* Now then, Jack, fm off; watch how I do it.” Taking every precaution, Blueskin set about com- mencing the perilous descent. He Jaid himself flat on the tiles, and gradually lowered himself until he reached the parapet. The edge of this he cluiched tightly, and so hung for a moment. The irou pipe was within a foot of him, so, cautiously shifting one hand, he at last grasped it. Then he shifted his other hand. Jack grew dizzy to see him. | But with the greatest caution Bluesiin descended by the pipe. He scratched his hands ard knees im the pra- cess, but for such trivialties as those le did not care a jot. In avery short space of time, considering tue dithicul- tics he had to contend against, he reached the ground. But Jack did not wait until his comrade had done this, but when he was only about haliway down had begun to deseend also. : Of the two Jack got down easier, which was owing as much to his slimness as his agility, and, in fact, he was by the side of Blueskin before that individual was aware that he had more than commenced his very perious journey. However, he was glad there was ny more delay, for the —_——_—— A fe EO NOOKS (SO) 5} LP